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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000783005-04-000015.txt : 20040114
<SEC-HEADER>0000783005-04-000015.hdr.sgml : 20040114
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040114141839
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000783005-04-000015
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040112
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040114

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SMULYAN JEFFREY H
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001001748

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-23264
		FILM NUMBER:		04524652

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		40 MONUMENT CIRCLE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 700
		CITY:			INDIANAPOLIS
		STATE:			IN
		ZIP:			46204

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			EMMIS COMMUNICATIONS CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000783005
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RADIO BROADCASTING STATIONS [4832]
		IRS NUMBER:				351542018
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			IN
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0228

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE EMMIS PLAZA
		STREET 2:		40 MONUMENT CIRCLE SUITE 700
		CITY:			INDIANAPOLIS
		STATE:			IN
		ZIP:			46204
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3172660100

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE EMMIS PLAZA
		STREET 2:		40 MONUMENT CIRCLE #700
		CITY:			INDIANAPOLIS
		STATE:			IN
		ZIP:			46204

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	EMMIS BROADCASTING CORPORATION
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>c0001001748d20040114f4f.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
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<ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2004-01-12</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0000783005</issuerCik><issuerName>EMMIS COMMUNICATIONS CORP</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>EMMS</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001001748</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>SMULYAN JEFFREY H</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>40 MONUMENT CIRCLE, SUITE 700</rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>INDIANAPOLIS</rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>IN</rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>46204</rptOwnerZipCode><rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Chairman and CEO</officerTitle><otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></re
portingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Class A Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>111097</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Class A Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>3537.1</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>By Profit Sharing Plan</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Class A Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>
313.8465</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>By 401(k) Plan</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Class A Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>5734</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>As Trustee for Children</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Class B Common Stock</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>0</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2004-01-12</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><t
ransactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>329</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F2"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><footnoteId id="F2"/></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Class A Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>329</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>5030175</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivative
Transaction><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Employee Stock Opt. Right to Buy</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>28.25</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2006-03-01</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2009-10-23</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Class A Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>1000000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>1000000</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Additional shares of Class B Common Stock issued upon reconciliation of the actual number of shares earned under the 2003 Stock Compensatio
n Program and the estimated shares reported.</footnote><footnote id="F2">Pursuant to the Company's Articles of Incorporation, the Class B Common Stock is exercisable by Mr. Smulyan at any time and has no expiration date.</footnote><footnote id="F3">The grant agreement provides for accelerated vesting of options to purchase 200,000 shares for each fiscal year in which certain performance targets are met. Thus options to purchase 200,000 shares may vest on March 1, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004.  Any options that have not previously vested will vest on March 1, 2006.  Upon exercise of the Option, Mr. Smulyan receives Class B Common Stock.  The Class B Common Stock is a derivative security of the Class A Common Stock.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>J. Scott Enright</signatureName><signatureDate>2004-01-14</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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