<ARTICLE> 5
<CIK> 0001058623
<NAME> CUMULUS MEDIA INC
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1998
<CASH>                                       1,867,000
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                               20,108,000
<ALLOWANCES>                                   405,000
<INVENTORY>                                          0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                            24,799,000
<PP&E>                                      17,350,000
<DEPRECIATION>                               1,466,000
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             242,513,000
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                       11,252,000
<BONDS>                                    142,249,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                       31,602,000
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                             0
<OTHER-SE>                                  55,406,000
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>               242,513,000
<SALES>                                              0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                            37,937,000
<CGS>                                                0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                3,555,000
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                            36,407,000
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                           4,249,000
<INCOME-PRETAX>                            (5,921,000)
<INCOME-TAX>                                         0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                        (5,921,000)
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                            (1,837,000)
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                               (7,779,000)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                  (9,705)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0