FORM 4
Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
OMB APPROVAL
OMB Number: 3235-0287
Estimated average burden hours per response... 0.5

(Print or Type Responses)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
EPPERSON STUART W
   2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
SALEM COMMUNICATIONS CORP /DE/ [SALM] 		5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
__X__ Director __X__ 10% Owner
__X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
Chairman of the Board
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
3780 WILL SCARLET RD		 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
05/05/2004
(Street)

WINSTON SALEM, NC 27104		 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line)
_X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
(City)
(State)
(Zip)
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 3)		 2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)		 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4 and 5)		 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 3 and 4)		 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)		 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price
Class A Common Stock 05/05/2004   S   70,000 D $ 28.5 (1) 50,000 I By Epperson Family 2003 Trust (2)
Class A Common Stock 05/05/2004   S   220,000 D $ 28.5 (1) 1,007,520 I By the Epperson Children's Trusts (3)
Class A Common Stock               2,960,621 D   (4)

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
Persons who respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB control number. SEC 1474 (9-02)

Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 3)		 2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 4. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)		 5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4, and 5)		 6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)		 7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities
(Instr. 3 and 4)		 8. Price of Derivative Security
(Instr. 5)		 9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 4)		 10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)		 11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Code V (A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
 Director  10% Owner  Officer  Other
EPPERSON STUART W
3780 WILL SCARLET RD
WINSTON SALEM, NC 27104		   X   X   Chairman of the Board  

Signatures

 Evan Masyr Attorney-in-fact for Stuart W. Epperson   05/07/2004
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1) Price per share $30.00 less underwriter's discount of $1.50 per share.
(2) By Stuart W. Epperson and Nancy A. Epperson, as Trustees of the Epperson Family 2003 Trust.
(3) 55,000 shares by Stuart W. Epperson, as Trustee of The Kathryn Epperson Fonville Trust u/d/t 3/31/99; 55,000 shares by Stuart W. Epperson, as Trustee of The Stuart W. Epperson Jr. Trust u/d/t 3/31/99; 55,000 shares by Stuart W. Epperson, as Trustee of The Kristine J. Epperson McBride Trust u/d/t 3/31/99; and 55,000 shares by Stuart W. Epperson, as Trustee of The Karen Epperson Deneui Trust u/d/t 3/31/99. Stuart W. Epperson is Trustee of all four of these Epperson Children's trusts for all purposes other than voting matters.
(4) By Stuart W. Epperson and Nancy A. Epperson as Joint Tenants.

Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure.

Potential persons who are to respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB number.