Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets [Abstract] Common Class A [Member] Common Class A Common Class A [Member] Common Class B [Member] Common Class B Common Class B [Member] Assets [Abstract] Assets Assets, Current [Abstract] Current assets: Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, Current Restricted cash Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $4,504 and $2,765 at September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively Accounts Receivable, Net, Current Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of 4504,2765 Assets, Current Total current assets Current assets Property, Plant and Equipment, Net Property and equipment, net Other Assets, Noncurrent Other assets Assets Total assets Liabilities, Redeemable Preferred Stock and Stockholders' Equity Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity [Abstract] Liabilities, Current [Abstract] Current liabilities: Long-term Debt, Current Maturities Less: Current portion of long-term debt Less: Current portion of long-term debt Current portion of long-term debt Liabilities, Current Current liabilities Total current liabilities Deferred Tax Liabilities, Noncurrent Deferred income taxes Liabilities Total liabilities Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent [Abstract] Stockholders' equity (deficit): Stockholders' equity: Common Stock, Value, Issued Common stock Treasury Stock, Value Treasury stock Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent Total stockholders' equity Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity Total liabilities, redeemable preferred stock and stockholders' equity Statement [Table] Class of Stock [Axis] Class of Stock [Domain] Statement [Line Items] Preferred stock, shares authorized Preferred stock, shares authorized Preferred stock, par or stated value per share Par value of Preferred stock shares Preferred stock, par/stated value Preferred stock shares Preferred stock, shares outstanding Preferred stock, shares outstanding Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Equity Method Investments, Income Taxes, Extraordinary Items, Cumulative Effects of Changes in Accounting Principles, Noncontrolling Interest (Loss) income from continuing operations before income taxes Basic and diluted income (loss) per common share (see Note 12, "Earnings Per Share"): Earnings Per Share ("EPS") [Abstract] Earnings Per Share, Basic Basic income (loss) from continuing operations per share - attributable to common shares Income per share Basic income per common share Earnings Per Share, Diluted Diluted earnings (loss) from continuing operations per share - attributable to common shares Income per share Diluted income per common share Series A Preferred Stock [Member] Series A Redeemable Preferred Stock Series A Redeemable Preferred Stock [Member] Common stock, par or stated value per share Common stock, par value Common stock, shares, outstanding Terminated credit agreement allowable Common stock, shares outstanding Deferred Income Tax Expense (Benefit) Deferred income taxes Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure [Text Block] Description of Business, Interim Financial Data and Basis of Presentation Fair Value Disclosures [Text Block] Fair Value Measurements Long-term Debt [Text Block] Long-Term Debt Earnings Per Share ("EPS") Earnings Per Share [Text Block] Stock-Based Compensation Expense Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Text Block] Derivative Financial Instruments [Abstract] Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Text Block] Derivative Financial Instruments Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block] Commitments and Contingencies Senior Notes, Noncurrent 7.75% senior notes Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Text Block] Intangible Assets and Goodwill Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net Definite-Lived Intangible Assets, Ending Balance Definite-Lived Intangible Assets, Beginning Balance Other intangible assets, net Broadcast licenses Indefinite-Lived License Agreements Temporary Equity [Abstract] Redeemable preferred stock: Restricted Assets Disclosure [Text Block] Restricted Cash Intangible Assets and Goodwill [Abstract] Redeemable Preferred Stock [Abstract] Preferred Stock [Text Block] Redeemable Preferred Stock Stockholders' Equity [Abstract] Stockholders' Equity Stockholders' Equity Note Disclosure [Text Block] Income Taxes [Abstract] Income Tax Disclosure [Text Block] Income Taxes Commitments and Contingencies [Abstract] Condensed Financial Information Of Parent Company Only Disclosure [Text Block] Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Financial Information Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Financial Information [Abstract] Document And Entity Information [Abstract] Common Stock [Member] Entity Registrant Name Entity Central Index Key Document Period End Date Amendment Flag Document Fiscal Year Focus Document Fiscal Period Focus Current Fiscal Year End Date Entity Filer Category Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding Trade Receivable Trade receivable Trade receivable. Assets Held-in-trust, Current Compensation held in trust Prepaid Expenses And Other Current Assets Prepaid expenses and other current assets Prepaid expenses and Other current assets. Accounts Payable, Trade, Current Trade payable Preferred Stock [Member] CMP Preferred Stock [Member] Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations [Abstract] Management Fees Revenue Management fees Sales Revenue, Services, Net Net revenues Net revenues Operating Expenses [Abstract] Operating expenses: Operating Costs and Expenses Direct operating expenses (excluding depreciation, amortization and LMA fees) Depreciation And Amortization Depreciation and amortization License Costs LMA fees General and Administrative Expense Corporate general and administrative expenses (including Stock-based compensation expense of $1,601,2764,2788,15671 respectively) Corporate general and administrative expenses (including stock-based compensation expense of $2,764, $1,601, $15,671 and $2,788, respectively) Gain On Exchange Of Assets Or Stations Gain on exchange of assets or stations Gain on asset exchange Gain on exchange of assets or stations. Operating Expenses Total operating expenses Total operating expenses Operating income (loss) Operating Income (Loss) Interest Expense Interest expense, net Gains (Losses) on Extinguishment of Debt Loss on early extinguishment of debt Other Nonoperating Income (Expense) Other expense, net Other (expense) income, net Nonoperating Income (Expense) Total non-operating (expense) income, net Total non-operating expense, net Income Tax Expense (Benefit) Income tax benefit Net income Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent Net income Net income Preferred Stock Dividends and Other Adjustments Less: dividends declared and accretion of redeemable preferred stock Income attributable to common shareholders Net Income (Loss) Available to Common Stockholders, Basic Share-based Compensation Stock-based compensation expense Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows [Abstract] Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities [Abstract] Cash flows from operating activities: Adjustments to Reconcile Net Income (Loss) to Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities [Abstract] Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: Amortization of Debt Discount (Premium) Amortization of debt issuance costs/discounts Provision for Doubtful Accounts Provision for doubtful accounts Gain (Loss) on Sale of Property Plant Equipment (Gain) loss on sale of assets or stations Gains On Exchange Of Assets Or Stations Gain on exchange of assets or stations Gains on exchange of assets or stations. Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Fair value adjustment of derivative instruments Loss On Early Extinguishment Of Debt Loss on early extinguishment of debt Loss on early extinguishment of debt. Increase (Decrease) in Operating Capital [Abstract] Changes in assets and liabilities: Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Receivable Accounts receivable Increase (Decrease) in Other Receivables Trade receivable Increase (Decrease) in Prepaid Expense and Other Assets Prepaid expenses and other current assets Increase (Decrease) in Other Operating Assets Other assets Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities Accounts payable and accrued expenses Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Payable, Trade Trade payable Increase (Decrease) in Other Operating Liabilities Other liabilities Net cash provided by operating activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities [Abstract] Cash flows from investing activities: Proceeds from Sale of Property, Plant, and Equipment Proceeds from sale of assets or stations Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment Capital expenditures Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities [Abstract] Cash flows from financing activities: Repayments of Long-term Debt Repayment of borrowings under term loans and revolving credit facilities Tax Withholding Paid On Behalf Of Employees Tax withholding payments on behalf of employees Tax withholding paid on behalf of employees. Payments of Ordinary Dividends, Preferred Stock and Preference Stock Preferred stock dividends Proceeds from Issuance of Warrants Proceeds from exercise of warrants Proceeds from Issuance of Senior Long-term Debt Proceeds from issuance of senior notes Payments of Financing Costs Deferred financing costs Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities Cash and Cash Equivalents, Period Increase (Decrease) Increase in cash and cash equivalents Increase (Decrease) in cash and cash equivalents Supplemental Cash Flow Information [Abstract] Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information: Interest Paid Interest paid Income Taxes Paid Income taxes paid Cash Flow, Noncash Investing and Financing Activities Disclosure [Abstract] Supplemental disclosures of non-cash flow information: Compensation Held In Trust Compensation held in trust Compensation held in trust. Trade Revenue Trade revenue Trade revenue. Trade Expense Trade expense Trade expense. Acquisitions and Dispositions [Abstract] Restricted Cash [Abstract] Long-Term Debt [Abstract] Stock-Based Compensation [Abstract] Schedule of Purchase Price Allocation From Asset Exchange [Table Text Block] Final purchase price allocation from asset exchange Tabular disclosure of purchase price allocation from asset exchange. Schedule of Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Future Amortization Expense [Table Text Block] Amortization of definite-lived intangible assets acquired in the CMP acquisition, in relation to the expected economic benefits of such assets Schedule of Recognized Identified Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed [Table Text Block] Final purchase price allocation in CMP Acquisition among the tangible and intangible assets acquired, and liabilities assumed Pro Forma Financial Information Pro forma financial information based on the assumption that CMP Acquisition and the Citadel Acquisition occurred as of January 1, 2010 Tabular disclosure of the pro forma financial information. Schedule of Purchase Price Allocation One [Table Text Block] Final purchase price allocation in Citadel Acquisition Tabular disclosure of schedule of purchase price allocation one . Schedule of Recognized Identified Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed One Table Text Block Final purchase price allocation in the Citadel Acquisition among the tangible and intangible assets acquired, and liabilities assumed Tabular disclosure of schedule of recognized identified assets acquired and liabilities assumed one. Schedule of Finite Lived Intangible Assets Future Amortization Expense One [Table Text Block] Amortization of definite- lived intangible assets in Citadel Acquisition, in relation to the expected economic benefits of such assets Tabular disclosure of finite lived intangible assets future amortization expense one. Common Class C [Member] Common Class C Common Class C [Member] Schedule of changes in intangible assets other than goodwill Schedule of Intangible Assets and Goodwill [Table Text Block] Schedule of Temporary Impairment Losses, Investments [Table Text Block] Schedule of changes in goodwill and accumulated impairment losses Schedule of Condensed Balance Sheet [Table Text Block] CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS Schedule of Condensed Income Statement [Table Text Block] CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS Schedule of Maturities of Long-term Debt [Table Text Block] Schedule of long term debt Schedule of Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis [Table Text Block] Schedule of financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis Fair Value, Option, Quantitative Disclosures [Table Text Block] Quantitative information regarding the significant unobservable inputs related to the Green Bay Option Schedule of Components of Change in Fair Value Schedule of components of the change in fair value associated with Green Bay Option Tabular disclosure of components of change in fair value. Schedule of Debt [Table Text Block] Schedule of gross amounts and fair value of the Company's First Lien Term Loan, Second Lien Term Loan, Revolving Credit Facility and 7.75% Senior Notes Schedule of Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted [Table Text Block] Schedule of computation of basic and diluted earnings per common share Number of Operating Segments Number of radio stations owned or operated by Cumulus Media Number of States in which Entity Operates Number of U S Media markets Number of Stores Stations served by a nationwide radio network Fair Value Measurements [Abstract] Mergers, Acquisitions and Dispositions Disclosures [Text Block] Acquisitions and Dispositions Restricted Cash (Textual) [Abstract] Restricted cash. Restricted Cash (Textual) [Abstract] Restricted Cash Reserve From Citadel Acquisition Restricted cash reserve from Citadel Acquisition Restricted cash reserve from citadel acquisition. Restricted Cash Balance Relates To Company's Bank Accounts Restricted cash balance relates to company's bank accounts. Restricted cash balance relates to company's bank accounts Changes In Intangible Assets And Goodwill [Abstract] Schedule of changes in intangible assets and goodwill Changes In Intangible Assets And Goodwill. Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Roll Forward] Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets, Ending Balance Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets, Beginning Balance Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill) Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets, Acquired During Period Acquisition Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets, Purchase Accounting Adjustments Purchase price allocation adjustments Definite-Lived Intangible Assets Finite-lived Intangible Assets [Roll Forward] Indefinite Lived Intangible Assets Disposition During Period Disposition Indefinite lived intangible assets disposition during period. Finite-lived Intangible Assets Acquired Acquisition Amortization of Intangible Assets Amortization Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Purchase Accounting Adjustments Purchase Price Allocation Adjustments Intangible Assets Total, Beginning Balance Intangible Assets, Net (Including Goodwill) Intangible Assets Total, Ending Balance Intangible Assets, Net (Excluding Goodwill) [Abstract] Intangible Assets, Net Acquired Intangible Assets Net Acquired intangible assets net. Acquisition Dispositions Intangible Assets Net Dispositions Dispositions intangible assets net. Intangible Assets Net Purchase Accounting Adjustments Intangible assets net purchase accounting adjustments. Purchase Price Allocation Adjustments Goodwill, Impaired, Accumulated Impairment Loss [Abstract] Schedule of changes in goodwill and accumulated impairment losses