<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-03-16</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001174527</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CITADEL BROADCASTING CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CDL</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001353263</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Stratford Patricia</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O CITADEL BROADCASTING CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>767 FIFTH AVENUE, 44TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10153</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Acting Chief Financial Officer</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Performance Shares</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-03-16</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>50000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>50000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Consists of 50,000 shares of performance-vesting stock which vest and become freely transferable common stock, par value $0.01 per share (&quot;Common Stock&quot;) of Citadel Broadcasting Corporation (the ?Company?) in one-half installments annually, beginning on March 16, 2007, subject to Ms. Stratford?s continuous employment with the Company through the applicable vesting date and the Company?s attainment of certain performance objectives.  The grant of performance shares is effective March 16, 2006, subject to shareholder approval of the utilization of certain performance objectives under the Company?s Amended and Restated 2002 Long Term Incentive Plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Ms. Stratford is also the direct beneficial owner of 5,000 shares of Common Stock.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Patricia Stratford</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-03-20</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
