AMERICAN RADIO SYSTEMS CORP /MA/
8-K/A, 1997-10-24
RADIO BROADCASTING STATIONS
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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                   FORM 8-K/A
                               (Amendment No. 1)

                                 CURRENT REPORT

                       Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
                       The Securities Exchange Act of 1934

                Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):
                     October 24, 1997 (September 19, 1997)

                       AMERICAN RADIO SYSTEMS CORPORATION
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

    Delaware                          0-26102                  04-3196245
(State or other                   (Commission                (IRS Employer
  jurisdiction of                  File Number)             Identification No.)
  incorporation)




                              116 Huntington Avenue
                           Boston, Massachusetts 02116
          (Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)




                                 (617) 375-7500
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)






<PAGE>




Item 5.  Other Events

         On September 19, 1997, American Radio Systems  Corporation,  a Delaware
corporation  (the  "Company")  entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the
"Merger Agreement") by and among the Company, Westinghouse Electric Corporation,
a Pennsylvania corporation ("Westinghouse"), and R Acquisition Corp., a Delaware
corporation  and a wholly  owned  subsidiary  of  Westinghouse  ("Merger  Sub"),
pursuant  to which (i) Merger Sub will be merged  with and into the  Company and
holders of Common  Stock of the Company  will be entitled to receive  $44.00 per
share in cash for each of their  shares  of  Common  Stock of the  Company  (the
"Merger") and (ii) the Company will  distribute  all of the capital stock of the
Company's wholly owned subsidiary,  American Tower, or the net proceeds from the
sale  thereof,  to the  stockholders  of the  Company  on a pro  rata  basis  as
contemplated   by  the   terms   set  forth  in  the   Merger   Agreement   (the
"Distribution").  The aggregate  consideration to be paid by Merger Sub pursuant
to the Merger will be  approximately  $1.6 billion in cash and the assumption of
approximately  $1.0 billion in debt or American  preferred stock. It is expected
that the Merger will be consummated in the second quarter of 1998.  Shareholders
of  American's  Class  A and  Class B  Common  Stock  owning  of  record  shares
representing  more than 50% of the voting power, as of September 19, 1997, voted
by  written  consent  to  approve  and  adopt  the  Merger   Agreement  and  the
transactions  contemplated  thereby.  It is one of the  conditions of the Merger
Agreement that the Distribution be completed before or  simultaneously  with the
consummation  of the Merger.  Consummation  of the Merger is subject  to,  among
other  conditions,  approval of the Federal  Communications  Commission  and the
expiration or earlier termination of the  Hart-Scott-Rodino  waiting period. For
more  information,  see the joint press release  issued by  Westinghouse,  dated
September 19, 1997, which is attached herewith as Exhibit 99.1.

         The foregoing  description of the Merger  Agreement does not purport to
be complete and is qualified in its entirety by the copy of the Merger Agreement
attached hereto as Exhibit 2.1, which is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits

         (c)   Exhibits

         Exhibit 2.1 -     Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of September 
                           19, 1997, by and among Westinghouse Electric
                           Corporation, a Pennsylvania corporation, R 
                           Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation and 
                           American Radio Systems Corporation, a Delaware 
                           corporation. (Schedules and Exhibits omitted).

         Exhibit 99.1 -    Westinghouse Press Release, dated as of September 
                           19, 1997





                                        2

<PAGE>




                                   SIGNATURES



       Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                                  AMERICAN RADIO SYSTEMS
                                  CORPORATION
                                  (Registrant)



                                  By:  /s/ Justin D. Benincasa

                                       Justin D. Benincasa
                                       Vice President and Corporate Controller


Date:  October 24, 1997




                                        3

                                                                     EXHIBIT 2.1
                          AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

                                  By and Among

                       AMERICAN RADIO SYSTEMS CORPORATION,

                        WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC CORPORATION

                                       and

                               R ACQUISITION CORP.

                                   Dated as of

                               September 19, 1997












<PAGE>


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                                                                                               Page
<S>              <C>     <C>                                                                                    <C>

ARTICLE 1  DEFINED TERMS..........................................................................................2

ARTICLE 2  THE MERGER.............................................................................................2
                  2.1      The Merger.............................................................................2
                  2.2      Closing................................................................................2
                  2.3      Effective Time.........................................................................2
                  2.4      Effect of the Merger...................................................................2
                  2.5      Certificate of Incorporation...........................................................2
                  2.6      Bylaws.................................................................................3
                  2.7      Directors and Officers.................................................................3
                  2.8      Tower Distribution/Tower Merger........................................................3

ARTICLE 3  CONVERSION OF SHARES; EXCHANGE OF CERTIFICATES.........................................................3
                  3.1      Conversion of Capital Stock............................................................3
                  3.2      Exchange of Certificates.  ............................................................4
                  3.3      Closing of American's Transfer Books...................................................5
                  3.4      Dissenting Shares......................................................................5
                  3.5      Tower Common Stock.....................................................................6

ARTICLE 4  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF AMERICAN.............................................................6
                  4.1      Organization and Business; Power and Authority; Effect of Transaction..................6
                  4.2      Financial and Other Information.  .....................................................8
                  4.3      Changes in Condition...................................................................8
                  4.4      Properties.............................................................................9
                  4.5      Compliance with Private Authorizations.................................................9
                  4.6      Compliance with Governmental Authorizations and Applicable
                            Law; Litigation.......................................................................9
                  4.7      Related Transactions..................................................................11
                  4.8      Taxes and Tax Matters.................................................................11
                  4.9      Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.......................................12
                  4.10     Insurance.............................................................................14
                  4.11     Authorized Capital Stock..............................................................15
                  4.12     Employment Arrangements...............................................................15
                  4.13     Voting Requirements...................................................................15
                  4.14     Brokers...............................................................................16
                  4.15     Information Supplied..................................................................16
                  4.16     Ordinary Course of Business...........................................................16
                  4.17     Environmental Matters.................................................................17
                  4.18     State Takeover Statutes...............................................................17
                  4.19     Opinion of Financial Advisor..........................................................17
                  4.20     Contracts; Debt Instruments...........................................................17

ARTICLE 5  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF MERGEPARTY..........................................................18
                  5.1      Organization and Business; Power and Authority; Effect of Transaction.................18
                  5.2      Compliance with Governmental Authorizations and Applicable
                            Law; Litigation......................................................................19
                  5.3      Opinion of Financial Advisor..........................................................20
                  5.4      Mergeparty Financing..................................................................20

                                     

<PAGE>




ARTICLE 6  COVENANTS.............................................................................................20
                  6.1      Access to Information; Confidentiality................................................20
                  6.2      Agreement to Cooperate................................................................21
                  6.3      Public Announcements..................................................................23
                  6.4      Notification of Certain Matters.......................................................23
                  6.5      Stockholder Approval.  ...............................................................23
                  6.6      Information Statement.  ..............................................................24
                  6.7      Miscellaneous.........................................................................24
                  6.8      Option Plans..........................................................................24
                  6.9      Conduct of Business by Mergeparty Pending the Merger..................................26
                  6.10     Conduct of Business by American Pending the Merger....................................26
                  6.11     Control of Operations.................................................................28
                  6.12     Directors', Officers' and Employees' Indemnification and Insurance....................28
                  6.13     Solicitation of Employees.............................................................30
                  6.14     Change of Name........................................................................30
                  6.15     Benefit Plans.........................................................................30
                  6.16     American Cumulative Preferred Stock...................................................30
                  6.17     American Tower Transaction............................................................31
                  6.18     Purchase Price Adjustment.............................................................36
                  6.19     Tower Leases..........................................................................39

ARTICLE 7  CLOSING CONDITIONS....................................................................................40
                  7.1      Conditions to Obligations of Each Party to Effect the Merger..........................40
                  7.2      Conditions to Obligations of Mergeparty...............................................41
                  7.3      Conditions to Obligations of American.................................................42

ARTICLE 8   TERMINATION, AMENDMENT AND WAIVER....................................................................42
                  8.1      Termination...........................................................................42
                  8.2      Effect of Termination.    ............................................................43

ARTICLE 9   GENERAL PROVISIONS...................................................................................44
                  9.1      Amendment.............................................................................44
                  9.2      Waiver................................................................................44
                  9.3      Fees, Expenses and Other Payments.....................................................44
                  9.4      Notices...............................................................................44
                  9.5      Specific Performance; Other Rights and Remedies.......................................45
                  9.6      Survival of Representations, Warranties, Covenants and Agreements.....................46
                  9.7      Severability..........................................................................46
                  9.8      Counterparts..........................................................................46
                  9.9      Section Headings......................................................................46
                  9.10     Governing Law.........................................................................46
                  9.11     Further Acts..........................................................................46
                  9.12     Entire Agreement; No Other Representations or Agreements..............................47
                  9.13     Assignment............................................................................47
                  9.14     Parties in Interest...................................................................47
                  9.15     Mutual Drafting.......................................................................47
                  9.16     Obligations of American and of Mergeparty.............................................47
                  9.17     Mergeparty Agent for Mergeparty Subsidiary............................................48


                                       ii

<PAGE>




APPENDIX A:                Definitions

EXHIBITS:

         EXHIBIT A:        Restated Certificate of Incorporation (Section 2.5)
         EXHIBIT B:        Market Fee Schedule
         EXHIBIT C:        Form of Opinion of FCC Counsel to American


                                       iii
</TABLE>

<PAGE>



                          AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER


         Agreement  and Plan of Merger,  dated as of September  19, 1997, by and
among American Radio Systems Corporation,  a Delaware corporation  ("American"),
Westinghouse Electric Corporation,  a Pennsylvania  corporation  ("Mergeparty"),
and R Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation ("Mergeparty Subsidiary").

                              W I T N E S S E T H:

         WHEREAS, the respective Boards of Directors of American, Mergeparty and
Mergeparty  Subsidiary  have  approved the merger (the  "Merger") of  Mergeparty
Subsidiary into American on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement
and Plan of Merger (this "Agreement") and have approved this Agreement; and

         WHEREAS,  the Board of Directors of American  has  determined  that the
sale of American Tower Systems Holding  Corporation  ("American  Tower") at this
time is not in the best interest of American and its stockholders,  and that the
distribution  of all of the common  stock of American  Tower  through a pro rata
distribution  of the common  stock of American  Tower to the holders of American
common stock (the "Tower  Distribution"),  on the terms and conditions set forth
in this  Agreement,  is fair to and in the best  interests of,  American and its
stockholders,  the  Board of  Directors  of  American  has  approved  the  Tower
Distribution  and has directed that the Tower  Distribution  be submitted to the
stockholders of American for their approval; and

         WHEREAS,  the Board of Directors of Mergeparty has approved and adopted
this Agreement as the sole stockholder of Mergeparty  Subsidiary,  and the Board
of Directors of American  has directed  that this  Agreement be submitted to the
stockholders of American for their approval and adoption; and

         WHEREAS,  this Agreement  provides that Mergeparty  Subsidiary shall be
merged into American, and American shall be the surviving corporation; and

         WHEREAS,   the  parties  agree  that,  subject  to  certain  conditions
contained in this Agreement,  the  consummation  of the Tower  Distribution is a
condition of the consummation of the Merger; and

         WHEREAS,  as a condition of the willingness of Mergeparty to enter into
this  Agreement,  and as an  inducement  thereto  Mergeparty  and certain of the
stockholders of American who are entitled to cast votes in favor of approval and
adoption of the Merger Agreement  sufficient to constitute the Required Vote are
delivering  written  consents of stockholders  approving and adopting the Merger
Agreement and approving the Tower Distribution.

         NOW,   THEREFORE,   in   consideration   of  the   premises   and   the
representations, warranties, covenants and agreements herein contained and other
valuable   consideration,   the   receipt  and   adequacy   whereof  are  hereby
acknowledged,  the  parties  hereto  hereby,  intending  to  be  legally  bound,
represent, warrant, covenant and agree as follows:


                                                    

<PAGE>



                                    ARTICLE 1

                                  DEFINED TERMS

         As used  herein,  unless  the  context  otherwise  requires,  the terms
defined in  Appendix A shall have the  respective  meanings  set forth  therein.
Terms defined in the singular  shall have a comparable  meaning when used in the
plural,  and vice  versa,  and the  reference  to any gender  shall be deemed to
include all genders.  Unless otherwise  defined or the context otherwise clearly
requires,  terms for which  meanings are provided in this  Agreement  shall have
such  meanings  when  used in either  Disclosure  Schedule  and each  Collateral
Document  executed  or required  to be  executed  pursuant  hereto or thereto or
otherwise delivered,  from time to time, pursuant hereto or thereto.  References
to "hereof," "herein" or similar terms are intended to refer to the Agreement as
a whole and not a particular section,  and references to "this Section" or "this
Article"  are  intended  to refer to the entire  section  or  article  and not a
particular subsection thereof. The term "either party" shall, unless the context
otherwise  requires,  refer to American,  on the one hand,  and  Mergeparty  and
Mergeparty Subsidiary, on the other hand.


                                    ARTICLE 2

                                   THE MERGER

         2.1 The Merger.  (a) Upon the terms and subject to the  conditions  set
forth in this Agreement, and in accordance with the Delaware General Corporation
Law (the "DCL"),  at the Effective Time,  Mergeparty  Subsidiary shall be merged
with and into  American.  As a result  of the  Merger,  the  separate  corporate
existence of Mergeparty  Subsidiary  shall cease and American  shall continue as
the surviving  corporation in the Merger (sometimes referred to, as such, as the
"Surviving Corporation").

         2.2 Closing.  Unless this Agreement shall have been terminated pursuant
to Section 8.1 and subject to the  satisfaction  or, to the extent  permitted by
Applicable  Law, waiver of the conditions set forth in Article 7, the closing of
the Merger (the  "Closing") will take place, at 10:00 a.m., on the Closing Date,
at the offices of Cravath, Swaine & Moore, 825 Eighth Avenue, New York, New York
10019,  on the date that is the second  (2nd) day after the date on which all of
the conditions  set forth in Article 7 (other than those which require  delivery
of opinions or documents at the  Closing)  shall have been  satisfied or waived,
unless another date,  time or place is agreed to in writing by the parties.  The
date on which the Closing occurs is herein referred to as the "Closing Date."

         2.3 Effective  Time.  Subject to the provisions of this  Agreement,  as
promptly as  practicable  after the Closing,  the parties hereto shall cause the
Merger to be  consummated  by filing a  Certificate  of Merger  and any  related
filings  required  under  the DCL with the  Secretary  of State of the  State of
Delaware.  The Mer ger shall become effective at such time as such documents are
duly  filed with the  Secretary  of State of the State of  Delaware,  or at such
later time as is specified in such documents (the "Effective Time").

         2.4 Effect of the Merger.  The Merger  shall have the effects  provided
for under the DCL.

         2.5 Certificate of  Incorporation.  The Certificate of Incorporation of
American, as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time, shall be amended
as of the  Effective  Time as  described  in Exhibit A and, as so amended,  such
Certificate of Incorporation,  together with the certificates of designation for
the American Cumulative Preferred Stock and the American  Convertible  Preferred
Stock,  shall be the Certificate of Incorporation  of the Surviving  Corporation
until thereafter changed or amended as provided therein or by

                                      - 2 -

<PAGE>



Applicable  Law. Such amendment  shall not be deemed to affect in any manner the
Certificates  of Designation of (i) the 113/8% Series B Cumulative  Exchangeable
Preferred Stock, par value $.01 per share, of American (the "American Cumulative
Preferred Stock") or (ii) the 7% Convertible  Exchangeable  Preferred Stock, par
value $.01 per share, of American (the "American  Convertible  Preferred  Stock"
and,  collectively with the American  Cumulative  Preferred Stock, the "American
Preferred Stock").

         2.6  Bylaws.  The bylaws of American  in effect at the  Effective  Time
shall be the bylaws of the  Surviving  Corporation  until  amended in accordance
with Applicable Law and the Organic Documents of American.

         2.7 Directors and Officers.  From and after the Effective  Time,  until
successors  are duly elected or appointed and  qualified,  or upon their earlier
resignation  or  removal,  in  accordance  with  Applicable  Law and the Organic
Documents  of  Mergeparty  Subsidiary  and  American,  as  applicable,  (a)  the
directors of Mergeparty  Subsidiary at the Effective Time shall be the directors
of the Surviving Corporation,  and (b) the officers of American at the Effective
Time shall be the officers of the Surviving Corporation.

         2.8 Tower Distribution/Tower Merger. The Board of Directors of American
in its sole and absolute  discretion may abandon the Tower  Distribution and, in
lieu  thereof,  effect the  distribution  of all of the common stock of American
Tower Sub to the holders of American  Common Stock  through a merger of American
Tower with and into  American  (the  "Tower  Merger");  provided  that the Tower
Distribution  shall not be abandoned  unless an agreement of merger  relating to
the Tower  Merger  shall be approved by the Board of  Directors  of American and
approved and adopted by the stockholders of American; provided further, that the
Board of Directors of American in its sole and absolute  discretion  may abandon
the Tower Distribution and the Tower Merger by delivering written notice to such
effect to Mergeparty (the "Notice of Abandonment").


                                    ARTICLE 3

                 CONVERSION OF SHARES; EXCHANGE OF CERTIFICATES

         3.1  Conversion of Capital Stock.  At the Effective  Time, by virtue of
the  Merger  and  without  any  action  on the  part of  Mergeparty,  Mergeparty
Subsidiary or American or their respective stockholders:

         (a)  Each  share of  Common  Stock,  par  value  $1.00  per  share,  of
Mergeparty Subsidiary issued and outstanding  immediately prior to the Effective
Time  shall be  converted  into and become one  validly  issued,  fully paid and
nonassessable  share of Common Stock, par value $.01 per share, of the Surviving
Corporation;

         (b) Each share of the American  Cumulative  Preferred  Stock issued and
outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall remain outstanding;

         (c) Each share of the American  Convertible  Preferred Stock issued and
outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall remain outstanding;

         (d) Subject to paragraph (e) below, each share of Class A Common Stock,
par value $.01 per share ("Class A Common"), each share of Class B Common Stock,
par value $.01 per share  ("Class B  Common"),  and each share of Class C Common
Stock, par value $.01 per share, of American (collectively, the "American Common
Stock") issued and  outstanding  immediately  prior to the Effective Time (other
than

                                      - 3 -

<PAGE>



Dissenting  Shares) shall, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the
part of the holder  thereof,  be converted into the right to receive $44.00 (the
"Merger Consideration"); and

         (e) Each share of American Common Stock owned by American or any of its
Subsidiaries or Mergeparty or any of its Subsidiaries  immediately  prior to the
Effective  Time shall  automatically  be canceled and  extinguished  without any
conversion thereof and no payment shall be made with respect thereto.

         As a result of the  Merger  and  without  any action on the part of the
holder thereof,  at the Effective Time all shares of American Common Stock shall
cease to be  outstanding  and shall be  canceled  and retired and shall cease to
exist, and each holder of any  certificates  formerly  representing  such shares
shall thereafter  cease to have any rights with respect to such shares,  except,
subject to paragraph  (e) above,  the right to receive,  without  interest,  the
Merger  Consideration,  or, in the case of a holder of  Dissenting  Shares,  the
right to perfect the right to receive payment for Dissenting  Shares pursuant to
Section 262 of the DCL.

         3.2      Exchange of Certificates.

         (a) From  time to time,  on or prior to or after  the  Effective  Time,
Mergeparty  shall  deposit  or  cause to be  deposited  with an  exchange  agent
selected by  Mergeparty  and not  reasonably  disapproved  of by  American  (the
"Exchange Agent") in trust for the benefit of the American  stockholders cash in
amounts  and  at  times   necessary  for  the  prompt   payment  of  the  Merger
Consideration upon the surrender of Certificates.

         (b) Not more than five (5) business  days  subsequent  to the Effective
Time, the Exchange Agent shall mail to each holder of record of a certificate or
certificates   that   immediately   prior  to  the  Effective  Time  represented
outstanding shares of American Common Stock (the "Certificates") (i) a letter of
transmittal  (which shall specify that delivery  shall be effected,  and risk of
loss and title to the Certificates  shall pass, only upon actual delivery of the
Certificates to the Exchange Agent and shall be in such form and have such other
provisions as American and Mergeparty may agree) and (ii)  instructions  for use
in  effecting  the  surrender  of the  Certificates  in exchange  for the Merger
Consideration.  Upon surrender of Certificates  for cancellation to the Exchange
Agent,  together  with a duly  executed  letter of  transmittal  and such  other
documents as the Exchange  Agent shall  reasonably  require,  the holder of such
Certificate  shall  receive  in  exchange  therefor  the  Merger   Consideration
multiplied by the number of shares of American Common Stock formerly represented
by such Certificates.  The amount paid to the holder of Certificates shall be in
the form of a wire transfer of  immediately  available  funds if so requested by
any holder  entitled to receive not less than $500,000 in cash,  and the cost of
such wire transfers shall be borne by the Surviving Corporation.  Such letter of
transmittal  and  instructions  shall be available at the Closing for holders of
American Common Stock. Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither the Exchange Agent
nor any party  hereto  shall be liable to a holder of shares of American  Common
Stock for any Merger  Consideration  delivered to a public official  pursuant to
applicable abandoned property, escheat or similar Laws.

         (c)  Promptly  following  the date  which is six (6)  months  after the
Closing Date,  the Exchange  Agent shall  deliver to Mergeparty  all cash in its
possession relating to the transactions  described in this Agreement that remain
unclaimed,  and the Exchange  Agent's duties shall terminate.  Thereafter,  each
holder  of a  Certificate  may  surrender  such  Certificate  to  the  Surviving
Corporation and (subject to applicable  abandoned property,  escheat and similar
Laws) receive in exchange  therefor the aggregate Merger  Consideration to which
such holder is entitled, without any interest thereon.

         (d) If the Merger  Consideration (or any portion thereof) is to be paid
to a Person other than the Person in whose name the  Certificate  surrendered in
exchange  therefor is registered,  it shall be a condition to the payment of the
Merger  Consideration  that the  Certificate  so  surrendered  shall be properly
endorsed or

                                      - 4 -

<PAGE>



accompanied  by  appropriate   stock  powers  (with  signatures   guaranteed  in
accordance  with the  transmittal  letter)  and  otherwise  in  proper  form for
transfer,  that such transfer otherwise be proper and that the Person requesting
such  transfer pay to the Exchange  Agent any transfer or other Taxes payable by
reason of the foregoing or establish to the  satisfaction  of the Exchange Agent
that such Taxes have been paid or are not required to be paid.

         (e) In the event  any  Certificate  shall  have  been  lost,  stolen or
destroyed,  upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the Person  claiming
such  Certificate  to be lost,  stolen or  destroyed  and  subject to such other
reasonable conditions as the Exchange Agent may impose, the Exchange Agent shall
issue in exchange  for such lost,  stolen or  destroyed  Certificate  the Merger
Consideration  (to the extent  applicable)  deliverable  in  respect  thereof as
determined in accordance with this Article.  When  authorizing such issue of the
Merger  Consideration  in  exchange  therefor,  the  Exchange  Agent may, in its
discretion  and as a condition  precedent to the issuance  thereof,  require the
owner of such lost, stolen or destroyed  Certificate (if other than a recognized
financial institution) to give the Exchange Agent a bond or other surety in such
sum as it may reasonably  direct as indemnity against any Claim that may be made
against the Exchange Agent with respect to the Certificate  alleged to have been
lost, stolen or destroyed.

         (f) At and after the Effective Time, the holder of a Certificate  shall
cease to have any  rights as an  American  stockholder,  except for the right to
surrender  Certificates in the manner  prescribed by Section 3.2 in exchange for
payment of the Merger  Consideration,  or, in the case of a holder of Dissenting
Shares,  the right to perfect the right to receive payment for Dissenting Shares
pursuant to Section 262 of the DCL.

         (g) The  Surviving  Corporation  shall  be  entitled  to,  or  shall be
entitled  to  cause  the  Exchange  Agent  to,  deduct  and  withhold  from  the
consideration  otherwise  payable  pursuant to this  Agreement  to any holder of
shares of American  Common Stock such amounts as are required to be deducted and
withheld  with  respect to the  making of such  payment  under the Code,  or any
provision of state,  local or foreign Tax Law. To the extent that amounts are so
withheld by the Surviving Corporation or the Exchange Agent, as the case may be,
such  withheld  amounts  shall be treated for all purposes of this  Agreement as
having been paid to the holder of the shares of American Common Stock in respect
of which such deduction and withholding was made by the Surviving Corporation or
the Exchange Agent.

         (h) The  Exchange  Agent shall invest any funds held by it for purposes
of this Section 3.2 as directed by  Mergeparty,  on a daily basis.  Any interest
and other income resulting from such investments shall be paid to Mergeparty and
any risk of loss resulting from such investments shall be borne by Mergeparty.

         3.3 Closing of American's  Transfer  Books.  At the Effective Time, the
stock  transfer  books of American  shall be closed and no transfer of shares of
American Common Stock which were outstanding  immediately prior to the Effective
Time shall  thereafter  be made.  If, after the Effective  Time,  subject to the
terms and  conditions  of this  Agreement,  Certificates  formerly  representing
American Common Stock are presented to the Surviving Corporation,  they shall be
canceled and  exchanged  for the Merger  Consideration  in  accordance  with the
provisions of this Article.

         3.4      Dissenting Shares.

         (a)  Notwithstanding  any  other  provision  of this  Agreement  to the
contrary, shares of American Common Stock that are outstanding immediately prior
to the Effective Time and which are held by American stockholders who shall have
not voted in favor of the Merger or  consented  thereto in writing and who shall
be entitled to and shall have demanded  properly in writing appraisal rights for
such shares of American  Common Stock in accordance  with Section 262 of the DCL
and who shall not have withdrawn such demand

                                      - 5 -

<PAGE>



or otherwise have forfeited  appraisal  rights  (collectively,  the  "Dissenting
Shares"),  shall not be  converted  into or  represent  the right to receive the
Merger  Consideration  payable in respect of each share of American Common Stock
represented  thereby.  Such American  stockholders  shall be entitled to receive
payment of the appraised  value of such shares of American  Common Stock held by
them in accordance with the provisions of the DCL; provided,  however,  that all
Dissenting Shares held by American stockholders who shall have failed to perfect
or who  effectively  shall have  withdrawn,  forfeited  or lost their  appraisal
rights with respect to such shares of American  Common Stock under the DCL shall
thereupon be deemed to have been converted into and to have become  exchangeable
for,  as of the  Effective  Time,  the right to receive,  without  any  interest
thereon,  the Merger  Consideration  upon  surrender,  in the manner provided in
Section 3.2, of the Certificates with respect to such shares.

         (b) American  shall give  Mergeparty  prompt  notice of any demands for
appraisal  rights  received by it,  withdrawals  of such demands,  and any other
instruments  served  pursuant to the DCL and  received by American  and relating
thereto.   American  shall  give   Mergeparty  the  opportunity  to  direct  all
negotiations  and proceedings with respect to demands for appraisal rights under
the  provisions of the DCL.  American  shall not,  except with the prior written
consent  of  Mergeparty,  make any  payment  with  respect  to any  demands  for
appraisal rights, or offer to settle, or settle, any such demands.

         3.5 Tower Common Stock.  In the event that prior to the Effective Time,
the Tower Common Stock  distributable upon the Tower Distribution or issuable in
the Tower  Merger  shall not have  been  distributed  or  issued,  American  and
Mergeparty shall cooperate with each other so that the Exchange Agent may effect
such issuance or distribution  simultaneously  with the exchange of Certificates
for Merger  Consideration  as provided in this Article 3, together with any cash
in lieu of a fractional share and any dividends or other distributions which may
be payable to a holder of Tower Common Stock following the Effective Time.


                                    ARTICLE 4

                   REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF AMERICAN

         Except  as  set  forth   with   respect  to   specifically   identified
representations  and warranties in the American  Disclosure  Schedule,  American
hereby  represents  and warrants to  Mergeparty  and  Mergeparty  Subsidiary  as
follows:

         4.1  Organization  and  Business;   Power  and  Authority;   Effect  of
Transaction.

         (a) American is a corporation duly  incorporated,  validly existing and
in good  standing  under the laws of the State of Delaware and has all requisite
power  and  authority  (corporate  and  other)  to own or hold  under  lease its
properties  and to  conduct  its  business  as now  conducted  and as  presently
proposed to be conducted.  American is duly  qualified and in good standing as a
foreign  corporation in each other  jurisdiction  (as shown on Section 4.1(a) of
the American  Disclosure  Schedule) in which the character of the property owned
or leased by it or the  nature  of its  business  or  operations  requires  such
qualification,  with full power and authority  (corporate and other) to carry on
the  business in which it is  engaged,  except in such  jurisdictions  where the
failure  to  be so  qualified  or  in  good  standing,  individually  or in  the
aggregate,  is not  reasonably  likely  to have a  Material  Adverse  Effect  on
American.

         (b) Each of American and its  Subsidiaries  has all requisite power and
authority (corporate and other) to execute,  deliver and perform its obligations
under this Agreement and each Collateral Document

                                      - 6 -

<PAGE>



executed or required to be executed by such party pursuant hereto or thereto and
to  consummate  the Merger and the other  transactions  contemplated  hereby and
thereby, and the execution,  delivery and performance of this Agreement and each
Collateral  Document  executed or required  to be  executed  pursuant  hereto or
thereto have been duly authorized by all requisite  corporate or other action on
the part of  American  and its  Subsidiaries,  other  than the  approval  of the
American  stockholders  contemplated by Section 4.13 of this  Agreement,  and no
other corporate  proceedings on the part of American or any of its  Subsidiaries
are  necessary to authorize  this  Agreement  or the  transactions  contemplated
hereby or to consummate  the Merger or the other  transactions  so  contemplated
(other than, with respect to the Merger,  the Required Vote). This Agreement has
been  duly  executed  and  delivered  by  American  and  constitutes,  and  each
Collateral  Document  executed or  required  to be executed by American  and its
Subsidiaries  pursuant  hereto or to  consummate  the Merger when  executed  and
delivered by American and its Subsidiaries,  as applicable,  will constitute,  a
valid and binding  obligation of American and its  Subsidiaries,  as applicable,
enforceable  in  accordance  with  their  respective   terms,   except  as  such
enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy,  moratorium, insolvency and similar
laws  affecting the rights and remedies of creditors and  obligations of debtors
generally and by general  principles of equity. The provisions of Section 203 of
the DCL will not apply to this  Agreement or the Merger.  As of the date hereof,
the Board of Directors of American, at a meeting duly called and held at which a
quorum was present throughout,  has approved the Merger and this Agreement,  and
has recommended that the American  stockholders approve and adopt this Agreement
and the  transactions  contemplated  hereby,  including  without  limitation the
Merger.

         (c)  The  execution,  delivery  and  performance  by  American  and its
Subsidiaries,  as  applicable,  of this  Agreement and any  Collateral  Document
executed or required to be executed by such parties  pursuant  hereto or thereto
do  not,  and  the  consummation  by  American  of  the  Merger  and  the  other
transactions  contemplated  hereby and thereby,  and compliance  with the terms,
conditions and provisions hereof or thereof by such parties will not:

                  (i) (A) Except as set forth in Section  4.1(c) of the American
         Disclosure Schedule,  conflict with, or result in a breach or violation
         of, or constitute a default under,  any Organic Document of American or
         its Subsidiaries,  as applicable,  or (B) conflict with, or result in a
         breach or violation  of, or constitute a default  under,  or permit the
         termination,   cancellation   or  acceleration  of  any  obligation  or
         liability  in, or but for any  requirement  of the  giving of notice or
         passage of time or both would  constitute such a conflict with,  breach
         or  violation  of, or default  under,  or permit any such  termination,
         cancellation or acceleration of, any agreement, arrangement,  contract,
         undertaking,  understanding,  Applicable  Law or  other  obligation  or
         Private  Authorization of American or its Subsidiaries,  as applicable,
         except,  in the  case of  clause  (B),  for such  conflicts,  breaches,
         violations, terminations, cancellations, defaults or accelerations that
         would not,  individually or in the aggregate,  be reasonably  likely to
         have a Material Adverse Effect on American; or

                  (ii)  result in or permit the  creation or  imposition  of any
         Lien upon any property now owned or leased by American  except for such
         Liens that would not,  individually or in the aggregate,  be reasonably
         likely to have a Material Adverse Effect on American; or

                  (iii) require any  Governmental  Authorization or Governmental
         Filing  except  for  (A)  the  FCC  Consents,  (B)  filings  under  the
         Hart-Scott-Rodino  Act, (C) the filing with the  Commission  of (I) the
         Information  Statement  and (II) such reports  under  Section  13(a) or
         15(d) of the  Exchange Act as may be required in  connection  with this
         Agreement and the transactions  contemplated by this Agreement, (D) the
         filing of the  Certificate  of Merger with the  Delaware  Secretary  of
         State and appropriate  documents with the relevant authorities of other
         states in which American is qualified to do business and (E) such other
         Governmental Authorizations and Governmental Filings the failure

                                      - 7 -

<PAGE>



         of which to be made or  obtained  would not be  individually  or in the
         aggregate,  reasonably  likely  to have a  Material  Adverse  Effect on
         American.

         (d) American  does not have any direct or indirect  Subsidiaries  other
than those set forth on Section 4.1(d) of the American Disclosure Schedule; each
of such  Subsidiaries  is (i)  wholly-owned  unless  noted  otherwise in Section
4.1(d) of the American  Disclosure  Schedule,  (ii) a corporation  which is duly
organized,  validly  existing  and  in  good  standing  under  the  laws  of the
respective state of incorporation  set forth opposite its name on Section 4.1(d)
of the  American  Disclosure  Schedule,  and (iii)  duly  qualified  and in good
standing  as a  foreign  corporation  in each  other  jurisdiction  (as shown on
Section  4.1(d) of the American  Disclosure  Schedule) in which the character of
the property  owned or leased by it or the nature of its business or  operations
requires such qualification, with full power and authority (corporate and other)
to carry on the business in which it is engaged,  except where the failure to be
so qualified or in good standing, individually or in the aggregate, would not be
reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect on American.  As of the date
hereof,  American owns,  directly or indirectly,  all of the outstanding capital
stock  and  equity  interests  (as  shown  in  Section  4.1(d)  of the  American
Disclosure  Schedule) of such Subsidiaries,  free and clear of all Liens (except
as set forth in the  American  Financial  Statements  or  Section  4.1(d) of the
American Disclosure  Schedule),  and all such stock has been duly authorized and
validly  issued and is fully paid and  nonassessable.  There are no  outstanding
Option Securities or Convertible Securities,  or agreements or understandings of
any nature  whatsoever,  relating to the  authorized and unissued or outstanding
capital  stock  of  such  Subsidiaries  (except  as set  forth  in the  American
Financial Statements or Section 4.1(d) of the American Disclosure Schedule).

         4.2 Financial and Other Information.  American has heretofore furnished
to  Mergeparty  copies  of the  audited  consolidated  financial  statements  of
American and its  Subsidiaries  set forth in its Annual Report on Form 10-K (the
"American  10-K") for the fiscal year ended  December 31, 1996 and the unaudited
consolidated  financial statements of American and its Subsidiaries set forth in
its  Quarterly  Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal  quarter  ended June 30, 1997
(collectively,  the "American  Financial  Statements").  The American  Financial
Statements,  including in each case the notes thereto, comply as to form, in all
material  respects,  with applicable  accounting  requirements and the published
rules and regulations of the Commission with respect thereto, have been prepared
in accordance  with GAAP applied on a consistent  basis  throughout  the periods
covered  thereby,  except as otherwise noted therein,  and fairly present in all
material respects the financial condition,  results of operations and cash flows
of  American  and  its  Subsidiaries  on the  bases  therein  stated,  as of the
respective  dates  thereof,  and  for the  respective  periods  covered  thereby
subject, in the case of unaudited financial statements, to normal year-end audit
adjustments  and  accruals.  American has filed all  required  reports and other
documents with the Commission since July 1, 1995 (the "American SEC Documents").
Except as set forth in the American SEC Documents  filed and publicly  available
prior to the date hereof (the "Filed American SEC Documents"),  neither American
nor any of its  Subsidiaries  has any  liabilities  or obligations of any nature
(whether accrued,  absolute,  contingent or otherwise) which, individually or in
the aggregate,  would be reasonably  likely to have a Material Adverse Effect on
American. None of the American Disclosure Schedule or the American SEC Documents
contains or will  contain any untrue  statement  of a material  fact or omits or
will omit to state a material  fact  required to be stated  herein or therein or
necessary in order to make the statements  contained herein or therein, in light
of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

         4.3  Changes in  Condition.  Except as set forth in Section  4.3 of the
American Disclosure  Schedule,  between June 30, 1997 and the date hereof, there
has been no Material Adverse Change in American.


                                      - 8 -

<PAGE>



         4.4 Properties.  (a) American and each of its Subsidiaries  (other than
the Tower Subsidiaries) has good and marketable title to all material parcels of
real property owned by it and good and merchantable  title to all material items
of property and assets, tangible and intangible,  (i) reflected in the financial
statements  of American as of June 30, 1997,  and (ii)  acquired  after June 30,
1997, except in each case for those sold or otherwise disposed of since June 30,
1997, in each case free and clear of all Liens,  except (x) Permitted  Liens and
(y) Liens set forth in the American  Financial  Statements or Section 4.4 of the
American Disclosure Schedule.

         (b) All of the assets of American and its Subsidiaries  material to the
continued  operation  of  their  respective  businesses  are in  good  operating
condition,  reasonable wear and tear excepted, and usable in the ordinary course
of business, except where the failure to be in such condition or so usable would
not,  individually or in the aggregate,  be reasonably likely to have a Material
Adverse Effect on American.

         4.5 Compliance  with Private  Authorizations.  American and each of its
Subsidiaries  (other  than the Tower  Subsidiaries)  has  obtained  all  Private
Authorizations  which are  necessary for the ownership and operation by American
or its Subsidiaries of the business of American and its Subsidiaries, taken as a
whole,  and the conduct of business  thereof as now conducted and which,  if not
obtained and maintained,  would, individually or in the aggregate, be reasonably
likely  to  have a  Material  Adverse  Effect  on  American.  All  such  Private
Authorizations  are, to  American's  knowledge,  in full force and  effect,  and
neither American nor any of its Subsidiaries (other than the Tower Subsidiaries)
is, to  American's  knowledge,  in breach or violation  of, or in default in the
performance,  observance or fulfillment of, any such Private Authorization, and,
to American's knowledge, no Event exists or has occurred, which constitutes,  or
but for any requirement of the giving of notice or passage of time or both would
constitute,  such a  breach,  violation  or  default,  under  any  such  Private
Authorization,  except for such  defaults,  breaches or violations as would not,
individually  or in the  aggregate,  be  reasonably  likely  to have a  Material
Adverse Effect on American.

         4.6 Compliance  with  Governmental  Authorizations  and Applicable Law;
Litigation.

         (a) Section 4.6(a) of the American  Disclosure Schedule contains a list
of each material  Governmental  Authorization  (including without limitation all
material  American  FCC  Licenses)  required  under  Applicable  Laws to own and
operate  the  business of American  and its  Subsidiaries  (other than the Tower
Subsidiaries),  including without limitation each of the American  Stations,  as
currently operated,  all of which are in full force and effect,  subject to such
qualifications  and  exceptions  as may be set  forth in  Section  4.6(a) of the
American  Disclosure  Schedule.  Certain of the  Subsidiaries of American (other
than any of the Tower  Subsidiaries)  are the  authorized  legal  holders of the
American  FCC  Licenses  listed in  Section  4.6(a) of the  American  Disclosure
Schedule,  none of which is subject to any  restriction or condition which would
limit in any material respect the operations of any of the American  Stations as
currently conducted except as noted in Section 4.6(a) of the American Disclosure
Schedule.  The American FCC  Licenses  listed in Section  4.6(a) of the American
Disclosure  Schedule are valid and in full force and effect and are not impaired
in any  material  respect  by any  act or  omission  of  American  or any of its
Subsidiaries,  subject to such qualifications and exceptions as may be set forth
in Section 4.6(a) of the American Disclosure Schedule; and the operation of each
of the American Stations is in accordance with such American FCC Licenses in all
material respects,  except to the extent so listed in Sections 4.6(a) and (b) of
the  American  Disclosure  Schedule.  American  is  fully  qualified  to be  the
transferor of control of the American FCC Licenses.  All material reports, forms
and statements  required to be filed by American or any of its Subsidiaries with
the FCC with  respect to each of the American  Stations  have been filed and are
true,  complete and accurate in all  material  respects.  American or one of its
Subsidiaries  (other than the Tower  Subsidiaries) has obtained all Governmental
Authorizations in addition to the American FCC Licenses listed in Section 4.6(a)
of the American  Disclosure  Schedule  which are  necessary for the ownership or
operations or the conduct of the

                                      - 9 -

<PAGE>



business of American and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole (except with respect
to the American Brokered Stations),  as now conducted and which, if not obtained
and maintained, would, individually or in the aggregate, be reasonably likely to
have a Material  Adverse  Effect on American  and  American's  performance  with
respect  thereto,  and the  operation  of the American  Brokered  Stations is in
accordance  with all  applicable  Governmental  Authorizations  except where the
failure to be so in accordance would not be reasonably likely to have a Material
Adverse  Effect on American.  As of the date hereof,  except as noted in Section
4.6(a) of the American Disclosure Schedule, no application, action or proceeding
is pending for the renewal or material  modification  of any of the American FCC
Licenses and, to American's knowledge,  except as noted in Section 4.6(b) of the
American  Disclosure  Schedule,  there is not now  before  the FCC any  material
investigation, proceeding, notice of violation, order of forfeiture or complaint
against  American or any of its  Subsidiaries  relating  to any of the  American
Stations or other FCC licensed  facilities that, if adversely decided,  would be
reasonably  likely to have a Material  Adverse Effect on American (and as of the
date hereof  American does not have  knowledge of any basis that would cause the
FCC not to renew any of the American FCC Licenses).  Except as noted in Schedule
4.6(b) of the American Disclosure Schedule,  as of the date hereof, there is not
now pending and, to American's knowledge, there is not threatened, any action by
or before the FCC to revoke, suspend,  cancel, rescind or modify in any material
respect any of the American FCC Licenses  that, if adversely  decided,  would be
reasonably  likely to have a Material  Adverse  Effect on  American  (other than
proceedings to amend FCC rules of general applicability to the radio industry).

         (b) Except as otherwise specifically set forth in Section 4.6(b) of the
American  Disclosure   Schedule,   since  January  1,  1996,  American  and  its
Subsidiaries  (other than the Tower Subsidiaries) have conducted its and each of
their  respective  businesses  and  owned  and  operated  its and  each of their
respective   properties  in  accordance  with  all  Applicable  Laws  (excluding
Environmental Laws) and Governmental  Authorizations,  except for such breaches,
violations and defaults as,  individually or in the aggregate,  have not had and
are not reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect on American.  Except
as otherwise specifically described in Section 4.6(b) of the American Disclosure
Schedule and except with respect to Environmental Laws, neither American nor any
of its Subsidiaries is in or is charged in writing by any Authority with, or, to
American's knowledge, is threatened or under investigation by any Authority with
respect  to,  any  breach  or  violation  of,  or  default  in the  performance,
observance or  fulfillment  of, any Applicable Law relating to the ownership and
operation  of  American's  and its  Subsidiaries'  properties  or the conduct of
American's and its  Subsidiaries'  business which will,  individually  or in the
aggregate,  be reasonably  likely to have a Material Adverse Effect on American.
Except as otherwise  specifically  described  in Section  4.6(b) of the American
Disclosure  Schedule and except with  respect to  Environmental  Laws,  no Event
exists or has occurred, which constitutes,  or but for any requirement of giving
of notice or passage of time or both would constitute,  such a breach, violation
or default,  under any Governmental  Authorization or any Applicable Law, except
for such breaches,  violations or defaults as, individually or in the aggregate,
have not had and  would not be  reasonably  likely  to have a  Material  Adverse
Effect on American.  With respect to matters, if any, of a nature referred to in
Section  4.6(b)  of  the  American  Disclosure  Schedule,  except  as  otherwise
specifically  described in Section 4.6(b) of the American  Disclosure  Schedule,
all such information and matters set forth in the American Disclosure  Schedule,
if adversely  determined against American or one of its Subsidiaries (other than
the  Tower  Subsidiaries),  individually  or in  the  aggregate,  would  not  be
reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect on American.

         (c) Except as  disclosed  in the Filed  American  SEC  Documents  or in
Section 4.6(c) of the American Disclosure  Schedule,  there are no Legal Actions
pending  or, to the  knowledge  of  American,  threatened  against or  affecting
American  or  any  of its  Subsidiaries  (other  than  the  Tower  Subsidiaries)
including any action by or before the FCC to revoke, suspend, cancel, rescind or
modify in any  material  respect any of the American  FCC  Licenses,  except for
Legal Actions that,  individually  or in the aggregate,  would not be reasonably
likely to have a Material Adverse Effect on American.

                                     - 10 -

<PAGE>




         4.7  Related  Transactions.  Except as set forth in Section  4.7 of the
American  Disclosure  Schedule,  as  contemplated  herein or as disclosed in the
Filed American SEC Documents, no director, officer, Affiliate or "associate" (as
such term is defined in Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act) of American or any of
its Subsidiaries is currently a party to any transaction which would be required
to be disclosed under Item 404 of Regulation S-K of the Securities Act.

         4.8 Taxes and Tax  Matters.  Except as  provided  in Section 4.8 of the
American Disclosure Schedule:

         (a)  American  has  filed  completely  and  correctly  in all  material
respects all Tax Returns which are required by all  Applicable  Laws to be filed
by it, and has paid, or made adequate provision for the payment of, all material
Taxes which have or may become due and payable  pursuant to said Tax Returns and
all other Taxes,  governmental  charges and  assessments  received to date other
than those Taxes being contested in good faith for which adequate  provision has
been  made on the  most  recent  balance  sheet  forming  part  of the  American
Financial  Statements.  The Tax Returns of American have been  prepared,  in all
material respects, in accordance with all Applicable Laws and generally accepted
principles applicable to taxation consistently applied;

         (b) all  material  Taxes which  American is required by law to withhold
and collect have been duly withheld and collected, and have been paid over, in a
timely manner, to the proper Taxing Authorities to the extent due and payable;

         (c) American has not executed any waiver to extend,  or otherwise taken
or failed to take any  action  that  would  have the  effect of  extending,  the
applicable  statute of limitations in respect of any Tax liabilities of American
for the fiscal years prior to and including the most recent fiscal year;

         (d) American is not a  "consenting  corporation"  within the meaning of
Section  341(f)  of the  Code.  American  has at all  times  been  taxable  as a
Subchapter C corporation under the Code;

         (e) American has never been a member of any  consolidated  group (other
than with American and its  Subsidiaries)  for Tax  purposes.  American is not a
party  to any  tax  sharing  agreement  or  arrangement,  other  than  with  its
Subsidiaries;

         (f) no Liens for  Taxes  exist  with  respect  to any of the  assets or
properties  of  American,  except for  statutory  Liens for Taxes not yet due or
payable or that are being contested in good faith;

         (g) all of the U.S. Federal income Tax Returns filed by or on behalf of
each of American and its Subsidiaries have been examined by and settled with the
Internal  Revenue  Service,  or the statute of  limitations  with respect to the
relevant Tax liability  expired,  for all taxable  periods through and including
the period ending on the date on which the Effective Time occurs;

         (h) all Taxes due with  respect to any  completed  and  settled  audit,
examination or deficiency litigation with any Taxing Authority have been paid in
full;

         (i) there is no audit,  examination,  deficiency,  or refund litigation
pending  with  respect to any Taxes and  during  the past three  years no Taxing
Authority has given written notice of the commencement of any audit, examination
or deficiency litigation, with respect to any Taxes;


                                     - 11 -

<PAGE>



         (j) American is not bound by any currently  effective  private  ruling,
closing agreement or similar  agreement with any Taxing Authority  relating to a
material amount of Taxes;

         (k) Except with respect to like-kind exchanges pursuant to Section 1031
of the Code,  American  shall not be  required  to include  in a taxable  period
ending after the Effective Time, any taxable income  attributable to income that
economically accrued in a prior taxable period as a result of Section 481 of the
Code, the installment method of accounting or any comparable  provision of state
or local Tax law;

         (l) (A) no  material  amount of  property  of  American  is "tax exempt
property"  within the  meaning of Section  168(h) of the Code,  (B) no  material
amount of assets of American is subject to a lease under Section  7701(h) of the
Code,  and (C)  American is not a party to any material  lease made  pursuant to
Section 168(f)(8) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as amended and in effect
prior to the date of enactment of the Tax Equity and Fiscal  Responsibility  Act
of 1982; and

         (m)  immediately  following  the  Merger,  American  will  not have any
material  amount  of  income  or gain  that has  been  deferred  under  Treasury
Regulation  Section  1.1502-13,  or  any  material  excess  loss  account  in  a
Subsidiary under Treasury Regulation Section 1.1502-19.

         4.9      Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.

         (a) American  (which for purposes of this Section 4.9 shall include any
ERISA Affiliate) currently sponsors, maintains and contributes only to the Plans
and Benefit  Arrangements set forth in Section 4.9(a) of the American Disclosure
Schedule.  American has delivered or made available to Mergeparty true, complete
and correct copies of (1) each Plan and Benefit  Arrangement (or, in the case of
any unwritten Plans or Benefit Arrangements,  reasonable  descriptions thereof),
(2) the two most recent annual reports on Form 5500 (including all schedules and
attachments  thereto)  filed with the Internal  Revenue  Service with respect to
each Plan (if any such report was  required  by  Applicable  Law),  (3) the most
recent summary plan  description  (or similar  document) for each Plan for which
such a summary plan  description  is required by Applicable Law or was otherwise
provided to plan  participants or beneficiaries and (4) each trust agreement and
insurance or annuity contract or other funding or financing arrangement relating
to any Plan.  To the  knowledge of  American,  each such Form 5500 and each such
summary plan description (or similar  document) does not, as of the date hereof,
contain any material misstatements. Except as set forth in Section 4.9(a) of the
American Disclosure Schedule, as to all Plans and Benefit Arrangements listed in
Section 4.9(a) of the American Disclosure Schedule:

                  (i) all such Plans and  Benefit  Arrangements  comply and have
         been  administered  in form and in operation in  accordance  with their
         respective  terms,  and  with  all  Applicable  Laws,  in all  material
         respects,  and American has not received any notice from any  Authority
         disputing or investigating such compliance;

                  (ii) all such Plans  maintained  by American that are intended
         to comply with  Sections 401 and 501 of the Code comply in all material
         respects with all  applicable  requirements  of such  sections,  and no
         Event has occurred  which is known to American  which will give rise to
         disqualification of any such Plan under such sections or to a tax under
         Section  511 of the Code and each such Plan has been the  subject  of a
         determination  letter from the Internal  Revenue  Service to the effect
         that such Plan and related  trust is qualified  and exempt from Federal
         income Taxes under  Sections  401(a) and 501(a),  respectively,  of the
         Code;  no such  determination  letter  has been  revoked,  and,  to the
         knowledge of American, revocation has not been threatened. American has
         delivered  or made  available  to  Mergeparty a copy of the most recent
         determination letter received with respect

                                     - 12 -

<PAGE>



         to each Plan for which such a letter has been issued, as well as a copy
         of any pending  application  for a determination  letter.  American has
         also  provided  or made  available  to  Mergeparty  a list of all  Plan
         amendments  as to which a  favorable  determination  letter has not yet
         been received;

                  (iii)  none of the  assets  of any such Plan are  invested  in
         employer securities or employer real property;

                  (iv)  there are no  Claims  (other  than  routine  Claims  for
         benefits  or actions  seeking  quali fied  domestic  relations  orders)
         pending or, to American's knowledge, threatened involving such Plans or
         the assets of such Plans, and, to American's knowledge,  no facts exist
         which are reasonably likely to give rise to any such Claims (other than
         routine  Claims for  benefits  or actions  seeking  qualified  domestic
         relations orders);

                  (v) no such Plan is subject to Title IV of ERISA, and American
         has no actual or potential liability thereunder;

                  (vi) all group health Plans of American  have been operated in
         compliance  in  all  material  respects  with  the  group  health  plan
         continuation coverage requirements of COBRA;

                  (vii)  neither  American  nor,  to its  knowledge,  any of its
         directors, officers, employees or any other fiduciary has committed any
         breach of  fiduciary  responsibility  imposed  by ERISA or any  similar
         Applicable  Law that would  subject  American or any of its  respective
         directors,  officers  or  employees  to  liability  under  ERISA or any
         similar Applicable Law;

                  (viii)  American  is not and  never  has  been a party  to any
         Multiemployer Plan or made contributions to any such Plan;

                  (ix) except as set forth in the American Financial  Statements
         and pursuant to the provisions of COBRA, American does not maintain any
         Plan  that  provides  for  post-retirement  medical  or life  insurance
         benefits,  and American does not have any  obligation or liability with
         respect to any such Plan  previously  maintained  by it,  except as the
         provisions  of COBRA may apply to any former  employees  or retirees of
         American;

                  (x) all material contributions to, and material payments from,
         the Plans and Benefit  Arrangements  that may have been  required to be
         made  in   accordance   with  the  terms  of  the  Plans  and   Benefit
         Arrangements,  and any applicable collective bargaining agreement, have
         been made. All such  contributions to, and payments from, the Plans and
         Benefit  Arrangements,  except  those  payments to be made from a trust
         qualified  under  Section  401(a) of the Code,  for any  period  ending
         before the Closing Date that are not yet,  but will be,  required to be
         made,  will be properly  accrued and  reflected in the Closing  Balance
         Sheet;

                  (xi) (1) no  "prohibited  transaction"  (as defined in Section
         4975 of the Code or Section 406 of ERISA) has  occurred  that  involves
         the assets of any Plan; (2) no prohibited transaction has occurred that
         could subject American,  any of its employees,  or, to the knowledge of
         American,  a trustee,  administrator  or other  fiduciary  of any trust
         created   under  any  Plan  to  the  tax  or  sanctions  on  prohibited
         transactions  imposed by Section  4975 of the Code or Title I of ERISA;
         (3) none of American,  any of its ERISA Affiliates or, to the knowledge
         of American, any trustee,  administrator or other fiduciary of any Plan
         or any agent of any of the foregoing has engaged in any  transaction or
         acted in a manner  that could,  or has failed to act so as to,  subject
         American or any trustee,

                                     - 13 -

<PAGE>



         administrator  or  other  fiduciary  to any  liability  for  breach  of
         fiduciary duty under ERISA or any other Applicable Law;

                  (xii)  American has not  incurred any material  liability to a
         Plan (other than for contributions not yet due) which liability has not
         been fully paid or accrued for payment as of the date hereof;

                  (xiii) except as otherwise contemplated by this Agreement,  no
         current  or  former  employee  of  American  will  be  entitled  to any
         additional  benefits  or any  acceleration  of the time of  payment  or
         vesting  of any  benefits  under any Plan or Benefit  Arrangement  as a
         result of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;

                  (xiv)  no  compensation  payable  by  American  to  any of its
         employees under any existing Plan,  Benefit  Arrangement  (including by
         reason of the  transactions  contemplated  hereby)  will be  subject to
         disallowance under Section 162(m) of the Code;

                  (xv) any amount  that could be  received  (whether  in cash or
         property  or  the  vesting  of  property)  as a  result  of  any of the
         transactions  contemplated by this Agreement by any employee,  officer,
         director or independent  contractor of American who is a  "disqualified
         individual"  (as such term is defined in proposed  Treasury  Regulation
         Section  1.280G-1)  under  any  employment  arrangement  would  not  be
         characterized as an "excess parachute payment" (as such term is defined
         in Section 280G(b)(1) of the Code);

                  (xvi) no Plan which is an employee  stock  ownership  plan (an
         "ESOP")  constitutes a leveraged  employee stock  ownership plan within
         the  meaning  of  Section  4975(e)(7)  of the  Code  and  there  are no
         unallocated  shares of stock of American  currently held under any such
         ESOP in a suspense account; and

                  (xvii)  there  are  no  outstanding  options  (or  contractual
         obligations to issue options) to acquire American Common Stock or other
         American  securities  other than options held by employees or directors
         of American and issued under Benefit Arrangements (the aggregate number
         of which are as set forth in Section  4.11 of the  American  Disclosure
         Schedule).

         (b)  The  execution,  delivery  and  performance  by  American  of this
Agreement and the  Collateral  Documents  executed or required to be executed by
American pursuant hereto and thereto will not involve any prohibited transaction
within the meaning of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code.

         4.10  Insurance.  All material  fire and casualty,  general  liability,
business  interruption,  product  liability,  and  sprinkler  and  water  damage
insurance policies maintained by American or any of its Subsidiaries (other than
the Tower Subsidiaries) are with reputable insurance carriers,  provide full and
adequate  coverage,  for  American and such  Subsidiaries  (other than the Tower
Subsidiaries) and their respective  properties and assets,  and are in character
and amount at least  equivalent  to that  carried by Persons  engaged in similar
businesses  and subject to the same or similar  perils or hazards,  except where
the failure to maintain such insurance  policies,  either individually or in the
aggregate,  would not be reasonably  likely to have a Material Adverse Effect on
American.


                                     - 14 -

<PAGE>



         4.11 Authorized  Capital Stock. The authorized and outstanding  capital
stock, Option Securities and Convertible Securities of American, as of September
18, 1997, are as set forth in Section 4.11 of the American Disclosure  Schedule.
Except as set forth in Section 4.11 of the American Disclosure  Schedule,  since
September  18, 1997,  American has not issued any shares of capital stock of any
class, any Option Securities or any Convertible Securities, except for the issue
of American Common Stock pursuant to the conversion of Convertible Securities or
the exercise of Option Securities  outstanding on September 18, 1997 and in each
case in  accordance  with  their  present  terms or as  otherwise  described  or
contemplated  by the  Filed  American  SEC  Documents.  All of such  outstanding
capital stock has been duly  authorized  and validly  issued,  is fully paid and
nonassessable  and is not subject to any preemptive or similar rights.  American
has,  prior to the date hereof,  made available to Mergeparty a true and correct
copy of the Restated  Certificate  of  Incorporation  of American (the "Restated
Certificate")  as in effect on the date  hereof.  Except as set forth in Section
4.11 of the American Disclosure Schedule, there are no bonds, debentures,  notes
or other  indebtedness  of  American  outstanding  having  the right to vote (or
convertible into, or exchangeable  for,  securities having the right to vote) on
any matters on which  stockholders of American may vote.  Except as set forth in
Section 4.11 of the American Disclosure Schedule, or, except as set forth in the
Restated Certificate, there are no contractual obligations of American or any of
its  Subsidiaries  outstanding  to repurchase,  redeem or otherwise  acquire any
shares  of  capital  stock of  American  or any of its  Subsidiaries.  Except as
contemplated by the provisions of Section 6.20 hereof or as set forth in Section
4.11 of the American Disclosure Schedule,  there are no contractual  obligations
of American  to vote or to dispose of any shares of the capital  stock of any of
its Subsidiaries.

         4.12 Employment Arrangements. Except as described in the Filed American
SEC Documents or in Section 4.12 of the American Disclosure Schedule,  as of the
date hereof (i) none of the  employees  of  American or any of its  Subsidiaries
(other than the Tower Subsidiaries) is now, or, to American's  knowledge,  since
November 1, 1993 and while an  employee  of American or any of its  Subsidiaries
has been, represented by any labor union or other employee collective bargaining
organization,  or are now, or, to American's  knowledge,  since November 1, 1993
have been, parties to any labor or other collective bargaining  agreement,  (ii)
there are, to American's  knowledge,  no pending labor strikes,  work stoppages,
lockouts, slow downs,  grievances (including unfair labor charges),  disputes or
controversies  with any union or any other  employee  or  collective  bargaining
organization  of  such  employees,  or  threats  of  such  labor  strikes,  work
stoppages,   lockouts  or  slowdowns  or  any  pending  demands  for  collective
bargaining by any union or other such  organization,  and (iii) neither American
nor any of its Subsidiaries  (other than the Tower  Subsidiaries) nor any of its
or any of their employees is now, or, to American's knowledge, since November 1,
1993 has been, subject to or involved in or, to American's knowledge, threatened
with,  any  union  elections,  petitions  therefor  or other  organizational  or
recruiting  activities.  American  and its  Subsidiaries  (other  than the Tower
Subsidiaries) have performed all obligations  required to be performed under all
Employment  Arrangements  and none of them is in  breach or  violation  of or in
default or arrears under any of the terms,  provisions  or  conditions  thereof,
except  for such  breaches,  violations,  defaults  and  arrears,  which  either
individually or in the aggregate,  have not had and are not reasonably likely to
have a Material Adverse Effect on American.

         4.13  Voting  Requirements.  Section  4.13 of the  American  Disclosure
Schedule sets forth a list of certain stockholders of American and the number of
shares  of Class A Common  and  Class B Common  owned  of  record  by each  such
stockholder as of the date hereof and the number of outstanding  shares of Class
A Common  Stock and/or of Class B Common  Stock as of  September  18, 1997.  The
affirmative vote of the holders of shares of American Common Stock, representing
a majority of the outstanding voting power of American Common Stock, voting as a
single class (the  "Required  Vote"),  is the only vote necessary to approve and
adopt this Agreement and the transactions  contemplated by this Agreement. As of
September 18, 1997,  31,408,544 votes  constituted a majority of the outstanding
voting power of American Common Stock.

                                     - 15 -

<PAGE>




         4.14 Brokers. No broker,  investment banker, financial advisor or other
person, other than Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation ("CSFB"), the fees and
expenses  of  which  will be paid by  American,  is  entitled  to any  broker's,
finder's,  financial  advisor's or other similar fee or commission in connection
with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.  American has furnished to
Mergeparty true and complete copies of all agreements  under which any such fees
or expenses may be payable and all  indemnification and other agreements related
to the engagement of the persons to whom such fees may be payable.

         4.15 Information  Supplied.  The Information Statement will not, at the
date it is first mailed to the American stockholders (and, in the event American
shall prepare a Proxy Statement  pursuant to Section 6.6 hereof,  at the time of
the American  Stockholders  Meeting,  the Proxy  Statement will not) contain any
untrue  statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required
to be stated  therein or necessary in order to make the statements  therein,  in
light of the  circumstances  under  which  they are made,  not  misleading.  For
purposes of the foregoing,  the truth of any information or the existence of any
omissions at the time of any American  Stockholders  Meeting shall be determined
with  reference  to the Proxy  Statement as then  amended or  supplemented.  The
Information  Statement will comply as to form in all material  respects with the
requirements  of the  Exchange  Act and the  rules and  regulations  thereunder.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, no representation or warranty is made by American
with respect to statements made or  incorporated  by reference  therein based on
information supplied by Mergeparty or Mergeparty  Subsidiary including materials
of  Mergeparty  and  Mergeparty  Subsidiaries  incorporated  by reference in the
Information Statement.

         4.16  Ordinary  Course of  Business.  Except as may be described in the
Filed  American  SEC  Documents  or in  Section  4.9(a) or  Section  4.16 of the
American   Disclosure  Schedule  and  except  for  the  Tower  Merger  or  Tower
Distribution,  as the case may be, since June 30, 1997 to the date  hereof,  (i)
each of American and its Subsidiaries  (other than the Tower  Subsidiaries)  has
operated its business in the normal,  usual and customary manner in the ordinary
and  regular  course of  business,  consistent  with  prior  practice  (it being
understood  and agreed for purposes of this Section 4.16 by the parties that the
acquisition,  disposition  and  exchange of radio  stations  is in the  ordinary
course of business) and (ii) there has not been by American and its Subsidiaries
(other  than the  Tower  Subsidiaries)  (a) any  declaration,  setting  aside or
payment of any dividend or other distribution  payable in cash, stock,  property
or  otherwise  except  for  (x)  the  payment  of  dividends  or the  making  of
distributions  by a direct or indirect  wholly-owned  Subsidiary of American and
(y) the payment of dividends on shares of American Preferred Stock in accordance
with their terms, (b) any split,  combination or  reclassification of any of its
capital stock or any issuance or the  authorization of any issuance of any other
securities  in  respect  of,  in lieu of or in  substitution  for  shares of its
capital  stock,  (c) (I) any  granting  to any  executive  officer  or other key
employee of American or any of its Subsidiaries of any increase in compensation,
except for normal  increases in the ordinary course of business  consistent with
past practice or as required  under Benefit  Arrangements,  (II) any granting to
any such  executive  officer of any increase in severance  or  termination  pay,
except  as was  required  under any  Benefit  Arrangement,  (III)  except in the
ordinary  course,  any  entering  into,  amendment  in any  material  respect or
termination of any Governmental Authorization, Private Authorization or material
agreement,   arrangement,   contract,   undertaking,   understanding   or  other
obligation, or (IV) any adoption or amendment of any Plan or Benefit Arrangement
(including  changing any actuarial or other assumption used to calculate funding
obligations  with  respect  to  any  Plan,  or  changing  the  manner  in  which
contributions to any Plan are made or the basis on which such  contributions are
determined)  except as required to comply with  changes in  Applicable  Law, (d)
except insofar as may have been disclosed in the Filed American SEC Documents or
required by a change in GAAP,  any change in accounting  methods,  principles or
practices by American materially affecting its assets,  liabilities or business,
(e) any sale,  disposition  or contract to dispose of any of its  properties  or
assets having a value in excess of $1,000,000 other than in the ordinary course,
and (f) any damage,  destruction  or loss,  whether or not covered by insurance,
that has had a Material Adverse Effect on American.

                                     - 16 -

<PAGE>




         4.17  Environmental  Matters.  Except as set forth in the  American SEC
Documents or Section 4.17 of the American Disclosure Schedule, American:

         (a) (i) has not been notified in writing that it is potentially  liable
and,   has  not  received  any  written   request  for   information   or  other
correspondence  concerning  its potential  liability with respect to any site or
facility,  under or pursuant to any Environmental  Law, (ii) to the knowledge of
American,  is not a  potentially  responsible  party" under,  the  Comprehensive
Environmental Response, Compensation and "Liability Act of 1980, as amended, the
Resource  Conservation  and Recovery Act, as amended,  or any similar state Law,
and  (iii) to the  knowledge  of  American,  is not the  subject  of or,  to the
knowledge of American,  threatened with any Legal Action  involving a demand for
damages  or other  potential  liability,  including  any Lien,  with  respect to
violations or breaches of any Environmental Law;

         (b)  to  the  knowledge  of  American,   is  in  compliance   with  all
Environmental  Laws and has obtained all  Environmental  Permits  required under
Environmental  Laws,  except  for such  noncompliances  and  failures  to obtain
Environmental  Permits as,  individually  or in the aggregate,  have not had and
would not be reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Affect on American;

         (c) (i) has not entered into or received any consent decree, compliance
order or administrative order issued pursuant to any Environmental Law, and (ii)
is not a party in  interest  or in  default  under any  judgment,  order,  writ,
injunction  or decree of any Final Order  issued  pursuant to any  Environmental
Law; and

         (d) to the  knowledge  of American,  there have not been any  releases,
spills or disposal  activities of or involving  Hazardous  Materials,  including
without  limitation  from  underground  storage  tanks,  on or from any property
owned,  operated  or leased  by  American  which  releases,  spills or  disposal
activities  resulted or could  reasonably be expected to result in investigation
and  cleanup  expenditures  which  upon  payment of such  expenditures  would be
reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect on American.

         Notwithstanding  anything to the contrary  contained in this Agreement,
American makes no representation or warranty with respect to its compliance with
Environmental Laws or environmental  matters  generally,  except as specifically
set forth in this Section 4.17.

         4.18 State  Takeover  Statutes.  Except for  Section 203 of the DCL, to
American's knowledge, no other state takeover Law, statute or similar statute or
regulation applies or purports to apply to the Merger,  this Agreement or any of
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

         4.19 Opinion of Financial Advisor. American has received the opinion of
CSFB, dated the date of this Agreement, to the effect that, as of such date, the
Merger  Consideration  to be received by the holders of American Common Stock in
the Merger is fair from a  financial  point of view to the  holders of  American
Common Stock.

         4.20 Contracts;  Debt  Instruments.  (a) Except as set forth in Section
4.20  of the  American  Disclosure  Schedule,  neither  American  nor any of its
Subsidiaries  is in violation  of or in default  under (nor does there exist any
condition which upon the passage of time or the giving of notice, or both, would
cause such a violation of or default under) any material agreement, arrangement,
contract, undertaking, understanding or other obligation, including the American
Preferred Stock  ("Contracts"),  to which it is a party or by which it or any of
its properties or assets is bound, except for violations or defaults, that

                                     - 17 -

<PAGE>



individually  or in the  aggregate,  would  not be  reasonably  likely to have a
Material  Adverse  Effect  on  American,  and  none of the  Contracts  prohibits
American from incurring an additional $1.00 of indebtedness.

         (b) American  has made  available  to  Mergeparty  (i) true and correct
copies of all  Contracts  to which any  indebtedness  of  American or any of its
Subsidiaries  (other  than the Tower  Subsidiaries)  in an  aggregate  principal
amount  in excess of  $1,000,000  is  outstanding  or may be  incurred  and (ii)
accurate  information  regarding  the  respective  principal  amounts  currently
outstanding as of the date hereof thereunder.


                                    ARTICLE 5

                  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF MERGEPARTY

         Except  as  set  forth   with   respect  to   specifically   identified
representations and warranties in the Mergeparty Disclosure Schedule, Mergeparty
represents and warrants to American as follows:

         5.1  Organization  and  Business;   Power  and  Authority;   Effect  of
Transaction.

         (a) Each of Mergeparty and Mergeparty  Subsidiary is a corporation duly
incorporated,  validly  existing  and in good  standing  under  the  laws of its
jurisdiction  of  organization   and  has  all  requisite  power  and  authority
(corporate  and other) to own or hold under lease its  properties and to conduct
its business as now conducted and as presently proposed to be conducted. Each of
Mergeparty and Mergeparty Subsidiary is duly qualified and in good standing as a
foreign  corporation in each other  jurisdiction  (as shown on Section 5.1(a) of
the Mergeparty Disclosure Schedule) in which the character of the property owned
or leased by it or the  nature  of its  business  or  operations  requires  such
qualification,  with full power and authority  (corporate and other) to carry on
the  business in which it is  engaged,  except in such  jurisdictions  where the
failure  to be so  qualified  and  in  good  standing,  individually  or in  the
aggregate,  is not  reasonably  likely  to have a  Material  Adverse  Effect  on
Mergeparty.

         (b) Each of  Mergeparty  and  Mergeparty  Subsidiary  has all requisite
power and authority  (corporate  and other) to execute,  deliver and perform its
obligations  under this  Agreement  and each  Collateral  Document  executed  or
required to be executed by  Mergeparty  and/or  Mergeparty  Subsidiary  pursuant
hereto or  thereto  or to  consummate  the  Merger  and the  other  transactions
contemplated hereby and thereby, and the execution,  delivery and performance of
this Agreement and each Collateral  Document executed or required to be executed
pursuant  hereto have been duly  authorized by all requisite  corporate or other
action on the part of  Mergeparty  and/or  Mergeparty  Subsidiary,  and no other
corporate proceedings on the part of Mergeparty and/or Mergeparty Subsidiary are
necessary to authorize this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby or
to  consummate  the  Merger  or the other  transactions  so  contemplated.  This
Agreement  has been  duly  executed  and  delivered  by each of  Mergeparty  and
Mergeparty Subsidiary and constitutes,  and each Collateral Document executed or
required  to be  executed  pursuant  hereto or to  consummate  the  Merger  when
executed  and  delivered  by  Mergeparty  and/or   Mergeparty   Subsidiary  will
constitute,  a valid and binding  obligation  of  Mergeparty  and/or  Mergeparty
Subsidiary,  enforceable in accordance with their  respective  terms,  except as
such  enforceability  may be limited by bankruptcy,  moratorium,  insolvency and
similar laws  affecting the rights and remedies of creditors and  obligations of
debtors  generally and by general  principles of equity.  As of the date hereof,
the Boards of Directors of each of  Mergeparty  and  Mergeparty  Subsidiary,  at
meetings  duly  called and held at which a quorum was present  throughout,  have
unanimously  approved the Merger and this  Agreement.  The Board of Directors of
Mergeparty has, as the sole stockholder of Mergeparty  Subsidiary,  approved and
adopted this Agreement and the Merger, and the transactions contemplated hereby.

                                     - 18 -

<PAGE>




         (c) At the time of execution of this  Agreement,  Mergeparty and all of
its  Affiliates or  "associates"  (as defined in the Exchange Act)  collectively
beneficially  own less  than 5% of the  outstanding  shares of  American  Common
Stock.

         (d) The  execution,  delivery  and  performance  by each of  Mergeparty
and/or  Mergeparty  Subsidiary  of this  Agreement and any  Collateral  Document
executed or required to be executed by such party pursuant hereto or thereto, do
not, and the  consummation by Mergeparty  Subsidiary of the Merger and the other
transactions  hereby and thereby and compliance  with the terms,  conditions and
provisions  hereof or thereof by Mergeparty  and/or  Mergeparty  Subsidiary will
not:

                  (i) (A) conflict  with, or result in a breach or violation of,
         or constitute a default  under,  any Organic  Document of Mergeparty or
         Mergeparty   Subsidiary  or  (B)  any   Applicable  Law  applicable  to
         Mergeparty or Mergeparty  Subsidiary,  or conflict with, or result in a
         breach or violation  of, or constitute a default  under,  or permit the
         termination,   cancellation   or  acceleration  of  any  obligation  or
         liability  in, or but for any  requirement  of the  giving of notice or
         passage of time or both would  constitute such a conflict with,  breach
         or  violation  of, or default  under,  or permit any such  termination,
         cancellation or acceleration of, any Contract or Private  Authorization
         of Mergeparty or Mergeparty  Subsidiary,  except, in the case of clause
         (B),   for  such   conflicts,   breaches,   violations,   terminations,
         cancellations or accelerations  that would not,  individually or in the
         aggregate,  be reasonably  likely to have a Material  Adverse Effect on
         Mergeparty; or

                  (ii)  result in or permit the  creation or  imposition  of any
         Lien upon any property now owned or leased by  Mergeparty or Mergeparty
         Subsidiary except for such Liens that would not, individually or in the
         aggregate,  be reasonably  likely to have a Material  Adverse Effect on
         Mergeparty or Mergeparty Subsidiary; or

                  (iii) require any  Governmental  Authorization or Governmental
         Filing  except  for  (A)  the  FCC  Consents,  (B)  filings  under  the
         Hart-Scott-Rodino  Act,  (C) the  filing  with the  Commission  of such
         reports  under  Section  13(a) or 15(d) of the  Exchange  Act as may be
         required  in  connection  with  this  Agreement  and  the  transactions
         contemplated  by this  Agreement,  (D) the filing of the Certificate of
         Merger with the Delaware  Secretary of State and appropriate  documents
         with the  relevant  authorities  of other  states in which  American is
         qualified to do business and (E) such other Governmental Authorizations
         and  Governmental  Filings  the failure of which to be made or obtained
         would,  individually or in the aggregate,  not be reasonably  likely to
         have a Material Adverse Effect on American.

         (e) Mergeparty Subsidiary was formed solely for the purpose of engaging
in the  transactions  contemplated  by this Agreement and has not engaged in any
business  activities or conducted any operations  other than in connection  with
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

         5.2 Compliance  with  Governmental  Authorizations  and Applicable Law;
Litigation.  Except  as  disclosed  in any  report  or other  document  filed by
Mergeparty  with the SEC  prior  to the date  hereof  or in  Section  5.2 of the
Mergeparty  Disclosure  Schedule,  there are no Legal Actions pending or, to the
knowledge  of  Mergeparty,   threatened   against   Mergeparty  or  any  of  its
Subsidiaries,  except for Legal Actions that,  individually or in the aggregate,
would not be reasonably  likely to have a Material  Adverse Effect on Mergeparty
or prevent or materially  burden or materially  impair the ability of Mergeparty
to consummate the  transactions  contemplated by this  Agreement.  Except as set
forth in Section 5.2 of the Mergeparty Disclosure Schedule,  there are not facts
relating to Mergeparty (or any Affiliate thereof) under the FCA that would

                                     - 19 -

<PAGE>



disqualify  it (or any  Affiliate or  assignee)  from  obtaining  control of the
American  FCC Licenses or that would  prevent it (or any  Affiliate or assignee)
from  consummating  the  transactions  contemplated  by this  Agreement  or,  to
Mergeparty's knowledge,  materially delay the grant of the FCC Consents.  Except
as may be set forth in Section 5.2 of the Mergeparty  Disclosure Schedule, it is
not necessary for Mergeparty or any of its  Subsidiaries or other Affiliates (or
assigns)  to (a) seek or obtain  any  waiver  from the FCC,  (b)  dispose of any
interest in any media or communications  property or interest (including without
limitation any of the American Stations or the American Brokered Stations),  (c)
terminate  any  venture  or  arrangement,   or  (d)  effectuate  any  change  or
restructuring  of  ownership   (including  without  limitation  the  removal  or
withdrawal  of officers or directors or the  conversion  or repurchase of equity
securities in Mergeparty or any  Affiliate) to obtain,  or to avoid any delay in
obtaining,  the FCC  Consents.  Mergeparty is able to certify on an FCC Form 315
that it is financially qualified.

         5.3 Opinion of Financial Advisor.  The Board of Directors of Mergeparty
has  received  the  opinion  of Chase  Securities  Inc.,  dated the date of this
Agreement,   to  the  effect  that,  as  of  such  date,  the  aggregate  Merger
Consideration  to be paid by Mergeparty  is fair to Mergeparty  from a financial
point of view.

         5.4 Mergeparty  Financing.  On the Closing Date,  Mergeparty  will have
sufficient funds to consummate the transactions  contemplated by this Agreement,
including  without  limitation  the  Merger,  and to pay all  related  fees  and
expenses.


                                    ARTICLE 6

                                    COVENANTS

         6.1 Access to  Information;  Confidentiality.  American shall afford to
Mergeparty and its accountants,  counsel, investment bankers, financial advisors
and other agents and representatives (the  "Representatives") full access during
normal business hours  throughout the period prior to the Closing Date to all of
its  (and  its  Subsidiaries',  other  than  those  of the  Tower  Subsidiaries)
properties,  books,  contracts,   commitments  and  records  (including  without
limitation  Tax Returns) and,  during such period,  shall furnish  promptly upon
request (i) a copy of each report, schedule and other document filed or received
by it pursuant to the  requirements  of any Applicable  Law  (including  without
limitation  the FCA) or filed by it or any of its  Subsidiaries  (other than the
Tower  Subsidiaries)  with any Authority in connection  with the Merger or which
may have a material effect on it or its business, financial condition or results
of operations,  and (ii) such other information  concerning any of the foregoing
as Mergeparty shall reasonably request;  provided,  however,  that the foregoing
shall  not  require  American  to  permit  any  disclosure  or to  disclose  any
information,  that in the  reasonable  judgment of American  would result in the
disclosure  of  any  trade  secrets  of  third  parties  or  violate  any of its
obligations with respect to confidentiality if American shall have used its best
efforts  to obtain  the  consent  of such  third  party to such  inspections  or
disclosure.  All  requests  for  information  shall be directed to an  executive
officer of American or such other Persons as may be designated by American.  All
information disclosed pursuant to this Section or otherwise shall be governed by
the terms of the  Confidentiality  Agreement,  the terms and provisions of which
are  incorporated  herein by reference  with the same force and effect as though
set forth here in their entirety.  No investigation  pursuant to this Section or
otherwise  shall  affect any  representation  or  warranty  of  American in this
Agreement or any condition to the obligations of Mergeparty hereto.


                                     - 20 -

<PAGE>


         6.2      Agreement to Cooperate.

         (a) Upon the  terms and  subject  to the  conditions  set forth in this
Agreement,  each of the parties  hereto shall use best  efforts (x) to take,  or
cause to be  taken,  all  actions  and to do,  or cause to be done,  all  things
necessary,  proper or advisable to consummate the Merger and the Tower Merger or
Tower Disposition,  as the case may be, and (y) to refrain from taking, or cause
to be taken,  any action and to  refrain  from doing or causing to be done,  any
thing which could impede or impair the  consummation of the Merger and the Tower
Merger  or Tower  Distribution,  as the case may be,  including,  in all  cases,
without  limitation  using its best  efforts  (i) to  prepare  and file with the
applicable  Authorities as promptly as  practicable  after the execution of this
Agreement all  requisite  applications  and  amendments  thereto,  together with
related information,  data and exhibits, necessary to request issuance of orders
approving  the  Merger by all such  applicable  Authorities,  (ii) to obtain all
necessary or appropriate  waivers,  consents and approvals,  (iii) to effect all
necessary  registrations,  filings  and  submissions,  (iv) to defend  any suit,
action or proceeding, whether judicial or administrative, challenging the Merger
or any of the  transactions  contemplated  by the  Merger  Agreement,  including
seeking to lift any  injunction  or other legal bar to the Merger (and,  in such
case,  to proceed  with the Merger as  expeditiously  as  possible),  and (v) to
obtain the  satisfaction  of the  conditions  specified in Article 7,  including
without  limitation  the  securing  of all  authorizations,  consents,  waivers,
modifications, order or approvals referred to in Sections 7.1(b) and 7.1(d).

         (b) Without  limiting  the  generality  of the  foregoing,  the parties
acknowledge  and agree that the transfer of control of the American FCC Licenses
as  contemplated  by this Agreement is subject to the prior consent and approval
of the  FCC.  Within  twenty  (20)  business  days  following  the  date of this
Agreement,   American  and  Mergeparty  shall  file  with  the  FCC  appropriate
applications  requesting the FCC's written consent to the transfer of control of
the  American  FCC  Licenses  pursuant  to this  Agreement  and have  caused all
necessary  persons to join in one or more such  applications  filed with the FCC
(the  "Applications").  American and  Mergeparty  will use their best efforts to
take such steps as may be necessary (i) diligently to prosecute the Applications
and to  prepare  and file  any  further  Applications  or  amendments  as may be
necessary to obtain the consent for the transfer of control to Mergeparty of the
licenses held by the American  Brokered  Stations to be acquired by American and
(ii) to obtain the FCC Consents,  including  action by  Mergeparty,  at its sole
cost and expense (except as provided elsewhere in this Agreement), to satisfy or
cause to be removed all Divestiture Conditions,  if any. The failure by American
or Mergeparty to use its best efforts to timely file or diligently prosecute its
portion of any Application or, in the case of Mergeparty, the failure to use its
best efforts to make any Required  Divestiture or otherwise  satisfy or cause to
be removed all Divestiture  Conditions on or before the Termination  Date, shall
be a material  breach by  American  or  Mergeparty,  as the case may be, of this
Agreement.  American  agrees that any delay in prosecuting  the  Applications or
obtaining the FCC Consents resulting from Mergeparty's good faith  negotiations,
subject to Applicable Law, with the FCC,  Antitrust Division or FTC with respect
to the imposition of a Divestiture  Condition  shall not constitute a failure by
Mergeparty to use its best efforts  diligently to prosecute the  Applications or
obtain the FCC Consents and so long as such  negotiations  do not interfere with
satisfaction  of all  conditions  to Closing prior to the  Termination  Date. If
reconsideration  or judicial  review is sought with  respect to any FCC Consent,
American and Mergeparty  shall  (promptly and with all due efforts)  oppose such
efforts to obtain reconsideration or judicial review.

         (c) Without  limiting the  generality  of Section  6.2(a),  the parties
undertake and agree to file as soon as practicable after the date hereof, and in
any event within ten (10) business days hereof,  a Notification  and Report Form
under the  Hart-Scott-Rodino  Act with the Federal Trade  Commission (the "FTC")
and  the  Antitrust  Division  of the  Department  of  Justice  (the  "Antitrust
Division").  Each of the  parties  shall (i) use its best  efforts  to comply as
expeditiously  as possible with all lawful  requests of the FTC or the Antitrust
Division  for  additional  information  and  documents  and (ii) not  extend any
waiting period under the Hart- 

                                     - 21 -
<PAGE>

Scott-Rodino  Act or enter  into  any  agreement  with the FTC or the  Antitrust
Division not to consummate  the  transactions  contemplated  by this  Agreement,
except  with the prior  written  consent of the other  party  hereto;  provided,
however, that nothing shall limit the ability of Mergeparty to extend the 20-day
waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act following substantial  compliance
with any request for additional  information  that may be  forthcoming,  if such
extension  is  reasonably  necessary  to allow the  continuation  of  good-faith
negotiations intended to remove any objection to the transaction that the FTC or
Antitrust Division may have asserted, and if such extension will expire not less
than 30 days prior to the Termination Date.

         (d) Anything in this Agreement,  including without  limitation  Section
6.2(b),  to the  contrary  notwithstanding,  Mergeparty  shall  obtain  the  FCC
Consents and  clearances  under the  Hart-Scott-Rodino  Act and the grant of any
waivers in connection therewith prior to the Termination Date in accordance with
this  Agreement  unless the failure to obtain such FCC Consents,  clearances and
waivers  is  primarily  the  result of one or more  Uncontrollable  Events.  For
purposes of this Agreement, the term "Uncontrollable Events" shall mean (i) acts
or omissions on the part of American or any of its  Subsidiaries  in  conducting
its  respective  operations  other than those relating to the number of American
FCC Licenses or amount of revenues in a particular market, (ii) an unremedied or
unwaived material breach by American of its obligations under this Agreement, or
(iii) any change in or enactment of Applicable Law by Congress and signed by the
President  and  which  (A) has the  effect  of  decreasing  the  number of radio
licenses  which a Person may own  nationally  or locally or (B)  materially  and
adversely  relates to the concentration of radio licenses which a Person may own
in a market,  and as a result of the change or  enactment  referred to in either
clause (A) or (B) above,  Mergeparty's performance of its obligations under this
Agreement  would  have a  Material  Adverse  Effect  on  Mergeparty's  radio and
television  broadcasting  business.  Mergeparty  shall file with the FCC, within
sufficient  time to permit timely grant of the  Applications,  applications  for
consent to assign or transfer,  pursuant to trust  arrangements  satisfying  the
FCC's local multiple ownership rules and policies, such radio broadcast stations
as Mergeparty may designate,  so that the radio broadcast stations of Mergeparty
and  American  not  designated  for such trust  arrangements  may be held by the
Surviving  Corporation  in compliance  with the FCC's local  multiple  ownership
rules and policies. Mergeparty shall, to the extent necessary to obtain grant of
the  trust  applications,  thereafter  promptly  file or cause  to be filed  any
further applications  (including applications to assign radio broadcast stations
to  third  party  purchasers  for  value)  that  may be  required  by  the  FCC.
Notwithstanding the two preceding sentences,  with regard to stations located in
the San Jose  market,  the  obligations  of  Mergeparty  to submit trust or sale
applications  shall be  excused  for such  stations  to the  extent  and for the
duration of the period that  Mergeparty is unable to identify the stations to be
placed in trust or sold because of the failure of American to notify  Mergeparty
of the resolution of the Antitrust  Division  impediment  impacting the American
transactions pending in the San Jose market.

         (e) If Mergeparty or any of its Affiliates  receives an  administrative
or other order or notification relating to any violation or claimed violation of
the rules and  regulations  of the FCC,  or of any  other  Authority  (including
without limitation seeking or relating to a Divestiture  Condition),  that could
affect  Mergeparty's  or  Mergeparty  Subsidiary's  ability  to  consummate  the
transactions  contemplated  hereby,  or if Mergeparty or any other  Affiliate of
Mergeparty  should  become aware of any fact relating to the  qualifications  of
Mergeparty or any of its Affiliates that  reasonably  could be expected to cause
the FCC to withhold its consent to the  assignment of the American FCC Licenses,
Mergeparty shall promptly notify American thereof and American shall do likewise
with Mergeparty and Mergeparty  shall use its best efforts,  and take such steps
as are necessary,  in order to satisfy or remove the  Divestiture  Conditions to
enable the Closing to occur prior to the Termination Date.  Mergeparty covenants
and agrees to keep  American  fully  informed as to all matters  concerning  all
Required  Divestitures  and shall promptly notify American in writing of any and
all significant developments relating thereto and American agrees to do likewise
with Mergeparty.


                                     - 22 -

<PAGE>



         (f)  Mergeparty  acknowledges  and agrees that  certain of the American
Stations and American  Brokered  Stations may file  applications  for renewal of
license  during the time that an  application  for the FCC  Consents  is pending
before the FCC.  To the extent any such  application  for  renewal may be filed,
Mergeparty  agrees to amend the transferee's  portion of any application for the
FCC Consents and, as may be required,  to amend any license renewal applications
for all of the  American  Stations or  American  Brokered  Stations,  to confirm
Mergeparty's  intention to consummate this Agreement during the pendency of such
license renewal application,  and to agree to assume the consequences associated
with succeeding to the place of American in such license  renewal  applications.
The  making  of this  statement  shall not be deemed to limit or waive any other
rights that Mergeparty may otherwise have under this Agreement.

         (g) The parties shall  cooperate  with one another in the  preparation,
execution and filing of all Tax Returns, questionnaires,  applications, or other
documents  regarding any real property transfer or gains,  sales, use, transfer,
value  added,   stock  transfer  and  stamp  Taxes,  any  transfer,   recording,
registration  and other fees,  and any similar  Taxes  which  become  payable in
connection  with the Merger  that are  required or  permitted  to be filed on or
before the Closing Date.

         (h) Subject to Applicable Laws relating to the exchange of information,
American,  on the one hand, and  Mergeparty,  on the other hand,  shall have the
right to review in advance,  and to the extent practicable each will consult the
other with respect to, all the  information  relating to American or Mergeparty,
as the case may be, and any of their respective Subsidiaries, that appear in any
filing made with, or written materials  submitted to, any Authority and/or other
Person in connection with the Merger and the other transactions  contemplated by
this  Agreement.  In  exercising  the  foregoing  right,  each of  American  and
Mergeparty shall act reasonably and as promptly as practicable.

         6.3  Public  Announcements.  Until  the  Closing,  or in the  event  of
termination  of this  Agreement,  each party shall consult with the other before
issuing any press release or otherwise making any public statements with respect
to this  Agreement  or the Merger and shall not issue any such press  release or
make  any  such  public  statement  without  the  prior  consent  of the  other.
Notwithstanding the foregoing,  the parties acknowledge and agree that they may,
without  each  other's  prior  consent,  issue such press  releases or make such
public  statements as may be required by  Applicable  Law, in which case, to the
extent  practicable,  they will  consult  with the other  regarding  the nature,
content and form of such press release or public statement.

         6.4  Notification  of Certain  Matters.  Each party  shall give  prompt
notice  to the  other,  of the  occurrence  or  non-occurrence  of any Event the
occurrence or  non-occurrence  of which would be reasonably  likely to cause (i)
any  representation  or warranty  made by it contained  in this  Agreement to be
untrue or inaccurate  in any material  respect or (ii) any failure made by it to
comply with or satisfy,  or be able to comply with or satisfy,  in any  material
respect,  any covenant,  condition or agreement to be complied with or satisfied
by it under this Agreement in any material respect, such that, in any such case,
one or more of the  conditions  of  Closing  would not be  satisfied;  provided,
however,  that the  delivery of any notice  pursuant to this  Section  shall not
limit or  otherwise  affect the rights and remedies  available  hereunder to the
party  receiving  such notice or the  obligations of the party  delivering  such
notice and shall  not,  in any event,  affect the  representations,  warranties,
covenants and  agreements of the parties or the  conditions to their  respective
obligations under this Agreement..

         6.5  Stockholder  Approval.  If,  after the date  hereof,  approval and
adoption of this Agreement shall be required by the American  stockholders under
Applicable Law (the "American Stockholder Approval"),  American will, as soon as
practicable  following the date thereof,  establish a record date (which will be
as soon as  practicable  following the date hereof) for, duly call,  give notice
of, convene and hold a meeting of its stockholders  (the "American  Stockholders
Meeting") for the purpose of obtaining the American

                                     - 23 -

<PAGE>



Stockholder Approval.  American will, through its Board of Directors,  recommend
to its  stockholders  approval  and adoption of this  Agreement,  subject to the
fiduciary  duties of the Board of Directors of American  under  Applicable  Law.
American shall, if it desires in its sole and absolute  discretion,  also submit
for the approval of its stockholders at the meeting of stockholders  referred to
in this Section 6.5, the Tower Merger,  the Tower Distribution or an Alternative
Transaction, as the case may be, and, through its Board of Directors,  recommend
to its stockholders approval of an agreement contemplating the Tower Merger, the
Tower  Distribution  or an  Alternative  Transaction,  as the case  may be,  and
approval of such transaction.

         6.6      Information Statement.

         (a) In the event the  American  Stockholders  Meeting  is not  required
because  Mergeparty  shall have delivered to American valid written  consents of
stockholders  constituting  the Required  Vote,  then American shall prepare and
file with the  Commission  as soon as is reasonably  practicable  after the date
hereof an information  statement (the  "Information  Statement")  complying with
applicable  rules and regulations of the Commission and the DCL.  Mergeparty and
American  shall  promptly  furnish to the other all  information,  and take such
other  actions,  as may  reasonably be requested in  connection  with any action
taken to comply with the provisions of this Section 6.6.

         (b)  Each  of  American  and  Mergeparty  shall  correct  promptly  any
information provided by it to be used specifically in the Information  Statement
that shall have become false or  misleading  in any  material  respect and shall
take all steps  necessary  to file with the  Commission  and have cleared by the
Commission  any amendment or supplement  to the  Information  Statement so as to
correct  such  Information  Statement  and  cause it to be  disseminated  to the
stockholders  of American,  to the extent  required by Applicable  Law.  Without
limiting the  generality  of the  foregoing,  American  shall notify  Mergeparty
promptly of the receipt of the comments of the  Commission and of any request by
the Commission for amendments or supplements to the  Information  Statement,  or
for  additional  information,  and shall  supply  Mergeparty  with copies of all
correspondence  between  it or its  representatives,  on the one  hand,  and the
Commission  or members  of its staff,  on the other  hand,  with  respect to the
Information Statement. Whenever any event occurs which should be described in an
amendment or a supplement to the Information  Statement,  American  shall,  upon
learning of such event, promptly prepare, file and clear with the Commission and
mail to the  stockholders  of American such amendment or  supplement;  provided,
however, that, prior to such mailing, (i) American shall consult with Mergeparty
with respect to such  amendment  or  supplement,  (ii) shall  afford  Mergeparty
reasonable  opportunity  to comment  thereon,  and (iii) each such  amendment or
supplement shall be reasonably satisfactory to Mergeparty.

         (c) In the  event  American  shall be  required  to call  the  American
Stockholders  Meeting  pursuant  to Section 6.5 hereof,  all  references  to the
Information  Statement in this Agreement shall be deemed to be references to the
Proxy Statement.

         6.7  Miscellaneous.  Nothing contained in this Agreement shall prohibit
American  from  (a)  taking  and  disclosing  to  its  stockholders  a  position
contemplated by Rules 14d-9 and 14e-2(a)  promulgated  under the Exchange Act or
(b) making  any  disclosure  to  American's  stockholders  if, in the good faith
judgment of the  majority of the members of the Board of  Directors of American,
after  consultation  with independent  counsel,  failure to so disclose would be
inconsistent with Applicable Laws.

         6.8      Option Plans.

         (a) With respect to each unexpired  option to purchase  American Common
Stock  that is  outstanding  immediately  prior  to the  Tower  Merger  or Tower
Distribution, as applicable (each, an "American

                                     - 24 -

<PAGE>



Option")  which is held by  employees  or  directors  of  American or any of its
Subsidiaries (each, an "Optionholder")  immediately prior to the Tower Merger or
the Tower  Distribution,  as the case may be,  American  shall,  or shall  cause
American Tower to, hold in escrow the consideration  that the Optionholder would
have received in connection with the Tower Merger or the Tower Distribution,  as
applicable,  had the  Optionholder  exercised such American  Option and held the
American Common Stock received upon exercise  thereof through the record date of
the  Tower   Merger  or  Tower   Distribution,   as   applicable   (the   "Tower
Consideration"). The Tower Consideration shall be held in escrow by American or,
in its sole and absolute discretion, a reputable financial institution,  pending
the  consummation  of the  Merger.  Notwithstanding  the  terms  of any  Benefit
Arrangement or any agreement  evidencing the grant of an American  Option to the
contrary, no adjustment will be made to the American Options (including, but not
limited  to, the  exercise  price or number of shares of American  Common  Stock
subject  to an  American  Option)  in  respect  of the  Tower  Merger  or  Tower
Distribution, as applicable, except as provided in this Section 6.8.

         (b) All American Options outstanding immediately prior to the Effective
Time,  except as provided  otherwise in this  Section  6.8,  will be canceled by
American  and  will  be   converted   into  the  right  to  receive  the  Merger
Consideration.  At the Effective Time,  each  Optionholder  shall receive,  with
respect to each unexpired  American  Option of the  Optionholder  so canceled by
American,  solely (x) the Tower Consideration held in escrow pursuant to Section
6.8(a)  above,  plus (y) an amount  in cash  equal to the  Merger  Consideration
reduced by the exercise price of the American Option.  Except as provided in the
preceding  sentence,  no  other  consideration  will be paid by  American  to an
Optionholder in respect of his or her canceled American  Options.  If the Merger
is not  consummated,  the  cancellation of the  Optionholder's  American Options
shall be rescinded  and the  Optionholder  shall  continue to hold such American
Options  upon  their  original  terms and  conditions.  At the  election  of any
Optionholder  who is a  "disqualified  individual"  (as such term is  defined in
proposed  Treasury  Regulation  Section  1.280G-1),  this Section 6.8(b) will be
inoperative  with respect to such  American  Options as he or she may specify to
the extent that the acceleration,  vesting cancellation and cash-out of American
Options at the  Effective  Time as provided  herein would  constitute an "excess
parachute  payment" (as such term is defined in Section 280G(b)(1) of the Code).
Any  Optionholder  who makes such election  shall  forfeit the American  Options
which are subject to such election and shall receive no consideration therefor.

         (c)  With  respect  to  American   Options  held  by  Tower  Employees,
notwithstanding  the  foregoing  provisions  of  this  Section  6.8  and in lieu
thereof,  and subject to the approval of the  provisions  of this Section 6.8 by
the Board of Directors of American and the Compensation  Committee thereof, such
Tower  Employees may elect to have their  American  Options  assumed by American
Tower and  converted  into  options  to  acquire  Tower  Common  Stock as of the
effective  time of the Tower Merger or Tower  Distribution,  as the case may be,
such  conversion to be  effectuated in a manner that will preserve the spread in
such  American  Options  between the option  exercise  price and the fair market
value of American Common Stock and the ratio of the spread to the exercise price
prior to such conversion and, to the extent applicable,  otherwise in conformity
with the rules under Section 424(a) of the Code and the regulations  promulgated
thereunder.

         (d)  American  will use its best  efforts  (including  best  efforts to
obtain any consents of Optionholders,  if required) to cause the cancellation of
all of the American Options immediately prior to the Effective Time.

         (e)  Notwithstanding  the foregoing  provisions of this Section 6.8, in
the event that any amount  payable under Section  6.8(b) to an  Optionholder  in
respect of his American  Options would fail to be deductible by American (or any
successor  thereto) solely by reason of ss.162(m) of the Code (after taking into
account  all  amounts  paid  or  reasonably   expected  to  be  payable  to  the
Optionholder in the same taxable year in which the payments under Section 6.8(b)
are made to the Optionholder and which are not otherwise exempt

                                     - 25 -

<PAGE>



from  Code  ss.162(m)  in   determining   whether  any  amount  payable  to  the
Optionholder will fail to be deductible thereunder),  then, with respect to such
portion of the Optionholder's  American Options the cancellation and cash-out of
which would be  nondeductible  under said ss.162(m) (the  "ss.162(m)  Options"),
such  ss.162(m)  Options  shall be canceled  in  accordance  with the  foregoing
provisions of this Section 6.8, but the payments of the Tower  Consideration and
other cash consideration contemplated in Section 6.8(b) hereof in respect of the
Optionholder's  ss.162(m) Options shall be made to the Optionholder on the 110th
day following the Effective Time.  American shall use its best efforts to obtain
the written consent of each Optionholder  affected by this Section 6.8(e) to the
foregoing provisions hereof.

         (f) All amounts payable  hereunder to an Optionholder  shall be reduced
by any applicable withholding taxes.

                  Notwithstanding  anything to the  contrary in this  Agreement,
American  shall  have  the  right,  in its  sole  and  absolute  discretion,  to
accelerate,  on such terms and conditions as it shall determine,  in whole or in
part, the vesting of any or all of the American Options  outstanding on the date
hereof  so that such  American  Options  are  exercisable  in full  prior to the
Effective Date.

         6.9  Conduct of Business by  Mergeparty  Pending the Merger.  Except as
otherwise  contemplated  by this  Agreement,  or as has been publicly  disclosed
prior to the date hereof, after the date hereof and prior to the Closing Date or
earlier  termination of this Agreement  unless American shall otherwise agree in
writing,  with respect to Mergeparty's  media business,  Mergeparty  shall,  and
shall cause its Subsidiaries, to:

                  (i) conduct  their  respective  businesses in the ordinary and
         usual  course of business  and  consistent  with past  practice,  which
         includes the acquisition of other radio broadcasting stations;

                  (ii) not amend or propose to amend its  Organic  Documents  in
         any manner materially  adverse to the holders of the American Preferred
         Stock;

                  (iii) use all best efforts to preserve intact their respective
         business  organizations  and goodwill,  keep  available the services of
         their respective  present officers and key employees,  and preserve the
         goodwill and business  relationships  with  customers and others having
         business relationships with them and not engage in any action, directly
         or  indirectly,  with the intent to adversely  affect the  transactions
         contemplated by this Agreement; and

                  (iv) not  authorize  or enter  into any  agreement  that would
violate any of the foregoing.

         6.10 Conduct of Business by American Pending the Merger.  Except as set
forth in  Section  6.10 of the  American  Disclosure  Schedule  or as  otherwise
contemplated by this Agreement,  including  without  limitation the transactions
contemplated by the Tower Documentation and Section 6.19 hereof,  after the date
hereof and prior to the Closing Date or earlier  termination of this  Agreement,
unless Mergeparty shall otherwise consent in writing,  American shall, and shall
cause its Subsidiaries, to:

                  (i) conduct  their  respective  businesses in the ordinary and
         usual course of business and consistent with past practice;

                  (ii)  not (A)  amend or  propose  to  amend  their  respective
         Organic Documents,  (B) split,  combine or reclassify (whether by stock
         dividend or  otherwise)  their  outstanding  capital  stock or issue or
         authorize  the issuance of any other  securities in respect of, in lieu
         of, or in substitution for shares of its capital stock, or (C) declare,
         set aside or pay any dividend or distribution payable in

                                     - 26 -

<PAGE>



         cash,  stock,  property  or  otherwise,  except for (x) the  payment of
         dividends  or the  making  of  distributions  by a direct  or  indirect
         wholly-owned Subsidiary of American and (y) the payment of dividends on
         shares of the American Preferred Stock in accordance with their terms;

                  (iii)  not  issue,  sell,  pledge or  dispose  of, or agree to
         issue,  sell,  pledge or  dispose  of, any  shares of  American  Stock,
         Convertible  Securities or Option Securities,  except that American may
         issue shares of American  Common Stock upon  conversion of  Convertible
         Securities  and exercise of Option  Securities  outstanding on the date
         hereof  and in  accordance  with their  present  terms,  including  any
         adjustment  to the  conversion  price of  Convertible  Securities  as a
         result of the Tower Distribution or Tower Merger;

                  (iv) not (A) incur or become  contingently liable with respect
         to any indebtedness other than (x) short-term  borrowings not to exceed
         $25  million  in  the  aggregate  outstanding  at  any  one  time,  (y)
         borrowings to finance pending  acquisitions of radio stations set forth
         in Section 6.10 of the American  Disclosure  Schedule and,  pursuant to
         agreements  in  effect on the date  hereof  and (z)  borrowings  not to
         exceed $120  million to finance a capital  contribution  by American to
         Tower,  (B) redeem,  purchase,  acquire or offer to purchase or acquire
         any  shares of its  capital  stock,  Convertible  Securities  or Option
         Securities,  except pursuant to the conversion or exercise thereof,  as
         the case may be, or except to the extent  required by the present terms
         thereof, (C) sell, lease, license,  pledge,  dispose of or encumber any
         properties  or assets or sell any  businesses  other than  pursuant  to
         agreements  in effect on the date hereof and set forth in Section  6.10
         of the American Disclosure Schedule or Liens arising in accordance with
         the  provisions  of  indebtedness  in effect on the date  hereof and in
         accordance with their present terms, or (D) make any loans, advances or
         capital  contributions  to, or investments in, any other Person,  other
         than to any direct or  indirect  wholly  owned  Subsidiary  of American
         (other than the Tower  Subsidiaries)  and, except as provided in clause
         (z) above,  or to  officers  and  employees  of  American or any of its
         Subsidiaries  for  travel,  business  or  relocation  expenses  in  the
         ordinary course of business;

                  (v)  use all  reasonable  efforts  to  preserve  intact  their
         respective  business  organizations  and goodwill,  keep  available the
         services of their respective  present  officers and key employees,  and
         preserve the goodwill and business  relationships  with  customers  and
         others having  business  relationships  with them and not engage in any
         action, directly or indirectly, with the intent to adversely impact the
         transactions contemplated by this Agreement;

                  (vi) confer on a regular and  frequent  basis with one or more
         representatives  of Mergeparty to report material  operational  matters
         and the general status of ongoing operations;

                  (vii)  not  adopt,   enter  into,   amend  or  terminate   any
         employment,   severance,   special  pay  arrangement  with  respect  to
         termination of employment or other similar  arrangements  or agreements
         with any directors, officers or key employees;

                  (viii)  maintain  with   financially   responsible   insurance
         companies  insurance  on their  respective  tangible  assets  and their
         respective businesses in such amounts and against such risks and losses
         as are consistent with past practice;

                  (ix) not make any Tax election that could reasonably be likely
         to have a Material  Adverse  Effect on American or settle or compromise
         any material income Tax liability;


                                     - 27 -

<PAGE>



                  (x) except in the  ordinary  course of  business  or except as
         would not  reasonably  be likely to have a Material  Adverse  Effect on
         American,  not modify,  amend or terminate  any  Material  Agreement to
         which American or any Subsidiary is a party or waive, release or assign
         any material rights or claims thereunder;

                  (xi) not make any material  change to its accounting  methods,
         principles or practices, except as may be required by GAAP;

                  (xii)  not  acquire  or agree to  acquire  (x) by  merging  or
         consolidating  with,  or by  purchasing  a  substantial  portion of the
         assets of, or by any other manner,  any business or any Person or other
         business  organization  or  division  thereof or (y) any  assets  that,
         individually  or in the  aggregate,  are  material to American  and its
         Subsidiaries  taken as a whole,  in each case,  other than  pursuant to
         agreements  in effect on the date  hereof and set forth in the  Section
         6.10 of the  American  Disclosure  Schedule  (Mergeparty  agrees not to
         unreasonably  withhold,  delay or  condition  a consent to any  matters
         described in this paragraph);

                  (xiii)  except as set forth in Section  4.9(a) or Section 4.16
         of the American  Disclosure  Schedule,  (a) not grant to any  executive
         officer or other key  employee of  American or any of its  Subsidiaries
         any  increase  in  compensation,  except  for normal  increases  in the
         ordinary  course  of  business  consistent  with  past  practice  or as
         required under Benefit  Arrangements in effect as of June 30, 1997, (b)
         not grant to any such  executive  officer any  increase in severance or
         termination pay, except as was required under any Benefit  Arrangements
         in  effect as of June 30,  1997,  or (c) not adopt or amend any Plan or
         Benefit Arrangement (including change any actuarial or other assumption
         used to calculate  funding  obligations  with  respect to any Plan,  or
         change  the manner in which  contributions  to any Plan are made or the
         basis on which such contributions are determined) and (d) except in the
         ordinary  course,  not enter  into,  amend in any  material  respect or
         terminate  any  Governmental  Authorization  (except  as  would  not be
         reasonably  likely to have a  Material  Adverse  Effect  on  American),
         material Private Authorization or Contract; and

                  (xiv) not  authorize  or enter into any  agreement  that would
violate any of the foregoing.

Anything in this Section to the contrary notwithstanding, the provisions of this
Section shall not apply to any of the Tower Subsidiaries.

         6.11 Control of Operations.  Nothing  contained in this Agreement shall
give to  Mergeparty,  directly  or  indirectly,  rights  to  control  or  direct
American's  operations prior to the Effective Time. Prior to the Effective Time,
American  shall  exercise,  consistent  with the  terms and  conditions  of this
Agreement, complete control and supervision of its operations. Nothing contained
in this  Agreement  shall give to American,  directly or  indirectly,  rights to
control or direct Mergeparty's  operations prior to the Effective Time. Prior to
the Effective Time,  Mergeparty  shall  exercise,  consistent with the terms and
conditions  of  this  Agreement,   complete   control  and  supervision  of  its
operations.

         6.12   Directors',   Officers'  and  Employees'   Indemnification   and
Insurance.

         (a) The Organic  Documents of the Surviving  Corporation  shall contain
provisions no less favorable with respect to indemnification  than are set forth
in the Organic  Documents  of American,  as in effect on the date hereof,  which
provisions shall not be amended,  repealed or otherwise modified for a period of
six (6) years from the Effective Time in any manner that would affect  adversely
the rights thereunder of

                                     - 28 -

<PAGE>



individuals who at any time prior to the Effective Time were directors, officers
or employees of American or any of its  Subsidiaries,  unless such  modification
shall be required by Applicable Law.

         (b) From and after the  Effective  Time,  Mergeparty  shall  indemnify,
defend  and hold  harmless  the  present  and  former  officers,  directors  and
employees of American or any of its Subsidiaries (collectively, the "Indemnified
Parties") against all losses, expenses, claims, damages,  liabilities or amounts
that are paid in  settlement  of, or  otherwise  in  connection  with any claim,
action, suit,  proceeding or investigation (as used in this Section, a "claim"),
based in whole or in part on the fact that the Indemnified  Party (or the Person
controlled by the Indemnified  Party) is or was a director,  officer or employee
of American or any of its  Subsidiaries  and arising out of actions or omissions
occurring at or prior to the Effective Time (including,  without limitation,  in
connection  with  this  Agreement,   the  Merger,  the  Tower  Merger  or  Tower
Distribution,  as the case may be, and the  transactions  contemplated  hereby),
whether  asserted or claimed prior to, at or after the  Effective  Time, in each
case to the fullest extent  permitted under the DCL (and shall pay any expenses,
as  incurred,  in  advance  of the  final  disposition  of any  such  action  or
proceeding to each  Indemnified  Party to the fullest extent permitted under the
DCL).  Without  limiting the  foregoing,  in the event any such claim is brought
against any of the Indemnified  Parties, (i) such Indemnified Parties may retain
counsel  (including  local  counsel)  satisfactory  to them and  which  shall be
reasonably satisfactory to Mergeparty and they shall pay all reasonable fees and
expenses of such counsel for such Indemnified Parties; and (ii) Mergeparty shall
use its best  efforts  to assist in the  defense  of any such  claim;  provided,
however, that Mergeparty shall not be liable for any settlement effected without
its written consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably  withheld,  delayed
or conditioned. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing contained in this Section
shall  be  deemed  to grant  any  right to any  Indemnified  Party  which is not
permitted to be granted to an officer,  director or employee of Mergeparty under
the DCL, assuming for such purposes that Mergeparty's  Organic Documents provide
for the maximum indemnification permitted by the DCL.

         (c)  Mergeparty  will cause to be  maintained  for a period of not less
than six (6) years from the Effective  Time  American's  current  directors' and
officers'  insurance and  indemnification  policy to the extent that it provides
coverage for events occurring prior to the Effective Time ("D&O  Insurance") for
all  Persons  who are  directors  and  officers  of American on the date of this
Agreement, so long as the annual premium therefor would not be in excess of 200%
of the last annual  premium  therefor  paid prior to the date of this  Agreement
(the "Maximum Premium");  provided, however, that if the annual premiums of such
insurance  coverage  exceed such amount,  Mergeparty  shall only be obligated to
obtain  the  greatest  coverage  available  under  such  policy  for a cost  not
exceeding such amount,  provided further,  however, that Mergeparty may, in lieu
of maintaining such existing D&O Insurance as provided above,  cause coverage to
be provided under any policy  maintained for the benefit of Mergeparty or any of
its  Subsidiaries,  so long as the terms thereof are no less advantageous to the
intended beneficiaries thereof than the existing D&O Insurance.  If the existing
D&O Insurance  expires,  is terminated or canceled during such six-year  period,
Mergeparty  will  use its best  efforts  to  cause  to be  obtained  as much D&O
Insurance as can be obtained for the  remainder of such period for an annualized
premium not in excess of the Maximum  Premium,  on terms and  conditions no less
advantageous  to the covered  Persons than the existing D&O Insurance.  American
represents to Mergeparty that the Maximum Premium is not greater than $500,000.

         (d) In the event  Mergeparty or  Mergeparty  Subsidiary or any of their
respective  successors or assigns (i) consolidates with or merges into any other
person and shall not be the  continuing  or surviving  corporation  or entity of
such  consolidation or merger or (ii) transfers all or substantially  all of its
properties  and  assets  to any  person,  then  and in each  such  case,  proper
provisions  shall be made so that the  successors  and assigns of  Mergeparty or
Mergeparty  Subsidiary,  as the case may be,  shall assume the  obligations  set
forth in this Section.


                                     - 29 -

<PAGE>



         (e) This  Section is  intended  to be for the  benefit of, and shall be
enforceable   by,   the   Indemnified   Parties,   their   heirs  and   personal
representatives  and shall be binding on Mergeparty,  Mergeparty  Subsidiary and
their respective successors and assigns.

         6.13  Solicitation  of  Employees.  If this  Agreement  is  terminated,
Mergeparty  agrees  that  neither  it  nor  any  of its  Subsidiaries  or  other
Affiliates  will,  for a period of  eighteen  (18)  months from the date of such
termination,  solicit  or  actively  seek to hire any key  employees  (including
without limitation any station manager,  sales manager,  program director or any
individual senior to any of such individuals) who during such period is employed
by American or any of its  Subsidiaries,  whether or not such  individual  would
commit breach of such  individual's  employment  agreement or contact in leaving
such  employment;  provided,  however,  that the  foregoing  shall  not  prevent
Mergeparty from taking any action permitted by the Confidentiality Agreement.

         6.14 Change of Name. Within ten (10) days after the Closing, Mergeparty
shall cause each of its  Subsidiaries,  if necessary,  to file  certificates  of
amendment  with the  appropriate  Secretary of State,  amending  such  company's
Organic  Documents to change the name of such company to any name which does not
include the words "American Radio".  Immediately prior to the Closing,  American
will assign to American  Tower or its  designee all right,  title and  interest,
including all the good will related  thereto,  in and for past  infringements of
the name "American Radio" and related  trademarks,  service marks, logos and the
like. As soon as  commercially  practicable,  but in no event later than six (6)
months from the Closing Date,  Mergeparty  Subsidiary and its Subsidiaries shall
cease all use of the name "American Radio" in all modes.

         6.15  Benefit  Plans.  Mergeparty  shall  take  such  action  as may be
necessary  so  that on and  after  the  Effective  Time  and  for  one (1)  year
thereafter,  officers and employees of American and its Subsidiaries (other than
Tower  Employees)  shall be  provided  employee  benefits,  plans  and  programs
(excluding  equity  incentive  arrangements)  which are no less favorable in the
aggregate than those  generally  available to those  employee  benefit plans and
programs in effect for such  officers  and  employees  immediately  prior to the
Effective Time; it being  understood  that Mergeparty  shall determine the types
and levels of specific  benefits to be so provided.  For purposes of eligibility
to participate and vesting in all benefits  provided to directors,  officers and
employees of American and its Subsidiaries  (other than Tower  Employees),  such
directors,  officers  and  employees of American  and its  Subsidiaries  will be
credited  with their years of service  with  American and its  Subsidiaries  and
prior  employers to the extent  service with American and its  Subsidiaries  and
prior employers is taken into account under the applicable plans of American and
its  Subsidiaries  as in effect as of the date hereof.  Upon  termination of any
health  plan  of  American  or any of its  Subsidiaries,  individuals  who  were
directors,  officers  or  employees  of  American  or  its  Subsidiaries  at the
Effective Time (other than Tower  Employees)  shall if employed by Mergeparty or
its  Subsidiaries  become eligible to participate in such health plans as may be
established or maintained by Mergeparty or its  Subsidiaries  to the extent that
such individuals  were eligible to participate in the applicable  health plan of
American or its Subsidiaries  immediately  prior to the Effective Time.  Amounts
paid during the calendar year in which the Effective Time occurs, but before the
Effective  Time,  by  directors,  officers  and  employees  of American  and its
Subsidiaries  (other than Tower  Employees)  under any health  plans of American
shall after the Effective Time be taken into account in applying  deductible and
out-of-pocket  limits  applicable  under the health plans of  Mergeparty  or its
Subsidiaries  provided  during such  calendar year to the same extent as if such
amounts had been paid under such health plans of Mergeparty or its  Subsidiaries
and Mergeparty  shall cause to be waived under its health plans any pre-existing
conditions  as of the  date of  termination  of the  American  health  plan  and
eligibility  to  participate  in such health plan to the extent such  conditions
would be waived under the applicable  plans of American and its  Subsidiaries as
in effect on the date hereof.  Nothing in this  Agreement  shall be construed as
granting  to  any  employee  of  American  or its  Subsidiaries  any  rights  of
continuing employment.

                                     - 30 -

<PAGE>




         6.16 American Cumulative Preferred Stock. To the extent permitted under
Contracts,  pursuant to which any indebtedness for money borrowed of American or
any of its Subsidiaries is outstanding as of the date hereof and by the American
Preferred  Stock,  American  shall pay all  interest in respect of the  American
Cumulative Preferred Stock in cash.

         6.17 American  Tower  Transaction.  Prior to the Closing and subject to
Section 2.8 hereof,  American  shall  consummate  the Tower  Merger or the Tower
Distribution  pursuant to the Tower Documentation or, to the extent contemplated
hereby,  the  Alternative  Transaction.  As soon as  practicable  following  the
execution of this  Agreement and in any event prior to the  consummation  of the
Tower  Merger  or the Tower  Distribution,  as the case may be,  American  shall
prepare,  in  consultation  with  Mergeparty  and its  counsel,  the  definitive
documentation  to be executed by American and American Tower to effect the Tower
Merger  or  the  Tower  Distribution,  as the  case  may  be;  and  submit  such
documentation  to  Mergeparty  for its  approval,  which  approval  shall not be
unreasonably   withheld,   delayed  or  conditioned  (as  approved,  the  "Tower
Documentation"),  and American and American  Tower shall execute and deliver the
Tower Documentation in the form so approved.  Mergeparty and American agree that
the Tower  Documentation shall include or be prepared on a basis consistent with
the following:

         (a)  American  Tower  or  American  Tower  Sub,  as  applicable,  shall
indemnify,  defend and hold American and its Subsidiaries  (other than the Tower
Subsidiaries,  collectively in this Section the "American Tower Group") harmless
from and against any  liabilities  (other than income tax  liabilities) to which
American or any of its Subsidiaries (other than the American Tower Group) may be
or become subject that relate to or arise from the assets, business, operations,
debts or liabilities of the American Tower Group,  including without  limitation
(i) the assets to be transferred to American Tower pursuant to Section  6.17(g),
(ii)  liabilities  to be assumed by any member of the  American  Tower  Group as
contemplated  herein,  whether  arising prior to,  concurrent  with or after the
Tower Merger or the Tower  Distribution,  as the case may be, (iii)  liabilities
relating to or arising from any untrue statement or alleged untrue statements of
a material fact contained in the Information  Statement or in any document filed
or  required  to be filed in  connection  with the  Tower  Merger  or the  Tower
Distribution,  or any omission or alleged  omission to state  therein a material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements  therein,
in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, but in
each case only with  respect  to  information  provided  by or  relating  to the
American  Tower Group,  (iv) any economic  impact related to or arising from the
failure to obtain any Governmental  Authorizations,  Private  Authorizations  or
other third party consents,  or to make any Governmental  Filings,  necessary to
consummate the Tower Merger or the Tower  Distribution,  as the case may be, and
(v) the rental  and  related  expenses  for the  relevant  portion of the leased
premises located at 116 Huntington Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts in the event of
the  failure  to  obtain  the  landlord's  consent  to  the  assignment  of  the
obligations relating to, or sublease of, such relevant portion of such premises.

         (b) American shall indemnify,  defend and hold the American Tower Group
harmless from and against any liabilities (other than income tax liabilities) to
which the American  Tower Group may be or become subject that relate to or arise
from the assets, business,  operations,  debts or liabilities of American or its
Subsidiaries  (other than the American  Tower Group)  whether  arising prior to,
concurrent with or after the Tower Merger or the Tower Distribution, as the case
may be.

         (c) The Tower  Documentation  shall include an agreement that addresses
issues of the allocation of Tax liabilities and  deconsolidation of American and
the American Tower Group which shall contain principles to the following effect:


                                     - 31 -

<PAGE>



                  (i) The tax sharing  agreement  among  members of the American
         Tower Group and American and its other Subsidiaries shall be terminated
         as of the effective  date of the Tower Merger (the "Tower Merger Date")
         or of the Tower  Distribution (the "Tower  Distribution  Date"), as the
         case may be,  and will have no  further  effect  for any  taxable  year
         (whether the current year, a future year, or a past year).

                  (ii) American  shall include the income of the American  Tower
         Group  (including  any deferred  income  triggered  into income by Reg.
         ss..1.1502-13 and Reg. ss..1.1502-14 and any excess loss accounts taken
         into  income  under  Reg.  ss..1.1502-19)  on  American's  consolidated
         federal income Tax returns and consolidated or combined state and local
         income Tax returns to the extent  such  income is  properly  includible
         thereon  for all  periods  through  the Tower  Merger Date or the Tower
         Distribution  Date,  as the  case  may be,  and pay  any  income  Taxes
         attributable to such income.  American Tower shall  reimburse  American
         for any such  federal,  state and local  income  Taxes  payable  by the
         American Tax Group  attributable  to such income,  as  determined  on a
         separate company basis;  provided,  however,  that American Tower shall
         have  no  reimbursement  obligation  if  American  has  no  income  Tax
         liability on a  consolidated  basis as a result of a net operating loss
         or to the extent that the income of the American  Tower Group is offset
         by a net operating loss under the principles of clause 6.17(c)(v).  The
         American  Tower Group will  furnish  Tax  information  to American  for
         inclusion in American's federal  consolidated income Tax return for the
         period which  includes the Tower Merger Date or the Tower  Distribution
         Date,  as the case may be, in  accordance  with  American  Tower's past
         custom and  practice.  The income of the  American  Tower Group will be
         apportioned  to the period up to and including the Tower Merger Date or
         the Tower  Distribution  Date, as the case may be, and the period after
         the Tower Merger Date or the Tower  Distribution  Date, as the case may
         be, by closing the books of the  American  Tower Group as of the end of
         such date.

                  (iii)  American  Tower shall  indemnify the American Tax Group
         and  Mergeparty  for all Taxes  imposed by any Taxing  Authority on any
         member of the American Tax Group or on Mergeparty  (or on any member of
         its  consolidated  tax group) as a result of or in connection  with the
         sale or transfer  of assets to the  American  Tower  Group  pursuant to
         Section  6.17(g) (or between members of the American Tax Group prior to
         the final  transfer to a member of the American  Tower Group),  and the
         Tower Merger or the Tower  Distribution,  as the case may be, including
         without  limitation any Taxes on any gain to any member of the American
         Tax Group  arising  under  Section  311 of the  Code,  any Taxes on any
         deferred  gain to any member of the American  Tax Group  triggered as a
         result of or upon any such event,  any gain  attributable to any excess
         loss  account  triggered  upon any such event,  any taxes  arising as a
         result  of an  election  under  Section  336(e) of the Code made at the
         request of the American Tower Group as provided in clause 6.17(c)(xii),
         and any transfer Taxes arising from any such event;  provided that such
         indemnity shall only apply to the extent that the additional  liability
         for such Taxes  payable by the American Tax Group as a  consequence  of
         such events (on a "but for" basis) exceeds $20,000,000.

                  (iv) If as a result of any  payment by  American  Tower to any
         member of the  American  Tax Group or to  Mergeparty  pursuant  to this
         Section 6.17(c)  (including this clause (iv)) Mergeparty (or any member
         of its  consolidated  group for  Federal  income tax  purposes)  or any
         member of the American Tax Group becomes  liable in any taxable year to
         pay any  Taxes in  excess  of the  Taxes  they  would  have owed in the
         absence of any such  payment by  American  Tower,  American  Tower will
         indemnify such Person for such Tax liability and make such Person whole
         on an after-tax basis for such Tax liability.


                                     - 32 -

<PAGE>



                  (v) For the  purposes of clauses  6.17(c)(ii)  and (iii),  net
         operating  losses of the American Tax Group shall be reduced and deemed
         absorbed in the  following  order for each taxable year of the American
         Tax  Group:   first,  by  all  income  unrelated  to  the  transactions
         contemplated  by this  Agreement  of members of the  American Tax Group
         other  than  members  of  the  American  Tower  Group  for  the  entire
         applicable taxable year of the American Tax Group; second, by income of
         the American Tower Group described in clause 6.17(c)(ii); and third, by
         income of the  American Tax Group  described  in Section  6.17(c)(iii).
         Mergeparty  shall have no claim under  either  Section  6.17(c)(ii)  or
         (iii) for additional Tax liability arising in subsequent  taxable years
         solely as a result of the  absorption  of net  operating  losses of the
         American Tax Group in this manner.

                  (vi) American  shall control any audit or contest  relating to
         Taxes  attributable to the American Tax Group. To the extent such audit
         or  contest  relates  to Taxes  that  American  Tower is  obligated  to
         reimburse or indemnify  American under this  agreement,  American shall
         (x) regularly consult with American Tower in connection with such audit
         or contest;  (y) provide  American  Tower with periodic  reports on the
         status of such audit or  contest;  and (z) not enter into a  settlement
         agreement relating to such audit or contest that materially  prejudices
         American Tower without American Tower's consent.

                  (vii) If  pursuant  to any Tax  audit or  contest  there is an
         adjustment to any Taxes that are  reimbursable or  indemnifiable by the
         American Tower Group to any member of the American Tax Group under this
         Agreement,  including clauses 6.17(c)(ii), (iii) and (iv), then (x) any
         additional  Taxes imposed on the American Tax Group as a result of such
         adjustment  shall be indemnified  by the American Tower Group;  and (y)
         any refund of Taxes paid to the  American Tax Group as a result of such
         adjustment of amounts previously indemnified by American Tower shall be
         promptly paid over to American Tower (including  additional  amounts to
         make American Tower whole on an after- Tax basis, not exceeding amounts
         previously paid by American Tower Group with regard to such Taxes).

                  (viii)  American Tower shall not have the right to any refund,
         credit (or other reduction) of Taxes realized by the American Tax Group
         resulting from a carry back of a post-acquisition  Tax attribute of any
         of the American Tower Group into a Tax Return filed by the American Tax
         Group.

                  (ix) American Tower,  American and Mergeparty agree to attempt
         in  good  faith  to  mutually  agree  on  such  terms  as  promptly  as
         practicable  after the date  hereof.  If American  Tower,  American and
         Mergeparty cannot agree on such terms,  then any disagreement  shall be
         resolved by an arbitrator jointly selected by American Tower,  American
         and  Mergeparty.  The  arbitrator  shall  be a law or  accounting  firm
         nationally  recognized  in tax matters.  The costs of such  arbitration
         shall be shared equally by American Tower and American. The decision of
         the arbitrator shall be binding on all parties.

                  (x) American  shall not elect to retain any net operating loss
         carryovers or capital loss carryovers of the American Tower Group.

                  (xi) The  indemnities of the American Tower Group described in
         this Section 6.17(c) shall apply to all applicable  Taxes whenever they
         shall arise.

                  (xii) At the  request  of any  member  of the  American  Tower
         Group,  American agrees that it shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries
         or other appropriate Affiliates to, make and/or cooperate with

                                     - 33 -

<PAGE>



         members of the American Tower Group in making an election under Section
         336(e)  of the Code  with  respect  to the  Tower  Merger  or the Tower
         Distribution, as the case may be.

         (d) The Tower  Documentation  shall provide for the registration  under
applicable federal and state securities laws of the securities of American Tower
Sub to be issued in the Tower Merger or the  securities of American  Tower to be
issued in the Tower  Distribution,  as the case may be, and upon the exercise of
the American  Options if such  registration is either required under  Applicable
Law or would  otherwise  be  required  to cause  such  securities  to be  freely
transferable  by  Persons  not  Affiliates  of  American  Tower,  and  customary
representations and warranties regarding  information  contained in filings made
with the Commission or any other  Authority in connection  with the Tower Merger
or the Tower  Distribution,  as the case may be. The Tower  Documentation  shall
provide for an  amendment  to the American  Tower or American  Tower  Subsidiary
certificate of incorporation to establish an authorized capitalization and other
terms  similar to  American's  and the  authority  of the Board of  Directors of
American  Tower or American Tower  Subsidiary,  as the case may be, to establish
stock  plans or issue  stock or other  securities  of such  entities  or  rights
thereto.

         (e) The Tower  Documentation  shall provide that American  shall obtain
all Governmental  Authorizations,  Private  Authorizations  or other third party
consents, and make any necessary  Governmental Filings,  necessary to consummate
the Tower  Merger or Tower  Distribution,  as the case may be,  except where the
failure to obtain such consents,  in the aggregate,  would not (i) be reasonably
likely to have any  adverse  effect on  American,  (ii)  materially  impair  the
ability of American to perform its obligations under this Agreement or the Tower
Documentation,  or (iii)  materially  delay or prevent the  consummation  of the
Merger or the Tower  Merger or the Tower  Distribution,  as the case may be. The
Tower   Documentation   shall  provide  that  the  Tower  Merger  or  the  Tower
Distribution,  as the case may be, shall be done in compliance  with  American's
certificate of  incorporation  and by-laws and in material  compliance  with all
Applicable Laws.

         (f) At the time of the Tower Merger or the Tower  Distribution,  as the
case may be, a member of the American Tower Group shall assume (i) to the extent
permitted by the landlord,  the  obligations  under the lease of 116  Huntington
Avenue,  Boston,  Massachusetts,  with respect to the  relevant  portion of such
leased premises or, if such  permission is not obtained,  sublease such relevant
portion,  and (ii) all  liabilities  with  respect to which  indemnification  is
provided under Section 6.17(a). American shall cause all members of the American
Tower Group to be released from all other liabilities;  provided, that, American
Tower agrees to reimburse  American for any expenses  incurred in obtaining such
Release.  American and its  Subsidiaries  (other than the American  Tower Group)
shall  release  the  American  Tower  Group from all Claims by  American  or its
Subsidiaries (other than the American Tower Group), and the American Tower Group
shall  release  American  and its  other  Subsidiaries  from all  Claims  by the
American  Tower  Group,   in  each  case  except  for  Claims  arising  from  or
attributable  to  the  transactions   contemplated  by  this  Agreement  or  any
Collateral Document or otherwise asserted prior to the Effective Time.

         (g) Except as otherwise  provided by Section 6.19,  American  shall, or
shall cause its Subsidiaries to, as applicable,  contribute,  transfer or convey
to  American  Tower  the  assets  described  in  Section  6.17  of the  American
Disclosure Schedule,  and American Tower shall assume all of American's and such
Subsidiaries'  obligations  with  respect  to such  assets to the  extent so set
forth.

         (h) The Tower  Documentation  shall not include any  representations or
warranties by American or American Tower  relating to the business,  operations,
assets,  debts or liabilities of American and its  Subsidiaries  (other than the
American Tower Group) or the American Tower Group.

         (i) On the Closing Date,  the  employees of American  listed in Section
6.17 of the  American  Disclosure  Schedule  (the  "Tower  Employees")  shall be
offered full-time employment by American Tower

                                     - 34 -

<PAGE>



or one of its  Subsidiaries.  If the Tower Merger or Tower  Distribution  occurs
prior to the  Closing  Date,  such  employees  shall  continue to be employed by
American  (at  American's  expense),  but  shall  devote  such  time  as  deemed
reasonably necessary,  consistent with their obligations to American, in support
of the  conduct of the Tower  Business  by the  American  Tower Group on a basis
consistent  with the time and scope of services that such employees  devoted and
provided to the Tower Business prior to the Tower Merger or Tower  Distribution,
as the case may be. Effective  immediately prior to the Effective Time, American
Tower shall assume all obligations arising under any Plan or Benefit Arrangement
between  American or any of its  Subsidiaries and the Tower Employees other than
the rights,  if any, of the Tower Employees with respect to the American Options
(which are being  satisfied  by American  as  provided  in Section  6.8) and all
existing rights to indemnification. Such assumption agreement shall provide that
American and its Subsidiaries,  effective as of the Effective Time (or effective
as of the Tower Merger Date or the Tower  Distribution Date, as the case may be,
as to any member of the Tower Employees that devotes substantially all of his or
her business time to the Tower  Business) shall be indemnified by American Tower
from all obligations  arising under such  employment  agreements or arrangements
(except  in  respect  of  the  American  Options  and  all  existing  rights  to
indemnification).   For  a  period  of  eighteen   (18)  months   following  the
consummation of the Tower Merger or the Tower Distribution,  as the case may be,
members of the American  Tower Group shall not actively  solicit or seek to hire
any employees of American or its Subsidiaries not currently engaged in the Tower
Business,  other than the Tower  Employees,  it being understood and agreed that
such  agreement  shall not be deemed to prevent  members of the  American  Tower
Group from placing general  advertisements in publications or on the Internet or
soliciting  any such employee who (i) initiates  employment  discussions  with a
member of the  American  Tower  Group or (ii) is not  employed  by  American  or
Mergeparty  or any of their  respective  Subsidiaries  on the date such a member
first solicits such employee.

         (j)  Anything in this  Section or  elsewhere  in this  Agreement to the
contrary  notwithstanding,  (i) any  references  in this Section or elsewhere in
this Agreement to Tower Merger shall in the event American  elects to pursue the
Tower  Distribution be deemed to refer to the Tower  Distribution,  and (ii) any
references in this Section or elsewhere in this Agreement to Tower  Distribution
shall in the event American elects to pursue the Tower Merger be deemed to refer
to the Tower Merger.

         (k) In the event that at any time prior to the Effective  Time American
desires  to  effect  a  disposition  of the  American  Tower  Group  (or  all or
substantially  all its assets),  other than  pursuant to the Tower Merger or the
Tower  Distribution  (an  "Alternative   Transaction"),   Mergeparty  agrees  to
cooperate  with  American  with  respect  thereto  and to make  any  appropriate
modifications  to this Agreement and any Collateral  Documents  relating to such
transaction,  provided that such  transaction  does not adversely affect the net
economic benefits of the transactions  contemplated  hereby or by the Collateral
Documents to Mergeparty  (or, if it does, the American Tower Group or the Entity
acquiring it (or all or substantially all its assets) indemnifies  American with
respect  thereto)  and provided  further  that the  American  Tower Group or the
Entity  acquiring  the  American  Tower Group (or all or  substantially  all its
assets) will have  substantially  the same obligations to Mergeparty as American
Tower  Group  would have  pursuant to the Merger  Agreement  and the  Collateral
Documents  and that such Entity shall be no less  financially  able to meet such
obligations than American Tower.

         (l) At the  request of American  Tower and subject to the  requirements
and restrictions  imposed on American by any of its financing documents (as from
time to time amended),  American shall,  from time to time after the date hereof
and prior to the Tower Merger Date or the Tower  Distribution  Date, as the case
may be, permit American Tower to (i) acquire (whether by merger,  stock or asset
acquisition or otherwise) additional businesses engaged in the business in which
American Tower is engaged,  (ii) construct additional  communication  towers, or
(iii) make other capital improvements on assets owned or leased by American

                                     - 35 -

<PAGE>



Tower  or its  Subsidiaries,  and in each  such  case  make  additional  capital
contributions in American Tower, or make loan to American Tower, of the funds.

         (m)  Notwithstanding  anything in this  Agreement to the contrary,  the
consummation of the  transactions  contemplated by this Section and in the Tower
Documentation  or any action or inaction taken in furtherance  thereof shall not
be deemed to be a breach of any covenant,  agreement,  warrant or representation
of American contained in this Agreement.

         (n) The indemnification  obligations  referred to in this Section shall
survive the Tower Merger Date or the Tower  Distribution  Date,  as the case may
be.

         (o) The  Tower  Documentation  shall  provide  that  prior to the Tower
Merger Date or the Tower  Distribution  Date, as the case may be, American shall
amend (i) its  Section  401(k)  Plan to permit a  transfer  of the  assets  held
thereunder for the benefit of the Tower Employees to a Section 401(k) Plan to be
established  by  American  Tower  and,  prior  to  the  Tower  Merger  or  Tower
Distribution Date, as the case may be, such assets will be so transferred (along
with any outstanding qualified domestic relations orders and loans) and (ii) any
other Benefit Plan  arrangements  with respect to Tower Employees to reflect the
Tower Merger or the Tower Distribution, as the case may be.

         (p) The Tower  Documentation  shall provide that prior to the Effective
Time American shall, to the extent  requested by Mergeparty,  cause the American
Tower Group to perform its obligations under the Tower Documentation.

         (q) In the event the Tower  Merger or Tower  Distribution,  as the case
may be,  is to be  consummated  within  24 hours  prior to the  Effective  Time,
Mergeparty  shall,  at the written  request of American in its sole and absolute
discretion,  immediately prior to the Tower Merger or Tower Distribution, as the
case may be, and subject to the  satisfaction  of all of the  conditions  to the
consummation of the transactions  contemplated hereby,  purchase,  at their then
fair  market  value,  shares of a new class of  American  preferred  stock  that
constitutes "Junior Securities" (as defined in the American Cumulative Preferred
Stock)  in an amount  (which  shall not in the  aggregate  exceed  $200,000,000)
necessary  to  enable   American  to  consummate   the  Tower  Merger  or  Tower
Distribution,  as the case may be, without  causing any conflict with, or breach
or  violation  of, or default  under,  or creating any right to  accelerate  any
obligation or liability  in, or causing or creating any of the  foregoing  after
the  giving of notice  or  passage  of time or both  with,  of,  under or in any
indebtedness of American or the American Cumulative  Preferred Stock;  provided,
however,  that  anything in this Section or  elsewhere in this  Agreement to the
contrary  notwithstanding,  in such  event such  preferred  stock  shall  remain
outstanding immediately following the Effective Time.

         In the event American desires, in its sole and absolute discretion,  to
consummate the Tower Merger or Tower Distribution, as the case may be, more than
twenty-four  (24) hours prior to the Effective  Time,  American shall be free to
sell  preferred  stock to a third  party to  enable it to  consummate  the Tower
Merger  or the Tower  Distribution,  provided  that the terms of such  preferred
stock shall  provide that it is  redeemable,  at the option of American,  at par
immediately  following  the  Effective  Time and provided  further that American
Tower shall hold American  harmless  against the net expenses  incurred by it in
connection with such sale and issuance of preferred stock.

         Notwithstanding  anything to the contrary in this  Agreement,  American
will not  consummate the Tower Merger or Tower  Distribution  if, on a pro forma
basis after giving  effect  thereto,  the fair value and present  fair  saleable
value of American's assets would not exceed  American's  stated  liabilities and
identified

                                     - 36 -

<PAGE>



contingent  liabilities,  American  would  not be able to pay its  debts as they
become  absolute  and  mature,   or  American's   remaining   capital  would  be
unreasonably small for the business in which it is engaged.

         6.18 Purchase  Price  Adjustment.  (a) Within 90 days after the Closing
Date,  Mergeparty shall prepare and deliver to American Tower (in the event that
the Tower Distribution has been consummated) or American Tower Sub (in the event
that Tower Merger has been consummated),  as applicable (the "Tower Entity") (i)
a consolidated  balance sheet (the "Closing  Balance Sheet") of American and its
Subsidiaries  (other than the Tower  Subsidiaries) (the  "Post-Closing  American
Group"), prepared from the books and records of the Post-Closing American Group,
and (ii) a statement (the "Closing Statement") setting forth (A) Working Capital
(as defined below) as of the Effective Time ("Closing  Working Capital") and (B)
Net Debt (as  defined  below) as of the  Effective  Time  ("Closing  Net Debt"),
together with a certificate of  Mergeparty's  chief  financial  officer that the
Closing Statement has been prepared in accordance with this Section 6.18.

         During the 45-day period  following the Tower  Entity's  receipt of the
Closing  Statement,  the Tower  Entity  shall be  permitted  to review (and make
copies of) the working papers of Mergeparty  relating to the Closing  Statement.
The Closing  Statement  shall  become  final and binding upon the parties on the
forty-sixth  day  following  delivery  thereof,  unless the Tower  Entity  gives
written  notice of its  disagreement  with the  Closing  Statement  ("Notice  of
Disagreement")  to  Mergeparty  prior to such date.  Any Notice of  Disagreement
shall (i)  specify  in  reasonable  detail  the  nature of any  disagreement  so
asserted,  (ii) only include  disagreements  based on Closing Working Capital or
Closing Net Debt (or the components  thereof) not being calculated in accordance
with this Section 6.18 and (iii) be  accompanied  by a certificate  of the Tower
Entity's  chief  financial  officer  that  he or she  concurs  with  each of the
positions taken by the Tower Entity in the Notice of  Disagreement.  If a Notice
of Disagreement  is received by Mergeparty in a timely manner,  then the Closing
Statement (as revised in  accordance  with clause (A) or (B) below) shall become
final and binding on the earlier of (A) the date Mergeparty and the Tower Entity
resolve  in  writing  any  differences  they have with  respect  to the  matters
specified in the Notice of Disagreement or (B) the date any disputed matters are
finally resolved in writing by the Accounting Firm (as defined below).

         During  the  30-day   period   following   delivery   of  a  Notice  of
Disagreement,  Mergeparty  and the  Tower  Entity  shall  seek in good  faith to
resolve  in writing  any  differences  which  they may have with  respect to the
matters  specified in the Notice of Disagreement.  During such period Mergeparty
shall have  access to (and shall be  permitted  to make  copies of) the  working
papers  of  the  Tower  Entity   prepared  in  connection  with  the  Notice  of
Disagreement.  At the end of such 30-day period, Mergeparty and the Tower Entity
shall  submit to an  independent  accounting  firm (the  "Accounting  Firm") for
review and resolution any and all matters which remain in dispute and which were
properly included in the Notice of Disagreement and each of Mergeparty and Tower
Entity shall submit a memorandum  setting forth in  reasonable  detail the basis
for  its  positions.  The  Accounting  Firm  shall  be a  nationally  recognized
independent  public  accounting  firm  agreed upon by  Mergeparty  and the Tower
Entity  in  writing.  Mergeparty  and the Tower  Entity  shall  jointly  use all
reasonable  efforts to cause the  Accounting  Firm to render a  decision  within
thirty  (30)  days  following   submission  or  as  promptly  thereafter  as  is
practicable.  Mergeparty and the Tower Entity agree that judgment may be entered
upon the  determination of the Accounting Firm in any court having  jurisdiction
over the party against which such  determination is to be enforced.  The cost of
any dispute  resolution  (including the fees and expenses of the Accounting Firm
and  reasonable  attorney  fees and  expenses of the  parties)  pursuant to this
Section  6.18  shall be borne by  Mergeparty  and the Tower  Entity  in  inverse
proportion as they may prevail on matters resolved by the Accounting Firm, which
proportionate allocations shall also be determined by the Accounting Firm at the
time the  determination  of the Accounting Firm is rendered on the merits of the
matters submitted.


                                     - 37 -

<PAGE>



         (b) Subject to Section 6.18(d), if Closing Working Capital is less than
(i)  $60,000,000  in the event the Closing Date is on or prior to March 31, 1998
or (ii)  $70,000,000  in the event the Closing Date is after March 31, 1998 (the
"WC Amount"),  the Tower Entity shall, and if Closing Working Capital is greater
than  the WC  Amount,  Mergeparty  shall,  owe  the  other  the  amount  of such
difference.   The  term  "Working  Capital"  shall  mean  Current  Assets  minus
Liabilities  (in each case as defined  below).  The terms  "Current  Assets" and
"Liabilities"  shall mean the current assets and liabilities of the Post-Closing
American Group  calculated in accordance  with GAAP except that (i)  outstanding
principal amount of indebtedness  and liquidation  preference of preferred stock
shall be excluded,  (ii) cash shall be excluded,  (iii) accruals for Taxes shall
be included  except  that (A) Tax  liabilities  relating to the Tower  Merger or
Tower  Distribution,  Tax benefits  arising from the exercise or cancellation of
options  between the date of this  Agreement and the Effective Time and deferred
income Tax assets and liabilities  that exist or arise from differences in basis
for Tax and financial reporting purposes attributable to acquisitions, exchanges
and dispositions or attributable to depreciation  and amortization  shall not be
taken  into  account  and (B)  accruals  for  Taxes  relating  to  acquisitions,
exchanges or dispositions shall be determined in accordance with American's past
accounting practices,  (iv) Current Assets shall be increased by an amount equal
to the sum of (x) the  amount  derived  by  multiplying  $44.00 by the number of
shares of American  Common Stock held in its treasury as of the  Effective  Date
and (y) the aggregate  amount of the spread of $44.00 over the exercise price of
each  American  Option  outstanding  on the date hereof  terminated or cancelled
prior to the  Effective  Time or for which the holder has  elected to receive an
option to acquire Tower Common Stock in lieu thereof,  less the Tax benefit that
would have been  received  with  respect to the  exercise of such  options,  (v)
Current  Assets  shall be (A)  increased  (if the  number of shares of  American
Common Stock  issuable  upon  conversion of the American  Convertible  Preferred
Stock is fewer  than  3,750,000)  by an amount  equal to the  amount  derived by
multiplying $44.00 by the excess of (I) 3,750,000 less (II) the number of shares
of American  Common Stock issuable upon  conversion of the American  Convertible
Preferred  Stock or (B)  decreased  (if the number of shares of American  Common
Stock issuable upon  conversion of the American  Convertible  Preferred Stock is
greater than  3,750,000) by an amount equal to the amount derived by multiplying
$44.00 by the  excess of (I) the  number of  shares  of  American  Common  Stock
issuable upon conversion of the American  Convertible  Preferred Stock less (II)
3,750,000 and (vi) liabilities from the radio broadcasting  rights contracts for
St. Louis Rams games shall be limited to $3,300,000.

         (c) Subject to Section 6.18(d), if Closing Net Debt is greater than the
Debt Amount (as defined  below) minus  $50,419,000,  minus cash  received by the
Post-Closing  American Group in respect of options exercised between the date of
this Agreement and the Effective Time (the "CD Amount"), the Tower Entity shall,
and if Closing Net Debt is less than the CD Amount,  Mergeparty  shall,  owe the
other the amount of such  difference.  "Debt Amount" shall mean  $1,066,721,000,
minus the  consideration  that was  expected to be paid (as set forth on Section
6.10(a) of the American  Disclosure  Schedule) with respect to all  acquisitions
set forth in Section 6.10(a) of the American  Disclosure Schedule which were not
consummated prior to the Closing Date, plus the consideration  that was expected
to be  received  (as set forth in  Section  6.10(a) of the  American  Disclosure
Schedule) with respect to all  dispositions  set forth in Section 6.10(a) of the
American  Disclosure  Schedule which were not  consummated  prior to the Closing
Date, plus the consideration  paid in connection with  acquisitions  consummated
prior to the  Closing  Date  which  were not  listed in  Section  6.10(a) of the
American  Disclosure  Schedule,  minus the consideration  received in connection
with dispositions consummated prior to the Closing Date which were not listed in
Section 6.10(a) of the American Disclosure  Schedule.  The term "Net Debt" shall
mean   outstanding   principal  amount  of  indebtedness   (including,   without
duplication, guarantees of indebtedness) plus outstanding liquidation preference
of all preferred  stock (other than the American  Convertible  Preferred  Stock)
minus cash.

         (d) Amounts owed pursuant to the first sentence of Section  6.18(c) and
the first sentence of 6.18(c) shall be aggregated or netted, as appropriate (the
resulting amount, the "Adjustment Amount"). In

                                     - 38 -

<PAGE>



the event that the Adjustment  Amount minus  $10,000,000 is greater than $0 (the
"Final  Adjustment  Amount"),  the party that owes the Final  Adjustment  Amount
shall make payment by wire transfer of immediately  available funds of the Final
Adjustment  Amount together with interest thereon at a rate of interest equal to
the lesser of (i) 10% per annum and (ii) if the Tower Entity is being  charged a
rate of interest by a financial  institution,  such rate, but in not event lower
than the prime  rate as  reported  in the Wall  Street  Journal  on the date the
Closing  Statement  becomes final and binding on the parties,  calculated on the
basis of the actual number of days elapsed  divided by 365, from the date of the
Effective Time to the date of actual payment.

         (e) The scope of the disputes to be resolved by the Accounting  Firm is
limited to whether the Closing  Statement  was prepared in  compliance  with the
requirements  of this  Section 6.18 and the  allocation  of the costs of dispute
resolution, and the Accounting Firm is not to make any other determination.

         (f)  During  the  period of time from and  after  the  delivery  of the
Closing  Statement  to the Tower Entity  through the date the Closing  Statement
becomes  final  and  binding  on  Mergeparty,  American  and the  Tower  Entity,
Mergeparty  shall cause the  Post-Closing  American Group to afford to the Tower
Entity and any accountants,  counsel or financial advisors retained by the Tower
Entity in  connection  with the  adjustment  contemplated  by this  Section 6.18
reasonable  access (with the right to make copies) during normal  business hours
to the  books and  records  of the  Post-Closing  American  Group to the  extent
relevant to the adjustment contemplated by this Section 6.18.

         (g) Any  adjustment  pursuant to this  Section 6.18 shall be taken into
account in the calculation of Tax liability pursuant to clause 6.17(c)(iii), and
any  increase  or  decrease  in the  amount of Taxes  that are  reimbursable  or
indemnifiable  by the  American  Tower Group as a result of any such  adjustment
shall be treated as an adjustment to Taxes for purposes of clause 6.17(c)(vii)

         6.19  Tower  Leases.  In  connection  with  the  Tower  Merger,   Tower
Distribution or any Alternative Transaction,  as the case may be, Mergeparty and
American  shall agree on the  definitive  documentation  ("Tower  Leases") to be
executed by American  and American  Tower with  respect to certain  broadcasting
towers  set  forth  in  Section  6.17(i)  the  American   Disclosure   Schedules
("Towers"). The markets in which such Towers, are located and the annual "market
price" for each  antenna  are set forth in Exhibit  "B."  Except as set forth in
Section 6.17(I) of the American Disclosure  Schedule,  such Towers are now owned
or leased by American and shall become the property of American  Tower.  Each of
the Tower Leases shall contain  standard and customary  terms and conditions and
Mergeparty and American  specifically agree to the inclusion of the following in
each of the Tower Leases:

         (a) except as provided in clause (b) below with  respect to those Tower
Leases set forth in Section 6.19 of the American Disclosure Schedule, each Tower
Lease shall be for a term of twenty (20) years with four (4) renewal  periods of
five (5) years each;  each such renewal to be upon the same terms and conditions
as the original Tower Lease.

         (b) Prior to the Effective time, American shall use its best efforts to
extend  the  term of each  lease  set  forth  in  Section  6.19 of the  American
Disclosure  Schedule ("Land Leases") to a minimum duration of twenty (20) years,
inclusive of renewal periods, if any, and provide Mergeparty with respect to the
Towers  subject to the extended  Land Leases,  tower leases with the  equivalent
benefits  set forth in clauses  (c),  (d) and (e) and for a minimum  duration of
twenty (20) years ("Extended Tower Leases"). With respect to any such Land Lease
that is not so extended  (except  with  respect to the Land Lease for  KUFX(FM),
which  present term of  approximately  eighteen  (18)  remaining  years shall be
deemed to satisfy the foregoing requirement of a minimum duration of twenty (20)
years), American, American Tower and Mergeparty shall negotiate in good

                                     - 39 -

<PAGE>



faith to agree upon definitive  documentation to provide Mergeparty with respect
to the Towers  subject  to such Land  Leases,  tower  leases  with the  benefits
equivalent  of such  Extended  Tower  Leases or mutually  agreed to  alternative
arrangements providing equivalent value to Mergeparty.

         (c) each Tower Lease shall provide that no payments shall be payable by
Mergeparty for a period of three (3) years from the Effective Time; for the next
three (3) years the payments shall be as follows:  one-third (1/3) of the market
price as set  forth in  Exhibit B  corresponding  to each FM  antenna  (or AM/FM
antenna) for year four (4);  two-thirds  (2/3) for year five (5) and full market
price for year six (6); thereafter, for the balance of the term and any renewals
thereof,  the  payments  shall be the  market  price,  together  with an  annual
increase every year, beginning for year seven (7), of the lesser of five percent
(5%) or the  Consumer  Price  Index for all Urban  Consumers  over the  previous
year's payments  (except with respect to San Jose (KUFX) and Boston (WNFT) which
such payments shall begin at the Effective Time, with respect to Mergeparty, and
will  begin  on  January  1,  1998 as  between  American  and  American  Tower).
Notwithstanding the foregoing, Mergeparty acknowledges that Tower Lease payments
at the full "market price"  indicated on Exhibit B by American to American tower
may commence upon such leases  becoming the property of American Tower and shall
continue until the Effective Time.

         (d) all expenses for taxes,  insurance,  maintenance  and  utilities in
respect of each Tower shall be paid by American Tower.

         (e) American Tower will assume the obligation  and  responsibility  for
complying with all Applicable Law with respect to the Towers.


                                    ARTICLE 7

                               CLOSING CONDITIONS

         7.1 Conditions to  Obligations of Each Party to Effect the Merger.  The
respective  obligations  of each  party to effect the  Merger  shall,  except as
hereinafter provided in this Section, be subject to the satisfaction at or prior
to the  Closing  Date of the  following  conditions,  any or all of which may be
waived, in whole or in part, to the extent permitted by Applicable Law:

         (a) in the  event  American  shall be  required  to call  the  American
Stockholders  Meeting pursuant to Section 6.5 hereof,  the American  Stockholder
Approval shall have been obtained;

         (b) the  FCC  shall  have  issued  the FCC  Order  (as  defined  below)
approving the applications for transfer of control of American's FCC Licenses in
connection with the transactions  contemplated  herein,  and the FCC Order shall
have been  obtained  without  the  imposition  of  conditions  that would have a
Material  Adverse  Effect on  Mergeparty's  television  and  radio  broadcasting
business;  provided that without  triggering  Mergeparty's right to approve such
conditions or restrictions,  the FCC Order (i) may condition consummation of the
Merger on Mergeparty complying with the numerical limits on local multiple radio
ownership imposed by 47 C.F.R. ss.  73.3555(a) by affording  Mergeparty a period
of at least six (6) months  following the Effective  Time within which to comply
with such rule  through the use of  divestiture  trusts on terms and  conditions
required by the FCC, provided further,  however, that to the extent that the FCC
authority for such divestiture trusts provides for a period of less than six (6)
months,  (A) American has the right to postpone the Effective  Time (and, to the
extent necessary,  the Termination Date), so that Mergeparty is afforded the six
(6) month divestiture period, whether before or after the Effective Time and (B)
if American exercises such right,

                                     - 40 -

<PAGE>



Mergeparty's  right to approve such condition  shall not be triggered,  and (ii)
may  grant  Mergeparty  temporary,   rather  than  permanent,   waivers  of  the
"one-to-a-market"  rule, 47 C.F.R.  ss.  73.3555(c),  so long as such  temporary
waivers  shall  remain in effect  until at least six (6)  months  following  the
effective date of FCC action concluding the ongoing rulemaking  proceeding in MM
Docket  Nos.  91-221,  87-8 (FCC  94-322) or a successor  rulemaking  proceeding
pending  at the  time  of the  grant  of  the  FCC  Order,  that  considers  the
"one-to-a-market"  rule. The "FCC Order" shall be an action by the FCC approving
the transfer of the American FCC Licenses  with respect to which,  except as may
be waived in writing by Mergeparty in its sole discretion, (i) no timely request
for stay, petition for reconsideration or appeal or sua sponte action of the FCC
with comparable  effect is pending,  or (ii) if any of the foregoing is pending,
in the judgment of Mergeparty it lacks any  substantial  merit or is contrary to
established  FCC precedent,  or (iii) if it were to be so granted,  it would not
have a Material Adverse Effect on Mergeparty's television and radio broadcasting
business; and as to which the thirty (30) day time period specified in 47 U.S.C.
ss. 405(a) for initiating a petition for reconsideration of the grant of the FCC
Order has expired;

         (c) no Authority of competent jurisdiction shall have enacted,  issued,
promulgated,  enforced or entered any Law  (whether  temporary,  preliminary  or
permanent) that remains in effect and restrains,  enjoins or otherwise prohibits
consummation of the Merger; and

         (d) the waiting  period  applicable to the  consummation  of the Merger
under the Hart-Scott- Rodino Act shall have expired or been terminated.

         7.2  Conditions  to  Obligations  of  Mergeparty.   The  obligation  of
Mergeparty  and  Mergeparty  Subsidiary to effect the Merger shall be subject to
the satisfaction of the following conditions, any or all of which may be waived,
in whole or in part, to the extent permitted by Applicable Law:

         (a) American shall have furnished  Mergeparty,  with an opinion,  dated
the  Closing  Date of  Dow,  Lohnes  &  Albertson,  FCC  counsel  for  American,
substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit C;

         (b) (i) the  representations  and  warranties  of American set forth in
this Agreement  (other than in Sections 4.11 and 4.13) shall be true and correct
as of the date of this  Agreement  and as of the Closing  Date as though made on
and as of the Closing  Date except (x) to the extent  such  representations  and
warranties   expressly  speak  as  of  an  earlier  date  (in  which  case  such
representations  and  warranties  shall be true and  correct as of such  earlier
date)  and (y) to the  extent  that  the  failure  of such  representations  and
warranties to be true and correct,  individually or in the aggregate,  would not
have a Material  Adverse  Effect on American;  provided,  however,  that for the
purpose of this clause (y), representations and warranties that are qualified as
to materiality  (including by reference to "Material  Adverse Effect") shall not
be deemed to be so qualified,  and (ii) the  representations  and  warranties of
American set forth in Sections 4.11 and 4.13 of this Agreement shall be true and
correct in all material respects;

         (c)  American  shall  have  performed  in  all  material  respects  all
obligations  required to be performed by it under this  Agreement at or prior to
the Closing Date;

         (d) between the date of this Agreement and the Closing Date,  except as
contemplated by this Agreement, including without limitation the Tower Merger or
the Tower  Distribution or an Alternative  Transaction,  as the case may be, and
except as set forth in Section 4.3 of the American  Disclosure  Schedule,  there
shall  not have  occurred  and be  continuing  any  Material  Adverse  Change in
American; and


                                     - 41 -

<PAGE>



         (e)  the  Tower  Merger,  the  Tower  Distribution  or  an  Alternative
Transaction shall have been consummated.

         7.3 Conditions to  Obligations of American.  The obligation of American
to effect the  Merger  shall be subject  to the  satisfaction  of the  following
conditions,  any or all of which  may be  waived,  in  whole or in part,  to the
extent permitted by Applicable Law:

         (a) the  representations and warranties of Mergeparty set forth in this
Agreement  shall be true and correct as of the date of this  Agreement and as of
the Closing  Date as though made on and as of the Closing Date except (x) to the
extent such representations and warranties expressly speak as of an earlier date
(in which case such  representations and warranties shall be true and correct as
of  such  earlier  date)  and  (y)  to the  extent  that  the  failure  of  such
representations  and warranties to be true and correct,  individually  or in the
aggregate,  would not have a Material  Adverse Effect on  Mergeparty;  provided,
however, that for the purpose of this clause (y), representations and warranties
that are  qualified  as to  materiality  (including  by  reference  to "Material
Adverse Effect") shall not be deemed to be so qualified.;

         (b)  Mergeparty  shall have  performed  in all  material  respects  all
obligations  required to be performed by it under this  Agreement at or prior to
the Closing Date; and

         (c) the Tower Merger, Tower Distribution or an Alternative  Transaction
shall have been consummated or a Notice of Abandonment  shall have been received
by Mergeparty.


                                    ARTICLE 8

                        TERMINATION, AMENDMENT AND WAIVER

         8.1 Termination.  This Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to
the  Closing  Date,  whether  before or after  approval by the  stockholders  of
American:

         (a) by mutual  written  consent of American,  Mergeparty and Mergeparty
Subsidiary;

         (b) by either  Mergeparty  or American if any  Authority  of  competent
jurisdiction shall have enacted,  issued,  promulgated,  enforced or entered any
Law that shall have become final and nonappealable  and that restrains,  enjoins
or otherwise prohibits consummation of the Merger, unless the party seeking such
restraint injunction or prohibition or any Affiliate thereof was the terminating
party;

         (c) by either  Mergeparty or American if the Merger shall not have been
consummated by the Termination Date for any reason; provided,  however, that the
right to  terminate  this  Agreement  under  this  Section  8.1(c)  shall not be
available  to any party whose action or failure to act (or the action or failure
to act of any  Affiliate)  has  been a  principal  cause of or  resulted  in the
failure of the Merger to occur on or before such date and such action or failure
to act constitutes a breach of this Agreement;

         (d) by  either  Mergeparty  or  American  if the  American  Stockholder
Approval shall not have been obtained at the American  Stockholders Meeting duly
convened  therefor or at any adjournment or  postponement  thereof or by written
consent;

         (e) by American in the event (i) American is not in material  breach of
this Agreement and none of its  representations or warranties shall have been or
become and continue to be untrue in any material

                                     - 42 -

<PAGE>



respect,  and (ii)  Mergeparty is in material breach of this Agreement or any of
its representations or warranties shall have become and continue to be untrue in
any manner that would cause the condition in Section 7.3(a) not to be satisfied,
and such a breach or  untruth  exists and is not  capable of being  cured by and
will prevent or delay  consummation  of the Merger by or beyond the  Termination
Date; or

         (f) by Mergeparty in the event (i) Mergeparty is not in material breach
of this Agreement and none of its  representations or warranties shall have been
or become and continue to be untrue in any material  respect,  and (ii) American
is in  material  breach  of  this  Agreement  or any of its  representations  or
warranties  shall have become and continue to be untrue in any manner that would
cause the condition in Section 7.2(b) not to be satisfied,  and such a breach or
untruth  exists and is not capable of being  cured by and will  prevent or delay
consummation of the Merger by or beyond the Termination Date.

The term "Termination Date" shall mean September 30, 1998, as such date may from
time to time be extended  pursuant  to the  provisions  of Section  7.1(b) or by
mutual agreement of the parties.

         The  right of  Mergeparty  or  American  to  terminate  this  Agreement
pursuant to this  Section  shall remain  operative  and in full force and effect
regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of either party, any Person
controlling any such party or any of their respective  Representatives,  whether
prior to or after the execution of this Agreement.

         8.2      Effect of Termination.

         Except  as   provided  in   Sections   6.1   (Access  to   Information;
Confidentiality),  6.3 (Public Announcements), and 9.3 (Fees, Expenses and other
Payments) and this Section,  in the event of the  termination  of this Agreement
pursuant  to  Section  8.1,  or in the event the  Merger  shall not have  become
effective prior to the end of business on the day prior to the Termination Date,
this  Agreement  shall  forthwith  become  void and have no effect,  without any
liability  on the  part of any  party,  or any of its  respective  stockholders,
officers or directors,  to the other;  provided,  however, that such termination
shall  not  relieve  any  party  from  liability  for any  breach  of any of its
warranties,  covenants or agreements set forth in this Agreement and,  provided,
however that such termination will not terminate the Confidentiality Agreement.


                                    ARTICLE 9

                               GENERAL PROVISIONS

         9.1  Amendment.  This Agreement may be amended from time to time by the
parties  hereto at any time prior to the Closing Date but only by an  instrument
in writing  signed by the parties hereto and, after receipt of the Required Vote
or the American  Stockholder  Approval,  subject,  in the case of  American,  to
Applicable Law.

         9.2 Waiver. At any time prior to the Closing Date, except to the extent
not permitted by Applicable Law, Mergeparty or American may, either generally or
in a particular instance and either  retroactively or prospectively,  extend the
time for the  performance of any of the  obligations or other acts of the other,
subject,  however,  to the provisions of Section 8.1, waive any  inaccuracies in
the  representations  and  warranties  of the other  contained  herein or in any
document  delivered  pursuant hereto, and waive compliance by the other with any
of the agreements,  covenants,  conditions or other provision  contained herein.
Any such  extension or waiver shall be valid only if set forth in an  instrument
in writing signed by the party or parties to be bound thereby.

                                     - 43 -

<PAGE>




         9.3 Fees,  Expenses  and  Other  Payments.  (a) All costs and  expenses
incurred  in  connection  with any filing  fees  (including  without  limitation
Hart-Scott-Rodino Act filings and FCC filing fees), transfer Taxes, sales Taxes,
document stamps or other charges levied by any Authority in connection with this
Agreement and the Merger shall be borne equally by Mergeparty and American.  All
other  costs  and  expenses   incurred  in  connection  with  the   negotiation,
preparation,  performance and enforcement of this Agreement  (including all fees
and expenses of counsel, financial advisors, accountants, and other consultants,
advisors and  representatives  for all  activities  of such  persons  undertaken
pursuant  to this  Agreement)  incurred by the  parties  hereto,  shall be borne
solely and  entirely by the party which has  incurred  such costs and  expenses,
except  to the  extent,  if  any,  otherwise  specifically  set  forth  in  this
Agreement.

         (b) In the  event  that  this  Agreement  is  terminated  by any  party
pursuant to 8.1(d),  American shall promptly, but in no event later than two (2)
days  after  the date of such  termination,  pay  Mergeparty  a fee equal to $35
million in  immediately  available  funds plus Expenses.  "Expenses"  shall mean
reasonable and reasonably documented out-of-pocket fees and expenses incurred or
paid by or on  behalf  of  Mergeparty  in  connection  with  the  Merger  or the
consummation  of  any  of  the  transactions  contemplated  by  this  Agreement,
including all fees and expenses of counsel, commercial banks, investment banking
firms, accountants, experts and consultants to Mergeparty in an aggregate amount
not to exceed $5 million.

         9.4  Notices.  All  notices  and  other  communications  which  by  any
provision of this Agreement are required or permitted to be given shall be given
in writing  and shall be (a) mailed by  first-class  or  express  mail,  postage
prepaid, or by recognized courier service, (b) sent by telecopy or other form of
rapid  transmission,  confirmed  by mailing  (by first  class or  express  mail,
postage  prepaid,  or by recognized  courier  service)  written  confirmation at
substantially  the  same  time as such  rapid  transmission,  or (c)  personally
delivered to the receiving  party (which if, other than an individual,  shall be
an officer or other responsible party of the receiving party).  All such notices
and communications shall be mailed, sent or delivered as follows:

         (a)      If to Mergeparty:

                      Westinghouse Electric Corporation   
                      11 Stanwix Street
                      Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania  15222
                      Attention:  Louis J. Briskman, Esq.
                      Telecopier No.:  (412) 642-5224
                      
                      with a copy to:
                      
                      Cravath, Swaine & Moore
                      825 Eighth Avenue
                      New York, New York  10019
                      Attention:  Allen Finkelson, Esq.
                      Telecopier No.:  (212) 474-3700


                                     - 44 -

<PAGE>



         (b)      If to American:

                      American Radio Systems Corporation
                      116 Huntington Avenue
                      Boston, Massachusetts 02116
                      Attention:   Steven B. Dodge, President and 
                                      Chief Executive Officer
                      Telecopier No.:  (617) 375-7575
                      
                      
                      with a copy to:
                      
                      Sullivan & Worcester LLP
                      One Post Office Square
                      Boston, Massachusetts 02109
                      Attention:  Norman A. Bikales, Esq.
                      Telecopier No.:  (617) 338-2880

or to such other person(s),  telex or facsimile  number(s) or address(es) as the
party to receive any such communication or notice may have designated by written
notice to the other party.

         9.5  Specific  Performance;  Other  Rights  and  Remedies.  Each  party
recognizes and agrees that in the event the other party should refuse to perform
any of its  obligations  under this  Agreement or any Collateral  Document,  the
remedy at law would be inadequate and agrees that for breach of such provisions,
each party shall,  in addition to such other  remedies as may be available to it
at law or in equity or as  provided  in Article  8, be  entitled  to  injunctive
relief and to enforce its rights by an action for  specific  performance  to the
extent permitted by Applicable Law. Each party hereby waives any requirement for
security  or the post ing of any bond or other  surety  in  connection  with any
temporary or permanent award of injunctive, mandatory or other equitable relief.
Nothing  herein  contained  shall be  construed as  prohibiting  each party from
pursuing any other remedies  available to it under Applicable Law or pursuant to
the provisions of this Agreement for such breach or threatened breach, including
without limitation the recovery of damages,  including, to the extent awarded in
any Legal Action,  punitive,  incidental and  consequential  damages  (including
without  limitation  damages  for  diminution  in value and loss of  anticipated
profits) or any other measure of damages permitted by Applicable Law.

         9.6 Survival of Representations,  Warranties, Covenants and Agreements.
None of the  representations  and warranties in this Agreement shall survive the
Merger, and after  effectiveness of the Merger neither  Mergeparty,  American or
their  respective  officers,  directors or  shareholders  shall have any further
obligation with respect  thereto.  This Section 9.6 shall not limit any covenant
or agreement of the parties which by its terms  contemplates  performance  after
the Effective Time.

         9.7  Severability.  If any term or provision of this Agreement shall be
held or deemed  to be, or shall in fact be,  invalid,  inoperative,  illegal  or
unenforceable  as  applied  to  any  particular  case  in  any  jurisdiction  or
jurisdictions,  or in  all  jurisdictions  or  in  all  cases,  because  of  the
conflicting of any provision with any  constitution or statute or rule of public
policy or for any other reason,  such circumstance  shall not have the effect of
rendering the provision or provisions in question invalid, inoperative,  illegal
or unenforceable in any other  jurisdiction or in any other case or circumstance
or of rendering any other  provision or  provisions  herein  contained  invalid,
inoperative,  illegal or  unenforceable to the extent that such other provisions
are not themselves actually in conflict with such constitution,  statute or rule
of public policy, but this Agreement shall be reformed and construed in any such
jurisdiction or case as if such invalid,

                                     - 45 -

<PAGE>



inoperative,  illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein
and such provision reformed so that it would be valid, operative and enforceable
to  the  maximum  extent  permitted  in  such  jurisdiction  or  in  such  case.
Notwithstanding  the  foregoing,  in the  event of any such  determination,  the
parties shall  negotiate in good faith to modify this  Agreement so as to effect
the original  intent of the parties as closely as possible to the fullest extent
permitted by Applicable  Law in an acceptable  manner to the end that the Merger
is fulfilled and consummated to the maximum extent possible.

         9.8   Counterparts.   This   Agreement   may  be  executed  in  several
counterparts,  each of  which  shall be  deemed  an  original,  but all of which
together shall constitute one and the same  instrument,  binding upon all of the
parties. In pleading or proving any provision of this Agreement, it shall not be
necessary to produce more than one of such counterparts.

         9.9 Section Headings.  The headings contained in this Agreement are for
reference  purposes  only  and  shall  not in any  way  affect  the  meaning  or
interpretation of this Agreement.

         9.10  Governing  Law. The validity,  interpretation,  construction  and
performance of this Agreement  shall be governed by, and construed in accordance
with,  the  Applicable  Laws of the United States of America and the laws of the
State of New York  applicable to contracts made and performed in such State and,
in any event,  without giving effect to any choice or conflict of laws provision
or rule that would cause the  application  of domestic  substantive  laws of any
other  jurisdiction,  except to the  extent the  corporate  laws of the State of
Delaware   are   applicable.   Anything  in  this   Agreement  to  the  contrary
notwithstanding,  in the event of any dispute  between the parties which results
in a Legal Action,  the  prevailing  party shall be entitled to receive from the
non-prevailing  party  reimbursement  for  reasonable  legal  fees and  expenses
incurred by such prevailing party in such Legal Action.

         9.11 Further Acts. Each party agrees that at any time, and from time to
time, before and after the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement,  it  will do all  such  things  and  execute  and  deliver  all  such
Collateral  Documents  and other  assurances,  as the other party or its counsel
reasonably  deems  necessary  or  desirable  in order to carry out the terms and
conditions of this  Agreement  and the  transactions  contemplated  hereby or to
facilitate  the enjoyment of any of the rights  created  hereby or to be created
hereunder.

         9.12 Entire Agreement;  No Other  Representations  or Agreements.  This
Agreement (together with the Disclosure Schedules and the Exhibits and the other
Collateral  Documents  delivered  or to be  delivered  in  connection  herewith)
constitutes  the entire  agreement  of the parties  with  respect to the subject
matter hereof and  supersedes  all prior  agreements,  arrangements,  covenants,
promises, conditions, undertakings, inducements, representations, warranties and
negotiations,  expressed or implied, oral or written,  between the parties, with
respect to the subject  matter  hereof.  Each of the parties is a  sophisticated
legal  entity  that was  advised by  experienced  counsel  and, to the extent it
deemed necessary,  other advisors in connection with this Agreement. Each of the
parties  hereby  acknowledges  that (a) neither party has relied or will rely in
respect of this  Agreement  or the  transactions  contemplated  hereby  upon any
document or written or oral information previously furnished to or discovered by
it or its representatives, other than this Agreement (including the Exhibits and
the  Disclosure  Schedules  and the other  Collateral  Documents) or such of the
foregoing  as are  delivered  at the  Closing,  (b)  there are no  covenants  or
agreements  by or on  behalf  of either  party  hereto or any of its  respective
Affiliates  or  representatives  other  than those  expressly  set forth in this
Agreement and the Collateral  Documents,  and (c) the parties' respective rights
and  obligations  with  respect to this  Agreement  and the events  giving  rise
thereto  will be  solely  as set  forth  in this  Agreement  and the  Collateral
Documents.  WITHOUT LIMITING THE GENERALITY OF THE FOREGOING,  EACH PARTY HERETO
AGREES THAT, EXCEPT FOR THE REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES CONTAINED IN THIS

                                     - 46 -

<PAGE>



AGREEMENT,  NEITHER AMERICAN NOR MERGEPARTY MAKES ANY OTHER  REPRESENTATIONS  OR
WARRANTIES,  AND EACH HEREBY DISCLAIMS ANY OTHER  REPRESENTATIONS  OR WARRANTIES
MADE BY ITSELF OR ANY OF ITS OFFICERS,  DIRECTORS,  EMPLOYEES, AGENTS, FINANCIAL
AND LEGAL ADVISORS OR OTHER  REPRESENTATIVES,  WITH RESPECT TO THE EXECUTION AND
DELIVERY  OF  THIS   AGREEMENT   OR  THE   TRANSACTIONS   CONTEMPLATED   HEREBY,
NOTWITHSTANDING  THE  DELIVERY  OR  DISCLOSURE  TO  THE  OTHER  OR  THE  OTHER'S
REPRESENTATIVES  OF ANY  DOCUMENTATION OR OTHER  INFORMATION WITH RESPECT TO ANY
ONE OR MORE OF THE FOREGOING.

         9.13  Assignment.  This Agreement  shall not be assignable by any party
and any such  assignment  shall be null and void,  except that it shall inure to
the benefit of and be binding  upon any  successor to each party by operation of
Law,  including by way of merger,  consolidation or sale of all or substantially
all of its assets,  and each party may assign its rights and remedies  hereunder
to any bank or other financial  institution  which has loaned funds or otherwise
extended credit to it.

         9.14  Parties in  Interest.  This  Agreement  shall be binding upon and
inure  solely to the benefit of each party and their  permitted  successors  and
assigns,  and nothing in this Agreement,  express or implied,  is intended to or
shall  confer  upon any  Person  any  right,  benefit  or remedy  of any  nature
whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement, except as otherwise provided in
Articles 2 and 3 and Sections 6.8(e), 6.12 and 9.13.

         9.15 Mutual Drafting. This Agreement is the result of the joint efforts
of Mergeparty and American,  and each  provision  hereof has been subject to the
mutual consultation, negotiation and agreement of the parties and there shall be
no  construction  against either party based on any  presumption of that party's
involvement in the drafting thereof.

         9.16 Obligations of American and of Mergeparty. Whenever this Agreement
requires a Subsidiary of American to take any action,  such requirement shall be
deemed  to  include  an  undertaking  on the  part of  American  to  cause  such
Subsidiary to take such action. Whenever this Agreement requires a Subsidiary of
Mergeparty to take any action,  such  requirement  shall be deemed to include an
undertaking  on the part of  Mergeparty  to cause such  Subsidiary  to take such
action and, after the Effective  Time, on the part of the Surviving  Corporation
to cause such Subsidiary to take such action.

         9.17  Mergeparty  Agent for  Mergeparty  Subsidiary.  Anything  in this
Agreement to the contrary  notwithstanding,  Mergeparty Subsidiary hereby grants
Mergeparty  an  irrevocably  power of attorney and hereby  irrevocably  appoints
Mergeparty  its agent for all  purposes  of this  Agreement,  including  without
limitation  for the purpose of executing and  delivering  extensions of the time
for the  performance  of any of the  obligations  or other  acts of  Mergeparty,
waivers, terminations or amendments, and any action taken by Mergeparty pursuant
to  such  power  of  attorney  and  agency,  and  any  such  extension,  waiver,
termination or amendment executed and delivered by Mergeparty,  shall be binding
upon  Mergeparty  Subsidiary  whether or not it has  specifically  approved such
action or executed such extension, waiver, termination or amendment.






                            [SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

                                     - 47 -

<PAGE>



         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, American, Mergeparty and Mergeparty Subsidiary have
caused  this  Agreement  and Plan of  Merger  to be  executed,  pursuant  to the
authority and approval of each of their  respective  Boards of Directors,  as of
the date  first  written  above  by their  respective  officers  thereunto  duly
authorized.

                       American Radio Systems Corporation


                       By: /s/ Steven B. Dodge
                          Name: Steven B. Dodge
                           Title:    Chairman of the Board, President and
                                       Chief Executive Officer

                        Westinghouse Electric Corporation



                        By: /s/ Louis J. Briskman
                            Name: Louis J. Briskman
                            Title: Senior Vice President and General Counsel


                        R Acquisition Corp.


                       By: /s/ Louis J. Briskman
                            Name: Louis J. Briskman
                            Title: Senior Vice President and General Counsel


                                     - 48 -

<PAGE>



                                                               APPENDIX A

                                   DEFINITIONS


         Accounting Firm shall have the meaning given to it in Section 6.18.

         Adjustment  Amount  shall  have  the  meaning  given  to it in  Section
6.18(d).

         Adverse,  Adversely, when used alone or in conjunction with other terms
(including  without  limitation  "Affect," "Change" and "Effect") shall mean any
Event that has adversely  affected or is reasonably  likely to adversely  affect
(a) the  validity or  enforceability  of this  Agreement  or the  likelihood  of
consummation of the Merger, (b) the business, properties, financial condition or
results of operations of American and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or the
Mergeparty and its  Subsidiaries,  taken as a whole,  as the case may be, or (c)
American's  or  Mergeparty's,  as the  case  may  be,  ability  to  fulfill  its
obligations  under the terms of this Agreement.  Notwithstanding  the foregoing,
and anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding,  neither (i) any
Event affecting the radio broadcasting  industry or the national or any regional
or market economy generally nor (ii) the Tower Merger or Tower Distribution,  as
the case may be,  shall be deemed  to  constitute  an  Adverse  Change,  have an
Adverse Effect or to Adversely Affect within the meaning of any of the foregoing
clauses (a) through (c).

         Affiliate,  Affiliated shall mean, with respect to any Person,  (a) any
other Person at the time  directly or indirectly  controlling,  controlled by or
under direct or indirect  common  control with such Person,  any other Person of
which such  Person at the time owns,  or has the right to  acquire,  directly or
indirectly,  twenty  percent  (20%) or more of any class of the capital stock or
beneficial  interest,  (c) any other Person  which at the time owns,  or has the
right to acquire,  directly or  indirectly,  twenty percent (20%) or more of any
class of the  capital  stock or  beneficial  interest  of such  Person,  (d) any
executive  officer  or  director  of  such  Person,  (e)  with  respect  to  any
partnership,  joint venture or similar Entity, any general partner thereof,  and
(f) when used with respect to an  individual,  shall  include any member of such
individual's immediate family or a family trust.

         Agreement  shall have the  meaning  given to it in the first  "Whereas"
paragraph and shall include any amendments executed and delivered by the parties
pursuant to the provisions of Section 9.1.

         Alternative  Transaction  shall have the meaning given to it in Section
6.17(k).

         American shall have the meaning given to it in the Preamble.

         American  Brokered  Stations  shall mean the radio  broadcast  stations
which  American  has the  right  to  acquire,  but  which as of the date of this
Agreement it is operating  pursuant to time brokerage,  local marketing or other
similar agreements.

         American  Common  Stock shall have the  meaning  given to it in Section
3.1(d).

         American Convertible Preferred Stock shall have the meaning given to it
in Section 3.1(c).

         American Cumulative  Preferred Stock shall have the meaning given to it
in Section 3.1(b).


                                       A-1

<PAGE>



         American   Disclosure  Schedule  shall  mean  the  American  Disclosure
Schedule  dated  as of the  date of this  Agreement  delivered  by  American  to
Mergeparty simultaneously with the execution and delivery of this Agreement.

         American  Financial  Statements  shall have the meaning  given to it in
Section 4.2.

         American Options shall have the meaning given to it in Section 6.8.

         American  Preferred Stock shall have the meaning given to it in Section
3.1(c).

         American FCC Licenses means all FCC Licenses  issued to American or any
of its  Subsidiaries  and  used  in the  business  or  operations  of any of the
American  Stations,  including  those  listed on Section  4.6(a) of the American
Disclosure  Schedule  (other  than  those  relating  to  the  American  Brokered
Stations,  which shall be deemed American FCC Licenses only upon consummation of
the acquisition of the applicable American Brokered Station),  and any additions
thereto  between  the date  hereof and the  Closing  Date.  Auxiliary  broadcast
licenses issued pursuant to 47 C.F.R. Part 74 shall not be deemed to be material
American FCC Licenses.

         American SEC  Documents  shall have the meaning  given to it in Section
4.2.

         American Stations means the radio broadcast stations owned by American,
or which it has the right to acquire (and acquires prior to the Closing Date but
only  from  and  after  such  acquisition)  as of the  date of  this  Agreement;
provided, however, that American Stations shall not include any American Station
disposed  of by  American  subsequent  to the  date  of  this  Agreement  not in
violation of the provisions of this Agreement;  further, provided, that American
Stations shall include American Brokered Stations if the context so requires.

         American  Stock  means  the  American  Common  Stock  and the  American
Preferred stock.

         American  Stockholder  Approval  shall have the meaning  given to it in
Section 6.5.

         American  Stockholders  Meeting  shall have the meaning  given to it in
Section 6.5.

         American 10-K shall have the meaning given to it in Section 4.2.

         American Tax Group shall mean American and those of its Subsidiaries as
are included in the consolidated Federal Income Tax Returns of American.

         American  Tower  shall  have  the  meaning  given  to it in the  second
"Whereas" paragraph.

         American  Tower  Group  shall have the  meaning  given to it in Section
6.17.

         American  Tower Sub shall mean  American  Radio and Tower  Corporation,
Delaware corporation to be organized in the event of the Tower Merger which will
be a wholly-owned subsidiary of American Tower.

         American's   knowledge   (including  the  term  "to  the  knowledge  of
American")  means the actual  knowledge  of the Chief  Executive  Officer or the
Chief Financial Officer of American,  and that such Officer shall have reason to
believe and shall  believe that the subject  representation  or warranty is true
and accurate as stated.

                                       A-2

<PAGE>



         Antitrust  Division  shall  have the  meaning  given  to it in  Section
6.2(c).

         Applicable Law shall mean,  with respect to any Person,  any Law of any
Authority,  whether  domestic or foreign,  to which such Person is subject or by
which it or any of its business or  operations is subject or any of its property
or assets is bound.

         Applications shall have the meaning given to it in Section 6.2(b).

         Authority shall mean any governmental or quasi-governmental  authority,
whether  administrative,  executive,  judicial,  legislative  or  other,  or any
combination   thereof,   including  without   limitation  any  federal,   state,
territorial,   county,   municipal  or  other   government  or  governmental  or
quasi-governmental agency, arbitrator,  authority,  board, body, branch, bureau,
central bank or comparable  agency or Entity,  commission,  corporation,  court,
department,  instrumentality,  master, mediator, panel, referee, system or other
political unit or  subdivision or other Entity of any of the foregoing,  whether
domestic or foreign.

         Benefit Arrangement shall mean, with respect to any Person, any benefit
arrangement  that is not a Plan,  including  (a) any  employment,  severance  or
consulting  agreement,  (b) any arrangement  providing for insurance coverage or
workers'  compensation  benefits,  (c) any  incentive  bonus or  deferred  bonus
arrangement,  (d) any arrangement providing termination allowance,  severance or
similar  benefits,  (e) any  equity  compensation  plan,  and  (f) any  deferred
compensation plan which American or any ERISA Affiliate  maintains,  contributes
to or is  required  to  contribute  to for the  benefit of any current or former
officers, employees, agents, directors or independent contractors of American or
any of its ERISA Affiliates.

         Certificates shall have the meaning given to it in Section 3.2(b).

         CD Amount shall have the meaning given to it in Section 6.18(c).

         Claims shall mean any and all debts, liabilities,  obligations, losses,
damages,  deficiencies,  assessments  and  penalties,  together  with all  Legal
Actions, pending or threatened, claims and judgments of whatever kind and nature
relating  thereto,  and all fees, costs,  expenses and disbursements  (including
without  limitation  reasonable  attorneys'  and  other  legal  fees,  costs and
expenses) relating to any of the foregoing.

         Class A Common shall have the meaning given to it in Section 3.1(d).

         Class B Common shall have the meaning given to it in Section 3.1(d).

         Closing shall have the meaning given to it in Section 2.2.

         Closing  Balance  Sheet shall have the  meaning  given to it in Section
6.18.

         Closing Date shall have the meaning given to it in Section 2.2.

         Closing Net Debt shall have the meaning given to it in Section 6.18.

         Closing Statement shall have the meaning given to it in Section 6.18.

         Closing  Working  Capital shall have the meaning given to it in Section
6.18.


                                       A-3

<PAGE>



         COBRA shall mean the Consolidated Omnibus Budget  Reconciliation Act of
1985,  as  amended,  as set  forth  in  Section  4980B of the Code and Part 6 of
Subtitle B of Title I of ERISA.

         Code shall mean the Internal  Revenue  Code of 1986,  and the rules and
regulations  thereunder,  all as from time to time in effect,  or any  successor
law,  rules or  regulations,  and any  reference to any  statutory or regulatory
provision  shall be deemed  to be a  reference  to any  successor  statutory  or
regulatory provision.

         Collateral  Document shall mean any agreement,  certificate,  contract,
instrument,  notice,  opinion  or  other  document  delivered  pursuant  to  the
provisions of this Agreement,  including without limitation, the Confidentiality
Agreement and the Tower Documentation.

         Commission or SEC shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission and
shall include any successor Authority.

         Contracts shall have the meaning given to it in Section 4.20(a).

         Confidentiality Agreement shall mean the letter agreement, dated August
21, 1997 between American and Mergeparty.

         Control (including the terms  "controlled,"  "controlled by" and "under
common control with") means the possession, directly or indirectly or as trustee
or executor,  of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or
policies of a Person,  or the disposition of such Person's assets or properties,
whether through the ownership of stock, equity or other ownership,  by contract,
arrangement or understanding,  or as trustee or executor,  by contract or credit
arrangement or otherwise.

         Convertible Securities shall mean any evidences of indebtedness, shares
of capital  stock  (other than  common  stock) or other  securities  directly or
indirectly convertible into or exchangeable for shares of capital stock, whether
or not the right to convert or exchange thereunder is immediately exercisable or
is conditioned  upon the passage of time, the  occurrence or  non-occurrence  or
existence or non-existence of some other Event, or both.

         CSFB shall have the meaning given to it in Section 4.14.

         Current Assets shall have the meaning given to it in Section 6.18(b).

         DCL shall have the meaning given to it in Section 2.1.

         Debt Amount shall have the meaning given to it in Section 6.18(c).

         Disclosure Schedule shall mean the Mergeparty  Disclosure Schedule,  if
any, or the American Disclosure Schedule, as the case may be.

         Dissenting Shares shall have the meaning given to it in Section 3.4(a).

         Divestiture  Condition  means any condition  imposed or required by the
FCC  (including  conditions  required by the FCC's multiple  ownership  rules or
policies), the Antitrust Division or the FTC as a condition to its consent to or
approval  of the  transfer  of control of any of the  American  FCC  Licenses or
otherwise to the transactions  (or any of them)  contemplated by this Agreement,
including without limitation the Merger,

                                       A-4

<PAGE>



or as a condition to its  agreement not to institute any Legal Action to prevent
the  transfer of control of any of the  American  FCC  Licenses or  otherwise to
prevent  any  of the  transactions  contemplated  hereby,  which  would  require
Mergeparty or any of its  Subsidiaries or any of its other Affiliates to dispose
of one or more of the American  Stations or American  Brokered  Stations,  or in
Mergeparty's sole discretion,  one or more of the radio broadcast stations owned
by  Mergeparty  and  operating  in the same  Arbitron  Survey area as any of the
American Stations or American Brokered Stations;  provided,  however,  that with
respect to compliance with any condition  imposed by the FCC,  Mergeparty  shall
have been  afforded a period of six  months,  from  Closing,  through the use of
trusts or otherwise, within which to comply with the radio duopoly overlap rule,
47 C.F.R. ss.  73.3555(a),  and Mergeparty  shall have been afforded  temporary,
rather  than  permanent,  waivers of the  one-to-a-market  rule,  47 C.F.R.  ss.
73.3555(c),  so long as such  temporary  waivers shall remain in effect until at
least 6 months following the effective date of FCC action concluding the ongoing
proceeding in MM Docket Nos. 91-221, 87-8 (FCC 94-322) or a successor rulemaking
proceeding pending at the time of the grant of the FCC Order, that considers the
one-to-a-market rule.

         D&O Insurance shall have the meaning given to it in Section 6.12(c).

         Effective Time shall have the meaning given to it in Section 2.3.

         Entity shall mean any corporation,  firm, unincorporated  organization,
association,  partnership,  limited  liability  company,  trust  (inter vivos or
testamentary),  estate of a deceased, insane or incompetent individual, business
trust,  joint stock  company,  joint  venture or other  organization,  entity or
business,  whether acting in an individual,  fiduciary or other capacity, or any
Authority.

         Environmental  Law  excluding any  regulations  issued by the FCC shall
mean any Law relating to or otherwise imposing liability or standards of conduct
concerning  pollution  or  protection  of  the  environment,  including  without
limitation,  Laws  relating to  emissions,  discharges,  releases or  threatened
releases  of  Hazardous  Materials  into  the  environment  (including,  without
limitation,  ambient air, surface water,  ground water, mining or reclamation of
mined land,  land surface or subsurface  strata) or otherwise that relate to the
manufacture,  processing,  generation,  distribution,  use, treatment,  storage,
disposal, cleanup, transport or handling of pollutants,  contaminants, chemicals
or industrial, toxic or hazardous substances, materials or wastes. Environmental
Laws shall include without limitation the Comprehensive  Environmental Response,
Compensation  and Liability Act (42 U.S.C.  Section 6901 et seq.), the Hazardous
Material  Transportation  Act (49 U.S.C.  Section  1801 et seq.),  the  Resource
Conservation  and  Recovery Act (42 U.S.C.  Section  6901 et seq.),  the Federal
Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C.  Section 1251 et seq.), the Clean Air Act
(42 U.S.C.  Section 7401 et seq.), the Toxic  Substances  Control Act (15 U.S.C.
Section 2601 et seq.), the Occupational Safety and Health Act (29 U.S.C. Section
651 et seq.), the Federal  Insecticide,  Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (7 U.S.C.
Section 136 et seq.), and the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977
(30 U.S.C.  Section 1201 et seq.), and any analogous  federal,  state,  local or
foreign Laws, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder,  all as from
time to time in effect,  and any  reference to any such  statutory or regulatory
provision  shall be deemed  to be a  reference  to any  successor  statutory  or
regulatory provision.

         Environmental  Permit  shall  mean,  with  respect to any  Person,  any
Governmental Authorization required by or pursuant to any Environmental Law.

         ERISA shall mean the Employee  Retirement  Income Security Act of 1974,
and the rules and regulations thereunder, all as from time to time in effect, or
any successor law, rules or regulations, and any reference to any such statutory
or  regulatory  provision  shall be deemed to be a  reference  to any  successor
statutory or regulatory provision.

                                       A-5

<PAGE>



         ERISA  Affiliate  shall  mean any  Person  that is  treated as a single
employer with American  under  Sections  414(b),  (c), (m) or (o) of the Code or
Section 4001(b)(1) of ERISA.

         ESOP shall have the meaning given to it in Section 4.9(a)(xvi).

         Event  shall  mean the  existence  or  occurrence  of any act,  action,
activity,  circumstance,  condition,  event,  fact,  failure  to act,  omission,
incident or practice, or any set or combination of any of the foregoing.

         Exchange Act shall mean the  Securities  Exchange Act of 1934,  and the
rules and  regulations  thereunder,  all as from time to time in effect,  or any
successor law, rules or regulations,  and any reference to any such statutory or
regulatory  provision  shall  be  deemed  to be a  reference  to  any  successor
statutory or regulatory provision.

         Exchange Agent shall have the meaning given to it in Section 3.2(a).

         Expenses shall have the meaning given to it in Section 9.3.

         FCA  shall  mean the  Communication  Act of  1934,  and the  rules  and
regulations  thereunder,  all as from time to time in effect,  or any  successor
law, rules or regulations, and any reference to any such statutory or regulatory
provision  shall be deemed  to be a  reference  to any  successor  statutory  or
regulatory provision.

         FCC shall mean the Federal Communications  Commission and shall include
any successor Authority.

         FCC Consents means actions by the FCC (including the Chief,  Mass Media
Bureau,  acting under delegated  authority) granting its consent to the transfer
of control of the American  FCC  Licenses  for each of the American  Stations to
Mergeparty as  contemplated  by this  Agreement  whether or not such consent has
become a Final Order.

         FCC   Licenses   means  all  of  the   licenses,   permits   and  other
authorizations  issued by the FCC to an owner and  operator  of radio  broadcast
stations.

         FCC Order shall have the meaning given to it in Section 7.1(b).

         Filed  American  SEC  Documents  shall have the meaning  given to it in
Section 4.2.

         Final  Adjustment  Amount shall have the meaning given to it in Section
6.18(d).

         Final  Order  shall  mean,  with  respect to any  Authority,  including
without  limitation  the FCC, a consent  or  approval  with  respect to which no
appeal,  no stay, no petition or  application  for  rehearing,  reconsideration,
review or stay, whether on motion of the applicable Authority or other Person or
otherwise,  and no other Legal Action contesting such consent or approval, is in
effect or  pending  and as to which the time or  deadline  for  filing  any such
appeal,  petition or application or other Legal Action has expired or, if filed,
has  been  denied,  dismissed  or  withdrawn,  and  the  time  or  deadline  for
instituting any further Legal Action has expired.

         FTC shall have the meaning given to it in Section 6.2(c).


                                       A-6

<PAGE>



         GAAP shall mean generally accepted  accounting  principles as in effect
from time to time in the United States of America.

         Governmental  Authorizations  shall  mean all  approvals,  concessions,
consents,   franchises,   licenses,  permits,  plans,  registrations  and  other
authorizations  of all  Authorities,  including the FCC Licenses,  issued by the
FCC, the Federal Aviation  Administration  and any other Authority in connection
with the conduct of business or operations of any of the Stations.

         Governmental  Filings shall mean all filings,  including  franchise and
similar Tax  filings,  and the payment of all fees,  assessments,  interest  and
penalties associated with such filings, with all Authorities.

         Hart-Scott-Rodino  Act  shall  mean  the  Hart-Scott-Rodino   Antitrust
Improvements Act of 1976, and the rules and regulations thereunder,  all as from
time to time in effect,  or any successor  law,  rules or  regulations,  and any
reference to any such statutory or regulatory  provision shall be deemed to be a
reference to any successor statutory or regulatory provision.

         Hazardous  Materials  shall mean and include any  substance,  material,
waste, constituent, compound, chemical, natural or man-made element or force (in
whatever state of matter):  (a) the presence of which requires  investigation or
remediation under any Environmental  Law; or (b) that is defined as a "hazardous
waste" or  "hazardous  substance"  under any  Environmental  Law; or (c) that is
toxic, explosive,  corrosive,  etiologic,  flammable,  infectious,  radioactive,
carcinogenic,   mutagenic  or  otherwise  hazardous  and  is  regulated  by  any
applicable  Authority or subject to any Environmental  Law; or (d) that poses or
threatens  to pose a hazard to the  health or  safety  of  persons;  or (e) that
contains  gasoline,  diesel  fuel  or  other  petroleum  hydrocarbons,   or  any
by-products  or  fractions  thereof,  natural  gas,  polychlorinated   biphenyls
("PCBs") and  PCB-containing  equipment,  radon or other  radioactive  elements,
ionizing radiation,  lead, asbestos or asbestos- containing  materials,  or urea
formaldehyde foam insulation.

         indebtedness   shall  mean,   with  respect  to  any  Person,   without
duplication,  (A) all  obligations  of such Person for borrowed  money,  or with
respect to deposits or advances of any kind to such Person,  (B) all obligations
of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or similar instruments, (C)
all obligations of such Person under  conditional  sale or other title retention
agreements relating to property purchased by such Person, (D) all obligations of
such  Person  issued or assumed as the  deferred  purchase  price of property or
services  (excluding  obligations of such Person to creditors for raw materials,
inventory,  services  and  supplies  incurred  in the  ordinary  course  of such
Person's  business),  (E) all capitalized lease obligations of such Person,  (F)
all  obligations  of others  secured by any Lien on property or assets  owned or
acquired by such Person,  whether or not the  obligations  secured  thereby have
been assumed, (G) all obligations of such Person under interest rate or currency
hedging transactions (valued at the termination value thereof),  (H) all letters
of credit  issued for the  account of such  Person  and (I) all  guarantees  and
arrangements  having the  economic  effect of a guarantee  of such Person or any
indebtedness of any other Person.

         Indemnified  Parties  shall  have the  meaning  given to it in  Section
6.12(b).

         Information  Statement  shall have the  meaning  given to it in Section
6.6(a).

         Law shall mean any (a) administrative,  judicial,  legislative or other
action,  code,  consent  decree,  constitution,  decree,  directive,  enactment,
finding, guideline, law, injunction, interpretation, judgment, order, ordinance,
proclamation,  promulgation, regulation, requirement, rule, rule of law, rule of
public policy, settlement agreement, statute, or writ of any Authority, domestic
or foreign; (b) the common law, or other

                                       A-7

<PAGE>



legal or quasi-legal  precedent;  or (c)  arbitrator's,  mediator's or referee's
award, decision, finding or recommendation.

         Legal  Action  shall  mean,  with  respect to any  Person,  any and all
litigation or legal or other  actions,  arbitrations,  counterclaims,  hearings,
investigations,  proceedings  or  suits,  at law or in  arbitration,  equity  or
admiralty,  whether or not purported to be brought on behalf of such Person,  by
or before any  Authority,  against such Person or involving any of such Person's
business or assets.

         Liabilities shall have the meaning given to it in Section 6.18(b).

         Lien shall mean any of the  following:  mortgage;  lien  (statutory  or
other) or other  security  agreement,  arrangement  or interest;  hypothecation,
pledge  or  other  deposit  arrangement;  assignment;  charge;  levy;  executory
seizure;   attachment;   garnishment;   encumbrance   (including  any  easement,
exception,  reservation or limitation,  right of way, and the like); conditional
sale,  title  retention  or other  similar  agreement,  arrangement,  device  or
restriction;  any  financing  lease  involving  substantially  the same economic
effect as any of the foregoing;  the filing of any financing statement under the
Uniform Commercial Code or comparable law of any jurisdiction; or restriction on
sale, transfer, assignment, disposition or other alienation.

         Material, Materially or materiality for the purposes of this Agreement,
shall, unless specifically stated to the contrary,  be determined without regard
to the fact that various  provisions of this Agreement set forth specific dollar
amounts.

         Material  Agreement  shall  mean,  with  respect  to  any  Person,  any
agreement, arrangement, contract, undertaking, understanding or other obligation
or liability  which (a) was not entered into in the ordinary course of business,
it being understood and agreed by the parties that the acquisition,  disposition
or exchange of radio  stations is in the ordinary  course of  business,  (b) was
entered into in the ordinary course of business which (i) involved the purchase,
sale or lease of goods or materials,  or purchase of services,  aggregating more
than $10,000,000 during any of the last three fiscal years of such Person,  (ii)
extends for more than six (6) months from the date of this  Agreement,  or (iii)
is not terminable on thirty (30) days or less notice without material penalty or
other payment, (c) involves indebtedness aggregating more than $10,000,000,  (d)
is  or  otherwise  constitutes  a  written  agency,  broker,  dealer,   license,
distributorship,  sales  representative  or similar  written  agreement,  or (e)
accounted  for more than ten  percent  (10%) of the  revenues of  Mergeparty  or
American Stations, as the case may be, in the last fiscal year of such Person or
is likely to account for more than ten percent  (10%) of revenues of  Mergeparty
or American, as the case may be, during the current fiscal year of such Person.

         Maximum Premium shall have the meaning given to it in Section 6.12(c).

         Merger  Consideration  shall  have the  meaning  given to it in Section
3.1(d).

         Mergeparty shall have the meaning given to it in the Preamble.

         Mergeparty  Brokered  Stations shall mean the radio broadcast  stations
which  Mergeparty  has the  right to  acquire  but  which as of the date of this
Agreement it is operating  pursuant to time brokerage,  local marketing or other
similar agreements.


                                       A-8

<PAGE>



         Mergeparty  Disclosure  Schedule shall mean the  Mergeparty  Disclosure
Schedule  dated as of the date of this  Agreement  delivered  by  Mergeparty  to
American simultaneously with the execution and delivery of this Agreement.

         Mergeparty  Stations  means  the  radio  broadcast  stations  owned  by
Mergeparty,  or which it has the right to  acquire  (and  acquires  prior to the
Closing  Date but only from and after such  acquisition)  as of the date of this
Agreement;  provided,  however,  that Mergeparty  Stations shall not include any
Mergeparty  Station  disposed of by  Mergeparty  subsequent  to the date of this
Agreement  not in  violation  of the  provisions  of  this  Agreement;  further,
provided,  that the term Mergeparty  Stations shall include Mergeparty  Brokered
Stations if the context so requires.

         Mergeparty  Subsidiary  shall  have  the  meaning  given  to it in  the
Preamble.

         Mergeparty's  knowledge  (including  the  term  "to  the  knowledge  of
Mergeparty")  means the actual  knowledge of the Chief Executive  Officer or the
Chief Financial  Officer of Mergeparty,  and that such Officer shall have reason
to believe and shall believe that the subject representation or warranty is true
and accurate as stated.

         Merger  shall  have  the  meaning  given to it in the  first  "Whereas"
paragraph.

         Merger  Consideration  shall  have the  meaning  given to it in Section
3.1(d).

         Multiemployer  Plan shall mean a Plan which is a  "multiemployer  plan"
within the meaning of Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA.

         Net Debt shall have the meaning given to it in Section 6.18(c).

         Notice of  Abandonment  shall have the  meaning  given to it in Section
2.8.

         Notice of  Disagreement  shall have the meaning  given to it in Section
6.18.

         NYSE shall mean the New York Stock Exchange.

         Option  Securities shall mean all rights,  options,  calls,  contracts,
agreements, warrants, understandings, restrictions, arrangements or commitments,
including without limitation,  any rights plan or other anti-takeover  agreement
or  arrangement,  evidencing the right to subscribe  for,  purchase or otherwise
acquire,  or otherwise  providing  for the issuance of shares of capital  stock,
voting  securities  or  Convertible  Securities,  whether  or not the  right  to
subscribe for,  purchase or otherwise  acquire,  or otherwise  providing for the
issuance, is immediately exercisable or is conditioned upon the passage of time,
the occurrence or non-occurrence or the existence or non-existence of some other
Event.

         Optionholder shall have the meaning given to it in Section 6.8.

         Organic  Document  shall  mean,  with  respect  to a Person  which is a
corporation,  its charter,  its by-laws and all stockholder  agreements,  voting
trusts and similar arrangements applicable to any of its capital stock and, with
respect to a Person which is a  partnership,  its agreement and  certificate  of
partnership,  any  agreements  among  partners,  and any  management and similar
agreements  between the partnership  and any general  partners (or any Affiliate
thereof).

                                       A-9

<PAGE>



         Permitted  Liens shall mean (a) Liens for current Taxes not yet due and
payable,  and (b) such  imperfections  of  title,  easements,  encumbrances  and
mortgages or other Liens, if any, as are not,  individually or in the aggregate,
substantial in character,  amount or extent and do not  materially  detract from
the value, or materially interfere with the present use, of the property subject
thereto or affected  thereby,  or  otherwise  materially  impair the business or
operations of the American Stations or the Mergeparty Stations,  as the case may
be.

         Person shall mean any natural individual or any Entity.

         Plan shall mean,  with respect to any Person and at a particular  time,
any employee benefit plan which is covered by ERISA and in respect of which such
Person or an ERISA  Affiliate is (or, if such plan were terminated at such time,
would under  Section 4069 of ERISA be deemed to be) an  "employer" as defined in
Section  3(5)  of  ERISA,  which  American  or any  ERISA  Affiliate  maintains,
contributes to or is required to contribute to for the benefit of any current or
former  officers,  employees,  agents,  directors or independent  contractors of
American or any of its ERISA Affiliates.

         Post-Closing  American  Group  shall  have the  meaning  given to it in
Section 6.18

         Private Authorizations shall mean all approvals, concessions, consents,
franchises,  licenses,  permits,  and other authorizations of all Persons (other
than Authorities) including without limitation those with respect to copyrights,
computer software programs,  patents,  service marks,  trademarks,  trade names,
technology and know-how.

         Proxy  Statement  shall mean the proxy  statement  to be filed with the
Commission by American in connection with the American  Shareholders Meeting, if
any.

         Regulations  shall mean the federal income tax regulations  promulgated
under  the Code,  as such  Regulations  may be  amended  from time to time.  All
references  herein to specific  sections of the Regulations shall be deemed also
to refer to any  corresponding  provisions  of succeeding  Regulations,  and all
references  to  temporary  Regulations  shall  be  deemed  also to  refer to any
corresponding provisions of final Regulations.

         Representatives shall have the meaning given to it in Section 6.1.

         Required Vote shall have the meaning given to it in Section 4.13.

         Required    Divestitures   means   all   divestitures,    terminations,
arrangements  and  restructurings  identified in Section 5.2c) of the Mergeparty
Disclosure  Schedule,   if  any,  and  all  other  divestitures,   terminations,
arrangements or restructurings, if any, arising after the date of this Agreement
that would have been  required to be listed on Section  5.2c) of the  Mergeparty
Disclosure  Schedule  if known to be in  existence  as of such  date or that are
necessary to satisfy any and all Divestiture Conditions.

         Restated  Certificate  shall  have the  meaning  given to it in Section
4.11.

         ss.162(m) Options shall have the meaning given to it in Section 6.8(e).

         Securities Act shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, and the rules and
regulations of the Commission thereunder, all as from time to time in effect, or
any successor law, rules or regulations, and any reference

                                      A-10

<PAGE>



to any such statutory or regulatory  provision shall be deemed to be a reference
to any successor statutory or regulatory provision.

         Stations  shall  mean,  collectively,  the  American  Stations  and the
Mergeparty Stations.

         Subsidiary shall mean, with respect to a Person,  any Entity a majority
of the capital stock  ordinarily  entitled to vote for the election of directors
of which,  or if no such voting stock is  outstanding,  a majority of the equity
interests of which, is owned directly or indirectly, legally or beneficially, by
such Person or any other Person controlled by such Person.

         Surviving  Corporation  shall have the  meaning  given to it in Section
2.1.

         Tax (and "Taxable,"  which shall mean subject to Tax), shall mean, with
respect to any Person,  (a) all taxes (domestic or foreign),  including  without
limitation any income (net, gross or other, including recapture of any tax items
such as  investment  tax  credits),  alternative  or add-on  minimum tax,  gross
income,  gross receipts,  gains,  sales, use, leasing,  lease, user, ad valorem,
transfer, recording, franchise, profits, property (real or personal, tangible or
intangible),  fuel,  license,  withholding on amounts paid to or by such Person,
payroll,  employment,  unemployment,  social security, excise, severance, stamp,
occupation, premium, environmental or windfall profit tax, custom, duty or other
tax, or other like  assessment or charge of any kind  whatsoever,  together with
any  interest,  levies,  assessments,  charges,  penalties,  additions to tax or
additional  amounts  imposed by any Taxing  Authority,  (b) any joint or several
liability of such Person with any other Person for the payment of any amounts of
the type  described  in (a) of this  definition,  and (c) any  liability of such
Person for the payment of any amounts of the type  described  in (a) as a result
of any express or implied obligation to indemnify any other Person.

         Tax Claim shall mean any Claim which relates to Taxes.

         Tax Return or Returns shall mean all returns, consolidated or otherwise
(including without limitation  information  returns),  required to be filed with
any Authority with respect to Taxes.

         Taxing   Authority  shall  mean  any  Authority   responsible  for  the
imposition of any Tax.

         Termination Date shall have the meaning given to it in Section 8.1.

         Tower  Business  shall  mean  the  business   conducted  by  the  Tower
Subsidiaries.

         Tower Common Stock shall mean, collectively,  the Class A Common Stock,
par value $.01 per share (the "Tower  Class A"), the Class B Common  Stock,  par
value $.01 per share (the "Tower  Class B"), and the Class C Common  Stock,  par
value $.01 per share (the "Tower Class C"), of American  Tower or American Tower
Sub, as applicable, or, where the context requires, one or more of such classes,
or,  if the  common  stock  of  American  Tower  or  American  Tower  Sub is not
classified,  the common stock,  par value $.01 per share,  of American  Tower or
American Tower Sub, as applicable.

         Tower Consideration shall have the meaning given to it in Section 6.8.

         Tower  Distribution  shall have the  meaning  given to it in the second
"Whereas" paragraph.

         Tower  Distribution  Date shall have the meaning given to it in Section
6.17.

                                      A-11

<PAGE>



         Tower Documentation shall have the meaning given to it in Section 6.17.

         Tower Employees shall have the meaning given to it in Section 6.17.

         Tower Entity shall have the meaning given to it in Section 6.17.

         Tower Leases shall have the meaning given to it in Section 6.19.

         Tower Merger shall have the meaning given to it in Section 2.8.

         Tower Merger Date shall have the meaning given to it in Section 6.17.

         Towers shall have the meaning given to it in Section 6.19.

         Tower Subsidiaries shall mean American Tower and its Subsidiaries.

         Uncontrollable  Events  shall have the  meaning  given to it in Section
6.2(d).

         WC Amount shall have the meaning given to it in Section 6.18(b).

         Working Capital shall have the meaning given to it in Section 6.18(b).


                                      A-12




                                                                    EXHIBIT 99.1

                                                            [LOGO]



Westinghouse                             11 Stainwix Street
Electric Corporation                     Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222-1384



                                                 September 19, 1997

                       CBS ACQUIRES AMERICAN RADIO SYSTEMS

       NEW YORK  CITY/BOSTON,  Sept.  19,  1997 --  Westinghouse  (NYSE:WX)  and
American  Radio Systems  (NYSE:AFM)  announced  today a definitive  agreement by
which  Westinghouse  will acquire  American Radio  System's  radio  broadcasting
operations  for $44 a share  or $1.6  billion  in cash  plus the  assumption  of
approximately $1 billion in debt. The transaction adds 98 stations to CBS Radio,
for a total of 175 stations. The transaction will be financed with existing bank
facilities  and is subject to certain  conditions,  including  FCC  approval and
expiration of the Hart-Scott-Rodino waiting period.

       American  Radio Systems  (ARS) is the fifth  largest  radio  broadcasting
company  in  the  United  States  with  98  radio  stations  (including  pending
transactions)  located in 19  predominately  top 50 markets,  including  several
major markets where CBS has existing radio and television stations.

       Under the terms of the  definitive  agreement,  which was approved by the
Board of Directors of both  Westinghouse and ARS,  Westinghouse will acquire ARS
in a transaction  in which each share of ARS common stock will have the right to
receive  consideration of $44 per share in cash. Prior to this transaction,  and
as a condition to consummation of the Westinghouse  transaction,  ARS intends to
distribute  to  current  shareholders,   through  a  taxable  distribution,  its
wholly-owned American Tower Systems subsidiary,  a leading independent owner and
operator of wireless communications towers throughout the United States.

       Steven B. Dodge,  chairman and chief executive  officer of American Radio
Systems,  and other ARS  shareholders  representing  a majority of ARS's  voting
rights,  have  executed  consents  approving  the  transaction,  and as such the
transaction  is not subject to  shareholder  approval.  It is expected  that the
transaction will be consummated in the second quarter of 1998.

       Mel Karmazin,  Chairman and Chief Executive  Officer,  CBS Station Group,
commented:  "The acquisition of American Radio is financially and  strategically
attractive for CBS. This investment will significantly strengthen CBS's position
in the fast growing radio industry.  It will enable CBS Radio to expand into new
top 50 markets and increase its position in its existing major markets. American
Radio's  stations are located in very  attractive  radio revenue  growth markets
where the Company expects to further consolidate its position."


                                     (More)


                                       

<PAGE>


CBS/American...2

       Karmazin added that consistent with the Company's past radio investments,
the  acquisition  of ARS is expected to be accretive to the Company's  free cash
flow in its first year.

       Michael   H.   Jordan,    Chairman   and   Chief    Executive    Officer,
Westinghouse/CBS,  said:  "Under Mel Karmazin's  leadership,  radio has been our
fastest growing, highest cash flow business. Radio expansion has been our number
one  investment  priority  and  this  acquisition  is a  terrific  fit  with our
strategy."

       "We're confident that our outstanding  radio management team, led by Mel,
will produce superior value to our shareholders  from the  transaction,"  Jordan
added.

       Dodge  said:  "Exiting  radio  at a  time  when  the  industry  has  such
extraordinary  promise is very difficult.  However,  we believe placing American
Radio  in CBS's  hands  is the  right  thing  to do for  both  shareholders  and
employees. The value of the currency is clear, and Mel Karmazin has a history of
rewarding strong  performance,  which our people are very capable of delivering.
From our perspective,  CBS is an exciting growth company that is truly committed
to broadcasting for the long term."

       Westinghouse  is being advised by Chase  Securities  Inc. ARS's financial
advisor is Credit Suisse First Boston.

                                      # # #


Contacts:        Jack Bergen                    Gil Schwartz
                 Westinghouse/CBS               CBS
                 212/975-3835                   212/975-2121

                 Bruce Danziger                 Helene Blieberg
                 American Radio Systems         CBS at the NAB in New Orleans
                 617/375-7519                   504/670-8210



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