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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2007-07-12</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000771950</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>WESTWOOD ONE INC /DE/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>WON</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001236067</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GREENBERG GERALD</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O WESTWOOD ONE, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>40 WEST 57TH STREET</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10019</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-07-12</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>17007</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.00</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>20882</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Grant of restricted stock units (&quot;RSUs&quot;) on July 12, 2007 that vest in equal one-third increments on August 18, 2008, July 12, 2009 and July 12, 2010.  The RSUs convert on a &quot;1 for 1&quot; basis.  One share of stock is distributed with respect to each vested RSU as soon as practicable following the earlier of the vesting date or the Reporting Person's &quot;Termination&quot; (as such term is defined in the Westwood One, Inc. 2005 Equity Compensation Plan) unless the Reporting Person elects to defer payment of the Award.  The Reporting Person may elect to defer payment of the Award until either: (i) a future date chosen by the Reporting Person (which date shall not be earlier than July 12, 2010), provided, that, if the Reporting Person?s Termination occurs prior to the date specified, the shares relating to the vested RSUs as of that date will be distributed on the date of such Termination; or (ii) the date of the Reporting Person's Termination.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>David Hillman, as attorney-in-fact for Gerald Greenberg</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-07-16</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
