Condensed Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity and Redeemable Non-controlling Interests (unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Common Stock [Member] Common Class A [Member]	Common Stock [Member] Common Class B [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]	Accumulated Deficit [Member]	Noncontrolling Interests [Member] Consolidated Subsidiaries [Member]	Noncontrolling Interests [Member] Medley LLC [Member]	Redeemable Non Controlling Interest [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Cumulative effect of accounting change due to the adoption of ASU 2016-09	$ 118			$ 1,039		$ (120)		$ (801)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2016	(47,662)	$ 58	$ 0	3,310	$ 33	(5,254)	$ (1,717)	(44,092)	$ 30,805
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2016		5,809,130	100
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	4,650					394	3	2,768
Net income (loss)	3,165
Net income (loss)									1,485
Change in fair value of available-for-sale securities	161				32			129
Change in fair value of available-for-sale securities									324
Stock-based compensation	(37)			(37)
Dividends on Class A common stock ($0.20 per share)	(1,600)					(1,600)
Reclass of cumulative dividends on forfeited RSUs	416					416
Issuance of Class A common stock related to vesting of restricted stock units (shares)		4,792
Repurchases of Class A common stock	(401)	$ 0		(401)
Repurchase of Class A common stock (in shares)		(49,200)
Contributions	0						0		5,000
Distributions	(4,667)						0	(4,667)	(1,573)
Balance at Mar. 31, 2017	$ (50,507)	$ 58	$ 0	$ 3,911	$ 65	$ (6,164)	$ (1,714)	$ (46,663)	$ 36,041
Balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2017		5,764,722	100