Segment Information (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2013 item	Jun. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012
Segment Information
Number of reportable segments			3
Financial information of reportable segments
Net sales	$ 504,838,000	$ 486,598,000	$ 1,036,671,000	$ 1,014,750,000
Gross profit	146,304,000	146,460,000	303,844,000	310,037,000
Selling, general and administrative expenses	136,639,000	133,568,000	277,245,000	271,620,000
Impairment of intangible assets	2,300,000		2,300,000
Operating income (loss)	7,365,000	12,892,000	24,299,000	38,417,000
Depreciation and amortization	21,474,000	22,092,000	43,022,000	44,737,000
Adjusted EBITDA	35,294,000	39,070,000	81,076,000	92,299,000
Capital expenditures	13,143,000	20,601,000	27,262,000	32,465,000
Total assets	1,775,941,000	1,825,567,000	1,775,941,000	1,825,567,000	1,816,558,000
Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to consolidated loss before income taxes
Adjusted EBITDA	35,294,000	39,070,000	81,076,000	92,299,000
Depreciation and amortization expense	21,474,000	22,092,000	43,022,000	44,737,000
Interest expense, net	38,676,000	41,345,000	80,034,000	82,519,000
Non-cash charges	(78,000)	794,000	253,000	1,690,000
Impairment charges	3,102,000		3,102,000
Other adjustments	3,431,000	3,292,000	10,400,000	7,455,000
Loss before income taxes	(31,311,000)	(28,453,000)	(55,735,000)	(44,102,000)
Loss related to payments made to a third-party freight invoice processor			3,000,000
Restructuring charges		600,000		1,700,000
Guitar Center
Financial information of reportable segments
Net sales	504,838,000	486,598,000	1,036,671,000	1,014,750,000
Gross profit	146,304,000	146,460,000	303,844,000	310,037,000
Selling, general and administrative expenses	136,639,000	133,568,000	277,245,000	271,620,000
Impairment of intangible assets	2,300,000		2,300,000
Operating income (loss)	7,365,000	12,892,000	24,299,000	38,417,000
Depreciation and amortization	21,474,000	22,092,000	43,022,000	44,737,000
Adjusted EBITDA	35,294,000	39,070,000	81,076,000	92,299,000
Capital expenditures	13,143,000	20,601,000	27,262,000	32,465,000
Total assets	1,808,262,000	1,847,102,000	1,808,262,000	1,847,102,000	1,845,809,000
Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to consolidated loss before income taxes
Adjusted EBITDA	35,294,000	39,070,000	81,076,000	92,299,000
Depreciation and amortization expense	21,474,000	22,092,000	43,022,000	44,737,000
Interest expense, net	22,492,000	21,351,000	43,857,000	42,532,000
Non-cash charges	(78,000)	794,000	253,000	1,690,000
Impairment charges	3,102,000		3,102,000
Other adjustments	3,431,000	3,292,000	10,400,000	7,455,000
Loss before income taxes	(15,127,000)	(8,459,000)	(19,558,000)	(4,115,000)
Guitar Center
Financial information of reportable segments
Net sales	379,135,000	365,331,000	779,633,000	759,036,000
Gross profit	103,443,000	103,937,000	215,911,000	221,006,000
Selling, general and administrative expenses	90,424,000	87,024,000	182,087,000	176,707,000
Operating income (loss)	13,019,000	16,913,000	33,824,000	44,299,000
Depreciation and amortization	14,995,000	16,095,000	30,371,000	32,739,000
Adjusted EBITDA	29,914,000	34,124,000	67,914,000	79,795,000
Capital expenditures	6,989,000	12,432,000	16,035,000	18,751,000
Total assets	1,406,664,000	1,442,926,000	1,406,664,000	1,442,926,000
Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to consolidated loss before income taxes
Adjusted EBITDA	29,914,000	34,124,000	67,914,000	79,795,000
Depreciation and amortization expense	14,995,000	16,095,000	30,371,000	32,739,000
Guitar Center | Guitar Center
Financial information of reportable segments
Adjusted EBITDA	29,914,000	34,124,000	67,914,000	79,795,000
Total assets	1,406,664,000	1,442,926,000	1,406,664,000	1,442,926,000
Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to consolidated loss before income taxes
Adjusted EBITDA	29,914,000	34,124,000	67,914,000	79,795,000
Music & Arts
Financial information of reportable segments
Net sales	60,714,000	54,305,000	119,079,000	109,374,000
Gross profit	24,765,000	22,663,000	50,899,000	47,686,000
Selling, general and administrative expenses	20,833,000	20,321,000	40,886,000	39,487,000
Operating income (loss)	3,932,000	2,342,000	10,013,000	8,199,000
Depreciation and amortization	1,168,000	1,250,000	2,420,000	2,430,000
Adjusted EBITDA	5,325,000	4,134,000	13,171,000	11,182,000
Capital expenditures	1,987,000	2,048,000	3,494,000	2,894,000
Total assets	135,751,000	124,163,000	135,751,000	124,163,000
Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to consolidated loss before income taxes
Adjusted EBITDA	5,325,000	4,134,000	13,171,000	11,182,000
Depreciation and amortization expense	1,168,000	1,250,000	2,420,000	2,430,000
Music & Arts | Guitar Center
Financial information of reportable segments
Adjusted EBITDA	5,325,000	4,134,000	13,171,000	11,182,000
Total assets	135,751,000	124,163,000	135,751,000	124,163,000
Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to consolidated loss before income taxes
Adjusted EBITDA	5,325,000	4,134,000	13,171,000	11,182,000
Direct Response
Financial information of reportable segments
Net sales	64,989,000	66,962,000	137,959,000	146,340,000
Gross profit	18,096,000	19,757,000	37,034,000	41,688,000
Selling, general and administrative expenses	18,962,000	21,250,000	41,267,000	44,176,000
Impairment of intangible assets	2,300,000		2,300,000
Operating income (loss)	(3,166,000)	(1,493,000)	(6,533,000)	(2,488,000)
Depreciation and amortization	3,984,000	3,833,000	8,026,000	7,827,000
Adjusted EBITDA	3,056,000	2,550,000	5,807,000	6,042,000
Capital expenditures	1,167,000	2,618,000	2,097,000	4,137,000
Total assets	153,511,000	175,188,000	153,511,000	175,188,000
Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to consolidated loss before income taxes
Adjusted EBITDA	3,056,000	2,550,000	5,807,000	6,042,000
Depreciation and amortization expense	3,984,000	3,833,000	8,026,000	7,827,000
Direct Response | Guitar Center
Financial information of reportable segments
Adjusted EBITDA	3,056,000	2,550,000	5,807,000	6,042,000
Total assets	153,511,000	175,188,000	153,511,000	175,188,000
Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to consolidated loss before income taxes
Adjusted EBITDA	3,056,000	2,550,000	5,807,000	6,042,000
Corporate
Financial information of reportable segments
Gross profit		103,000		(343,000)
Selling, general and administrative expenses	6,420,000	4,973,000	13,005,000	11,250,000
Operating income (loss)	(6,420,000)	(4,870,000)	(13,005,000)	(11,593,000)
Depreciation and amortization	1,327,000	914,000	2,205,000	1,741,000
Adjusted EBITDA	(3,001,000)	(1,738,000)	(5,816,000)	(4,720,000)
Capital expenditures	3,000,000	3,503,000	5,636,000	6,683,000
Total assets	80,015,000	83,290,000	80,015,000	83,290,000
Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to consolidated loss before income taxes
Adjusted EBITDA	(3,001,000)	(1,738,000)	(5,816,000)	(4,720,000)
Depreciation and amortization expense	1,327,000	914,000	2,205,000	1,741,000
Corporate | Guitar Center
Financial information of reportable segments
Adjusted EBITDA	(3,001,000)	(1,738,000)	(5,816,000)	(4,720,000)
Total assets	112,336,000	104,825,000	112,336,000	104,825,000
Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to consolidated loss before income taxes
Adjusted EBITDA	$ (3,001,000)	$ (1,738,000)	$ (5,816,000)	$ (4,720,000)