ASSIGNMENT OF OPTION TO PURCHASE
                       RADIO STATION WNVE(FM) AND CONSENT


         This  Assignment  and  Assumption  of Option to Purchase  Radio Station
WNVE(FM) and Consent (the  "Assignment") is made as of December 23, 1996, by and
among American Radio Systems Corporation  (successor by merger to American Radio
Systems, Inc., a Massachusetts  corporation)  ("Assignor"),  Citicasters Co., an
Ohio  corporation  ("Assignee"),  and The Great Lakes Wireless  Talking  Machine
Limited  Liability  Company,  a New York limited liability company ("GLW") under
the following circumstances:

         A. Assignor and GLW entered into an Option  Agreement  dated  September
28,  1995,  a copy of  which  is  attached  hereto  as  Exhibit  A (the  "Option
Agreement"), pursuant to which GLW granted to Assignor an option to purchase the
licenses and broadcasting  equipment of WNVE(FM),  South Bristol,  New York (the
"Station")  and the right to utilize  the service  mark "The  Nerve"  within the
Rochester, New York radio market.

         B. Assignee is a party to an Asset  Exchange  Agreement  (the "Exchange
Agreement"),  dated December 23, 1996,  with Assignor and American Radio Systems
License  Corp.  ("American  License" and together with  Assignor,  the "American
Parties"),  pursuant  to which the  American  Parties  have  agreed to  exchange
certain assets with Assignee.

         C. In connection  with the  transactions  contemplated  by the Exchange
Agreement, Assignor wishes to assign all of its right, title and interest in the
Option  Agreement  and  Assignee  wishes to assume and agrees to perform  all of
Assignor's obligations under the Option Agreement.

         D. GLW is willing to consent to the assignment.

         E. American,  GLW and The Lincoln Group,  L.P. are parties to a consent
decree (the "Consent  Decree") as reflected in a Final Judgment that is expected
to be entered in January 1997, in United States of America and State of New York
vs. American Radio Systems  Corporation,  The Lincoln Group, L.P. and Great Lake
Wireless  Talking Machine LLC, which Final Judgment has been filed in the United
States District Court for the District of Columbia. A copy of the Consent Decree
is attached as Exhibit B.

         ACCORDINGLY,  in consideration of the foregoing premises and agreements
contained herein, the parties hereto agree as follows:

         Section 1. Condition to  Effectiveness  of Assignment.  This Assignment
shall not become  effective  until  approved  by the United  States  pursuant to
Article VI of the  Consent  Decree.  The date of such  approval  is  referred to
herein as the "Effective Date".

         Section  2.  Assignment.  Assignor  assigns  and  transfers  as of  the
Effective Date to the Assignee all of the Assignor's  right,  title and interest
in the Option Agreement.



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                                       -2-

         Section 3. Representations and Warranties of Assignor.  Assignor hereby
warrants and represents to Assignee as follows:

                  3.1 The execution,  delivery,  and  performance by Assignor of
this Assignment have been duly authorized by all necessary  corporate action and
will  not  contravene  any law or any  governmental  rule or  order  binding  on
Assignor. Assignor has duly executed and delivered this Assignment and it is the
valid and binding obligation of Assignor enforceable according to its terms.

                  3.2 Assignor has given no "Election Notice" (as defined in the
Option  Agreement)  to GLW,  and agrees  that it will not give such an  Election
Notice for so long as this Assignment is in effect.

         Section 4. Representations and Warranties of Assignee.  Assignee hereby
warrants and represents to Assignor that the execution, delivery and performance
by  Assignee  of this  Assignment  have been duly  authorized  by all  necessary
corporate  action and will not  contravene any law or any  governmental  rule or
order  binding on  Assignee.  Assignee  has duly  executed  and  delivered  this
Assignment  and it is the valid and binding  obligation of Assignee  enforceable
according to its terms.

         Section 5.  Consent of GLW.  GLW by executing  this  Assignment  hereby
agrees as follows:

                  5.1 GLW consents to the  assignment  to Assignee of Assignor's
rights and obligations under the Option Agreement as of the Effective Date.

                  5.2 GLW  represents and warrants to Assignee that (i) Assignor
is not in default under the terms and conditions of the Option  Agreement;  (ii)
no  event  has  occurred  which  now or will  hereafter  give  GLW the  right to
terminate the Option  Agreement;  and (iii) GLW has received no Election  Notice
from Assignor.

                  5.3 GLW hereby waives any default  under the Option  Agreement
which may be created by this Assignment.

         Section 6. Joint Sales Agreement. The parties agree that simultaneously
with the  commencement of any Time Brokerage  Agreement that may be entered into
by and between GLW and Assignee  with  respect to the  Station,  any Joint Sales
Agreement  between  Assignor  and GLW that may then be in effect with respect to
the Station shall terminate.

         Section 7. Termination. In the event the United States does not approve
this  Assignment,  then this  Assignment  shall  terminate and be of no force or
effect; the parties agree to take such reasonable actions as may be necessary to
obtain such approval.

         Section 8. Binding Effect.  This  Assignment  shall be binding upon and
inure to the benefit of the  respective  legal  representatives,  successors and
assigns of the parties hereto.



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         Section 9. Governing Law. All acts and  transactions  hereunder and the
rights and  obligations of the parties  hereto shall be governed,  construed and
interpreted in accordance with the domestic laws of the State of New York.

         Section 10. Execution and Counterparts. This Assignment may be executed
in several  counterparts,  each of which shall be an  original  and all of which
shall constitute but one and the same instrument.

         IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the parties hereto through their  respective duly
authorized  representatives  have executed  this  Assignment as of the day first
above written.


AMERICAN RADIO SYSTEMS                                CITICASTERS CO.
CORPORATION
                                                  By: /s/ Jerimiah L. Kiersting
By: /s/ Steven B. Dodge                           Name: Jerimiah L. Kiersting
Name: Steven B. Dodge                             Title: Senior Vice President
Title: Chief Executive Officer


THE GREAT LAKES WIRELESS
TALKING MACHINE LIMITED
LIABILITY COMPANY

By: /s/ Steven L. Chartrand
Name: Steven L. Chartrand
Title: Managing Member