EXHIBIT 23.5
 
                       CONSENT OF MCGLADREY & PULLEN, LLP
 
To the Board of Directors
Cumulus Media Inc.
 
    We hereby consent to the use in this Registration Statement on Form S-1 of
our report, dated February 11, 1998, except for Note 12 as to which the date is
February 19, 1998, relating to the combined financial statements of JKJ
Broadcasting, Inc., Missouri River Broadcasting, Inc., Ingstad Mankato, Inc.,
James Ingstad Broadcasting, Inc. and Hometown Wireless, Inc. We also consent to
the reference to our Firm under the captions "Experts" in the Prospectus.
 
   
/s/ McGladrey & Pullen, LLP
Pierre, South Dakota
June 24, 1998