25 Radio Groups in the U.S. Listeners as of spring 1995, as measured by the Arbitron ratings service. Sale to American Radio Systems In 1996, American Radio Systems Corp. of Boston, Massachusetts bought EZ Communications Inc. for about US$655 million. At the time, EZ Communications operated 20 stations in cities such as Seattle, Washington and St. Louis, Missouri. The combination gave American Radio 96 outlets in mostly midsize markets, making it the nation's second-biggest radio broadcaster in advertising sales. The sale officially closed on April 4, 1997. The combined company's estimated sales of $340 million ranked second only behind Westinghouse Electric Corp. See also FM broadcasting in the USA FM broadcast band AM broadcasting AM stereo list of broadcast station classes history of radio RDS (Radio Data System) long-distance FM reception (FM DX) References Fisher, Mark D. (2005) A Brief History of WFMV: Virginia's first stereophonic good music station, Richmond Radio Group on Yahoo; Richmond, VA Washington, D.C. AM Station History by Thomas H. White Specific External links Washington, D.C. AM Station History by Thomas H. White SEC insider trading litigation Companies based in Fairfax, Virginia Defunct radio broadcasting companies of the United States Defunct companies based in Virginia