Segment Information (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended			3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended			3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended	9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013 segment	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013 Guitar Center	Sep. 30, 2012 Guitar Center	Sep. 30, 2013 Guitar Center	Sep. 30, 2012 Guitar Center	Dec. 31, 2012 Guitar Center	Sep. 30, 2013 Guitar Center	Sep. 30, 2012 Guitar Center	Jun. 30, 2013 Guitar Center	Sep. 30, 2013 Guitar Center	Sep. 30, 2012 Guitar Center	Sep. 30, 2013 Guitar Center	Sep. 30, 2012 Guitar Center	Sep. 30, 2013 Guitar Center	Sep. 30, 2012 Guitar Center	Sep. 30, 2013 Music & Arts	Sep. 30, 2012 Music & Arts	Sep. 30, 2013 Music & Arts	Sep. 30, 2012 Music & Arts	Sep. 30, 2013 Music & Arts Guitar Center	Sep. 30, 2012 Music & Arts Guitar Center	Sep. 30, 2013 Music & Arts Guitar Center	Sep. 30, 2012 Music & Arts Guitar Center	Sep. 30, 2013 Direct Response	Sep. 30, 2012 Direct Response	Sep. 30, 2013 Direct Response	Sep. 30, 2012 Direct Response	Sep. 30, 2013 Direct Response Guitar Center	Sep. 30, 2012 Direct Response Guitar Center	Sep. 30, 2013 Direct Response Guitar Center	Sep. 30, 2012 Direct Response Guitar Center	Sep. 30, 2013 Corporate	Sep. 30, 2012 Corporate	Sep. 30, 2013 Corporate	Sep. 30, 2012 Corporate	Sep. 30, 2013 Corporate Guitar Center	Sep. 30, 2012 Corporate Guitar Center	Sep. 30, 2013 Corporate Guitar Center	Sep. 30, 2012 Corporate Guitar Center
Segment Information
Number of reportable segments			3
Financial information of reportable segments
Net sales	$ 520,683,000	$ 496,231,000	$ 1,557,354,000	$ 1,510,980,000		$ 520,683,000	$ 496,231,000	$ 1,557,354,000	$ 1,510,980,000		$ 389,367,000	$ 366,564,000		$ 1,169,000,000	$ 1,125,599,000					$ 70,387,000	$ 64,591,000	$ 189,466,000	$ 173,965,000					$ 60,929,000	$ 65,076,000	$ 198,888,000	$ 211,416,000
Gross profit	147,533,000	147,362,000	451,379,000	457,399,000		147,533,000	147,362,000	451,379,000	457,399,000		106,400,000	103,320,000		322,310,000	324,327,000					24,127,000	23,068,000	75,028,000	70,753,000					17,018,000	20,530,000	54,053,000	62,217,000					(12,000)	444,000	(12,000)	102,000
Selling, general and administrative expenses	146,370,000	131,378,000	423,617,000	402,998,000		146,370,000	131,378,000	423,617,000	402,998,000		97,011,000	84,751,000		279,097,000	261,458,000					22,616,000	21,539,000	63,503,000	61,025,000					19,259,000	17,766,000	60,527,000	61,943,000					7,484,000	7,322,000	20,490,000	18,572,000
Impairment of intangible assets			2,300,000					2,300,000																						2,300,000
Impairment of goodwill	360,100,000		360,100,000			360,100,000		360,100,000			360,100,000		0	360,100,000
Operating income (loss)	(358,937,000)	15,984,000	(334,638,000)	54,401,000		(358,937,000)	15,984,000	(334,638,000)	54,401,000		(350,711,000)	18,569,000		(316,887,000)	62,869,000					1,511,000	1,529,000	11,525,000	9,728,000					(2,241,000)	2,764,000	(8,774,000)	274,000					(7,496,000)	(6,878,000)	(20,502,000)	(18,470,000)
Depreciation and amortization	22,175,000	22,667,000	65,197,000	67,404,000		22,175,000	22,667,000	65,197,000	67,404,000		15,700,000	16,728,000		46,072,000	49,467,000					1,450,000	1,261,000	3,870,000	3,691,000					3,945,000	3,659,000	11,971,000	11,486,000					1,080,000	1,019,000	3,284,000	2,760,000
Adjusted EBITDA	27,968,000	42,579,000	109,044,000	134,879,000		27,968,000	42,579,000	109,044,000	134,879,000		28,103,000	36,643,000		96,017,000	116,438,000	28,103,000	36,643,000	96,017,000	116,438,000	3,090,000	2,867,000	16,261,000	14,049,000	3,090,000	2,867,000	16,261,000	14,049,000	1,834,000	6,561,000	7,641,000	12,604,000	1,834,000	6,561,000	7,641,000	12,604,000	(5,059,000)	(3,492,000)	(10,875,000)	(8,212,000)	(5,059,000)	(3,492,000)	(10,875,000)	(8,212,000)
Capital expenditures	16,818,000	16,316,000	44,080,000	48,781,000				44,080,000	48,781,000		10,524,000	9,736,000		26,558,000	28,487,000					2,184,000	1,425,000	5,678,000	4,319,000					3,026,000	1,885,000	5,123,000	6,022,000					1,084,000	3,270,000	6,721,000	9,953,000
Total assets	1,432,814,000	1,846,102,000	1,432,814,000	1,846,102,000	1,816,558,000	1,437,562,000	1,868,212,000	1,437,562,000	1,868,212,000	1,845,809,000	1,050,983,000	1,461,716,000		1,050,983,000	1,461,716,000	1,050,983,000	1,461,716,000	1,050,983,000	1,461,716,000	139,900,000	123,439,000	139,900,000	123,439,000	139,900,000	123,439,000	139,900,000	123,439,000	155,196,000	184,192,000	155,196,000	184,192,000	155,196,000	184,192,000	155,196,000	184,192,000	86,735,000	76,755,000	86,735,000	76,755,000	91,483,000	98,865,000	91,483,000	98,865,000
Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to consolidated loss before income taxes
Adjusted EBITDA	27,968,000	42,579,000	109,044,000	134,879,000		27,968,000	42,579,000	109,044,000	134,879,000		28,103,000	36,643,000		96,017,000	116,438,000	28,103,000	36,643,000	96,017,000	116,438,000	3,090,000	2,867,000	16,261,000	14,049,000	3,090,000	2,867,000	16,261,000	14,049,000	1,834,000	6,561,000	7,641,000	12,604,000	1,834,000	6,561,000	7,641,000	12,604,000	(5,059,000)	(3,492,000)	(10,875,000)	(8,212,000)	(5,059,000)	(3,492,000)	(10,875,000)	(8,212,000)
Depreciation and amortization expense	22,175,000	22,667,000	65,197,000	67,404,000		22,175,000	22,667,000	65,197,000	67,404,000		15,700,000	16,728,000		46,072,000	49,467,000					1,450,000	1,261,000	3,870,000	3,691,000					3,945,000	3,659,000	11,971,000	11,486,000					1,080,000	1,019,000	3,284,000	2,760,000
Interest expense, net	39,264,000	41,208,000	119,298,000	123,726,000		23,842,000	21,214,000	67,699,000	63,746,000
Non-cash charges	2,002,000	525,000	2,255,000	2,215,000		2,002,000	525,000	2,255,000	2,215,000
Impairment charges	361,029,000	559,000	364,131,000	559,000		361,029,000	559,000	364,131,000	559,000
Other adjustments	1,699,000	2,844,000	12,099,000	10,300,000		1,699,000	2,844,000	12,099,000	10,300,000
Loss before income taxes	(398,201,000)	(25,224,000)	(453,936,000)	(69,325,000)		(382,779,000)	(5,230,000)	(402,337,000)	(9,345,000)
Impairment of goodwill	360,100,000		360,100,000			360,100,000		360,100,000			360,100,000		0	360,100,000
Loss related to payments made to a third-party freight invoice processor			3,000,000
Restructuring charges		$ 200,000		$ 1,900,000