<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2014-02-18</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001058623</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CUMULUS MEDIA INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CMLS</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000902135</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BA CAPITAL CO LP</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>150 N. COLLEGE ST.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 2500</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CHARLOTTE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NC</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>28202</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001274971</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BANC OF AMERICA CAPITAL INVESTORS SBIC LP</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>150 N. COLLEGE ST.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 2500</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CHARLOTTE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NC</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>28202</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2014-02-18</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>35500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>7.4044</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>6570443</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>86895</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Footnotes</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The price reported in Column 4 is a weighted average sale price. The reporting person undertakes to provide to the Issuer, or the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission, upon request, full information regarding the number of shares sold at each separate price within the range set forth in this footnote.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Following the reported transactions, BA Capital Company, L.P. (&quot;BA Capital&quot;) holds 1,482,883 shares of Class A Common Stock of the Issuer. These securities may be deemed to be beneficially owned by (a) RE SBIC Management, LLC, the general partner of BA Capital, (b) RE Equity Management, L.P., the sole member of RE SBIC Management, LLC, (c) RE Equity Management GP, LLC, the general partner of RE Equity Management L.P., and (d) J. Travis Hain, the managing member of RE Equity Management GP, LLC. Mr. Hain disclaims beneficial ownership of such securities except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.  Robert H. Sheridan, III, who serves as a director of the Issuer, was originally appointed as a representative of BA Capital, and accordingly BA Capital may be deemed to be a director by deputization.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Following the reported transactions, Banc of America Capital Investors SBIC, L.P. holds 5,087,560 shares of Class A Common Stock of the Issuer. These securities may be deemed to be beneficially owned by (a) Ridgemont Capital Management SBIC, LLC (f/k/a Banc of America Capital Management SBIC, LLC), the general partner of Banc of America Capital Investors SBIC, L.P., (b) Ridgemont Capital Management, L.P. (f/k/a Banc of America Capital Management, L.P.), the sole member of Ridgemont Capital Management SBIC, LLC, (c) REP I GP, LLC (f/k/a BACM I GP, LLC), the general partner of Ridgemont Capital Management, L.P., and (d) Mr. Hain, the managing member of REP I GP, LLC. Mr. Hain disclaims beneficial ownership of all such securities except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Represents shares of restricted Class A Common Stock awarded to Mr. Sheridan, who serves as a director of the Issuer and was originally appointed as a representative of BA Capital. Pursuant to the policies of BA Capital and its affiliates, Mr. Sheridan is deemed to hold the reported shares of restricted Class A Common Stock for the benefit of BA Capital. BA Capital may be deemed the indirect beneficial owner of the shares of restricted Class A Common Stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">Additionally, these shares of restricted Class A Common Stock may be deemed to be beneficially owned by (a) RE SBIC Management, LLC (f/k/a BA SBIC Management, LLC), the general partner of BA Capital, (b) RE Equity Management, L.P. (f/k/a BA Equity Management L.P.), the sole member of RE SBIC Management, LLC, (c) RE Equity Management GP, LLC (f/k/a BA Equity Management GP, LLC), the general partner of RE Equity Management, L.P., and (d) J. Travis Hain, the managing member of RE Equity Management GP, LLC. Mr. Hain disclaims beneficial ownership of such securities.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Edward A. Balogh, Chief Operating Officer of RE Equity Management GP, LLC, general partner of RE Equity Management, L.P., sole member of RE SBIC Management, LLC, general partner of BA Capital Company, L.P.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2014-02-20</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Edward A. Balogh, Chief Operating Officer of REP I GP, LLC, general partner of Ridgemont Capital Management, L.P., sole member of Ridgemont Management SBIC, LLC, general partner of Banc of America Capital Investors SBIC, L.P.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2014-02-20</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
