Goodwill and Intangible Assets (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended			1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended				12 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2010	Jan. 31, 2011 Minimum Discounted cash flow	Dec. 31, 2010 Minimum Discounted cash flow	Jan. 31, 2011 Minimum Gordon Growth Method	Dec. 31, 2010 Minimum Gordon Growth Method	Jan. 31, 2011 Maximum Discounted cash flow	Dec. 31, 2010 Maximum Discounted cash flow	Jan. 31, 2011 Maximum Gordon Growth Method	Dec. 31, 2010 Maximum Gordon Growth Method	Dec. 31, 2011 Guitar Center	Dec. 31, 2012 Guitar Center	Dec. 31, 2010 Guitar Center	Dec. 31, 2011 Direct Response	Dec. 31, 2010 Direct Response	Dec. 31, 2011 Direct Response Minimum Discounted cash flow	Dec. 31, 2011 Direct Response Minimum Gordon Growth Method	Dec. 31, 2011 Direct Response Minimum Market multiple analysis	Dec. 31, 2011 Direct Response Maximum Discounted cash flow	Dec. 31, 2011 Direct Response Maximum Gordon Growth Method	Dec. 31, 2011 Direct Response Maximum Market multiple analysis	Dec. 31, 2011 Direct Response Trademarks	Dec. 31, 2011 Direct Response Customer relationship intangible asset
Goodwill allocation
Discount rate (as a percent)				12.50%	11.00%			14.00%	14.00%								14.00%			15.00%
Terminal Capitalization rate (as a percent)						4.80%	3.00%			5.00%	5.00%							0.50%			1.50%
Multiples Used																			3.5			4.5
Goodwill	$ 815,111	$ 706,182	$ 815,111									$ 706,182	$ 706,182	$ 644,393	$ 108,929	$ 170,718
Accumulated impairment losses	(232,733)	(123,804)	(125,707)									(123,804)	(123,804)	(123,804)	(108,929)	(1,903)
Goodwill, net	582,378	582,378	689,404									582,378	582,378	520,589		168,815
Reassignment of goodwill upon change in operating segments												61,789			(61,789)
Goodwill impairment	107,026														107,026
Intangible assets impairment
Impairment of indefinite-lived intangible assets																							32,500
Impairment of finite-lived intangible assets																								$ 13,500