Goodwill and Intangible Assets (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended	9 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Jun. 30, 2013 Trademarks and trade names	Sep. 30, 2013 Guitar Center	Jun. 30, 2013 Guitar Center	Sep. 30, 2013 Guitar Center	Dec. 31, 2012 Guitar Center	Sep. 30, 2013 Music & Arts
Analysis of the changes in goodwill by segment
Goodwill	$ 706,421,000	$ 706,421,000	$ 706,182,000		$ 706,182,000		$ 706,182,000	$ 706,182,000	$ 239,000
Accumulated impairment losses	(483,904,000)	(483,904,000)	(123,804,000)		(483,904,000)		(483,904,000)	(123,804,000)
Goodwill, net	222,517,000	222,517,000	582,378,000		222,278,000		222,278,000	582,378,000	239,000
Goodwill resulting from acquisitions		239,000							239,000
Goodwill impairment	(360,100,000)	(360,100,000)			(360,100,000)	0	(360,100,000)
Impairment of indefinite-lived intangible assets				2,300,000			0
Impairment of finite-lived intangible assets							$ 0