Segment Information (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013 item	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012
Segment Information
Number of reportable segments	3
Financial information of reportable segments
Net sales	$ 531,833,000	$ 528,151,000
Gross profit	157,540,000	163,576,000
Selling, general and administrative expenses	140,606,000	138,052,000
Operating income (loss)	16,934,000	25,524,000
Depreciation and amortization	21,548,000	22,645,000
Adjusted EBITDA	45,782,000	53,229,000
Capital expenditures	14,119,000	11,864,000
Total assets	1,830,380,000	1,898,847,000	1,816,558,000
Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to consolidated loss before income taxes
Adjusted EBITDA	45,782,000	53,229,000
Depreciation and amortization expense	21,548,000	22,645,000
Interest expense, net	41,358,000	41,173,000
Non-cash charges	331,000	896,000
Other adjustments	6,969,000	4,164,000
Income (loss) before income taxes	(24,424,000)	(15,649,000)
Loss related to payments made to a third-party freight invoice processor	3,100,000
Restructuring charges		1,100,000
Guitar Center
Financial information of reportable segments
Net sales	531,833,000	528,151,000
Gross profit	157,540,000	163,576,000
Selling, general and administrative expenses	140,606,000	138,052,000
Operating income (loss)	16,934,000	25,524,000
Depreciation and amortization	21,548,000	22,645,000
Adjusted EBITDA	45,782,000	53,229,000
Capital expenditures	14,119,000	11,864,000
Total assets	1,862,109,000	1,923,633,000	1,845,809,000
Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to consolidated loss before income taxes
Adjusted EBITDA	45,782,000	53,229,000
Depreciation and amortization expense	21,548,000	22,645,000
Interest expense, net	21,365,000	21,179,000
Non-cash charges	331,000	896,000
Other adjustments	6,969,000	4,164,000
Income (loss) before income taxes	(4,431,000)	4,345,000
Guitar Center
Financial information of reportable segments
Net sales	400,498,000	393,704,000
Gross profit	112,467,000	117,069,000
Selling, general and administrative expenses	91,663,000	89,683,000
Operating income (loss)	20,804,000	27,386,000
Depreciation and amortization	15,377,000	16,645,000
Adjusted EBITDA	37,999,000	45,671,000
Capital expenditures	9,046,000	6,319,000
Total assets	1,421,408,000	1,480,250,000
Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to consolidated loss before income taxes
Adjusted EBITDA	37,999,000	45,671,000
Depreciation and amortization expense	15,377,000	16,645,000
Guitar Center | Guitar Center
Financial information of reportable segments
Adjusted EBITDA	37,999,000	45,671,000
Total assets	1,421,408,000	1,480,250,000
Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to consolidated loss before income taxes
Adjusted EBITDA	37,999,000	45,671,000
Music & Arts
Financial information of reportable segments
Net sales	58,365,000	55,069,000
Gross profit	26,134,000	25,022,000
Selling, general and administrative expenses	20,053,000	19,166,000
Operating income (loss)	6,081,000	5,856,000
Depreciation and amortization	1,251,000	1,180,000
Adjusted EBITDA	7,846,000	7,048,000
Capital expenditures	1,507,000	846,000
Total assets	117,150,000	108,267,000
Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to consolidated loss before income taxes
Adjusted EBITDA	7,846,000	7,048,000
Depreciation and amortization expense	1,251,000	1,180,000
Music & Arts | Guitar Center
Financial information of reportable segments
Adjusted EBITDA	7,846,000	7,048,000
Total assets	117,150,000	108,267,000
Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to consolidated loss before income taxes
Adjusted EBITDA	7,846,000	7,048,000
Direct Response
Financial information of reportable segments
Net sales	72,970,000	79,378,000
Gross profit	18,939,000	21,930,000
Selling, general and administrative expenses	22,305,000	22,926,000
Operating income (loss)	(3,366,000)	(996,000)
Depreciation and amortization	4,042,000	3,994,000
Adjusted EBITDA	2,751,000	3,492,000
Capital expenditures	933,000	1,519,000
Total assets	158,165,000	169,336,000
Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to consolidated loss before income taxes
Adjusted EBITDA	2,751,000	3,492,000
Depreciation and amortization expense	4,042,000	3,994,000
Direct Response | Guitar Center
Financial information of reportable segments
Adjusted EBITDA	2,751,000	3,492,000
Total assets	158,165,000	169,336,000
Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to consolidated loss before income taxes
Adjusted EBITDA	2,751,000	3,492,000
Corporate
Financial information of reportable segments
Gross profit		(445,000)
Selling, general and administrative expenses	6,585,000	6,277,000
Operating income (loss)	(6,585,000)	(6,722,000)
Depreciation and amortization	878,000	826,000
Adjusted EBITDA	(2,814,000)	(2,982,000)
Capital expenditures	2,633,000	3,180,000
Total assets	133,657,000	140,994,000
Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to consolidated loss before income taxes
Adjusted EBITDA	(2,814,000)	(2,982,000)
Depreciation and amortization expense	878,000	826,000
Corporate | Guitar Center
Financial information of reportable segments
Adjusted EBITDA	(2,814,000)	(2,982,000)
Total assets	165,386,000	165,780,000
Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to consolidated loss before income taxes
Adjusted EBITDA	$ (2,814,000)	$ (2,982,000)