CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
NET INCOME (LOSS)	$ (420,212,000)	$ (361,435,000)	$ 231,834,000
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	45,331,000	44,288,000	15,546,000
Net amortization of deferred financing costs (net of original issue discount and debt premium)	157,000	327,000	1,371,000
Net deferred taxes (benefit) and other	5,407,000	(61,798,000)	(263,551,000)
Provision for bad debts	4,549,000	8,909,000	3,715,000
Net (gain) loss on sale or disposal of assets	(7,640,000)	(12,158,000)	11,853,000
Non-cash stock-based compensation expense	15,882,000	15,149,000	9,567,000
Net loss on extinguishment of debt	2,046,000	0	4,135,000
Deferred compensation	6,118,000	(1,357,000)	4,247,000
Impairment loss	545,457,000	493,988,000	952,000
Accretion expense (income), net of asset retirement obligation adjustments	65,000	60,000	37,000
Changes in assets and liabilities (net of effects of acquisitions, dispositions, consolidation, and deconsolidation of Variable Interest Entities (VIEs)):
Accounts receivable	(30,856,000)	1,777,000	(14,127,000)
Prepaid expenses, deposits and other	(283,000)	1,431,000	14,267,000
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other current liabilities	(27,777,000)	1,217,000	8,370,000
Accrued interest expense	3,875,000	(6,278,000)	4,169,000
Accrued liabilities - long-term	(9,931,000)	(21,871,000)	(2,414,000)
Prepaid expenses - long-term	0	0	(2,874,000)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	132,188,000	102,249,000	29,112,000
INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Additions to property and equipment	(70,476,000)	(29,837,000)	(20,530,000)
Proceeds from sale of property, equipment, intangibles and other assets	29,321,000	185,761,000	60,505,000
Purchases of audio assets	(40,136,000)	(71,434,000)	(24,000,000)
Additions to amortizable intangible assets	(7,425,000)	(11,949,000)	(663,000)
Purchases of investments	(1,800,000)	(1,250,000)	(9,700,000)
Proceeds from sale of property reflected as restricted cash	0	70,187,000	0
(Deconsolidation) consolidation of a VIE	0	0	(302,000)
Proceeds from disposition of radio stations	0	0	12,000,000
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(90,516,000)	141,478,000	17,310,000
FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	430,000,000	0	500,000,000
Borrowing under the revolving senior debt	194,000,000	80,000,000	200,500,000
Payments of long-term debt	(521,700,000)	(81,348,000)	(669,750,000)
Payments of revolving senior debt	(257,000,000)	0	0
Payment for debt issuance costs	(7,691,000)	0	(16,302,000)
Proceeds from issuance of employee stock plan	1,329,000	1,428,000	182,000
Retirement of perpetual cumulative convertible preferred stock	0	0	(27,737,000)
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options	244,000	153,000	42,000
Purchase of vested employee restricted stock units	(2,905,000)	(5,186,000)	(2,565,000)
Payment of dividends on common stock	(30,273,000)	(49,770,000)	(29,296,000)
Payment of dividend equivalents on vested restricted stock units	(1,201,000)	(873,000)	(1,556,000)
Repurchase of common stock	(18,340,000)	(30,040,000)	(10,042,000)
Payment of dividends on preferred stock	0	0	(2,574,000)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(213,537,000)	(85,636,000)	(59,098,000)
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS AND RESTRICTED CASH	(171,865,000)	158,091,000	(12,676,000)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF YEAR	192,258,000	34,167,000	46,843,000
CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS AND RESTRICTED CASH, END OF YEAR	20,393,000	192,258,000	34,167,000
Cash paid during the period for:
Interest	101,155,000	96,843,000	24,813,000
Income taxes	39,100,000	54,217,000	2,030,000
Dividends on common stock	30,273,000	49,770,000	29,296,000
Dividends on preferred stock	$ 0	$ 0	$ 2,574,000