Document and Entity Information	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2010	Nov. 04, 2011
Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Registrant Name	WESTWOOD ONE INC /DE/
Entity Central Index Key	0000771950
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Smaller Reporting Company
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2011
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2011
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Series A Preferred Stock, Shares Outstanding		9,691.374
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Common Class B [Member]
Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		34,237,638
Common Class A [Member]
Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		22,667,591