<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS OF INTEREP
NATIONAL RADIO SALES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY
REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000

<S>                             <C>                     <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR                   YEAR                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1999             DEC-31-1998             DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1999             JAN-01-1998             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1999             DEC-31-1998             DEC-31-1997
<CASH>                                          66,725                  32,962                   1,419
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   41,769                  48,177                  43,362
<ALLOWANCES>                                     2,158                   1,626                   1,220
<INVENTORY>                                          0                       0                       0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               144,592                 114,462                  82,937
<PP&E>                                          23,569                  20,668                  19,398
<DEPRECIATION>                                  17,842                  16,357                  15,063
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 226,320                 184,508                 141,030
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           57,458                  48,351                  51,421
<BONDS>                                        100,000                 100,000                       0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0                   6,924
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0                       0
<COMMON>                                           103                      70                      70
<OTHER-SE>                                      33,383                 (1,292)                 (1,679)
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   226,320                 184,508                 141,030
<SALES>                                         96,540                  87,735                  87,096
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               103,378                 124,956                 113,682
<CGS>                                                0                       0                       0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  111,491                 109,918                 104,630
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0                       0                       0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0                       0                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              10,213                   6,744                   3,779
<INCOME-PRETAX>                               (18,326)                   8,294                   5,273
<INCOME-TAX>                                   (6,148)                   3,446                   2,359
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                           (12,178)                   4,848                   2,914
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                  (12,178)                   4,848                   2,914
<EPS-BASIC>                                     (1.97)                  (0.03)                    0.18
<EPS-DILUTED>                                   (1.97)                  (0.03)                    0.17


</TABLE>