Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	0 Months Ended	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended			0 Months Ended
	Feb. 11, 2014	Oct. 01, 2007	Feb. 28, 2015	Feb. 28, 2014	Feb. 28, 2013	Feb. 25, 2013	Jan. 03, 2013	Oct. 31, 2012	Oct. 01, 2012	Aug. 23, 2012	Apr. 26, 2012
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Advertising agency fee rate based on gross revenue			15.00%
Number of stations to be purchased	2
Monthly expense reimbursement under LMA	$ 1,300,000
Future reduced monthly fee amount	740,000
Depreciation and amortization			5,000,000	4,800,000	4,700,000
Gain (loss) on sale of assets			0	8,000	9,877,000
Advertising expense			3,200,000	2,800,000	4,100,000
Income (loss) from equity method investments			11,000	96,000	(211,000)
Available for sale investments, carrying value			1,026,000	7,181,000
Other than Temporary Impairment Losses, Investments, Portion Recognized in Earnings, Net			6,682,000	0	0
Available for sale investments			500,000	6,750,000
Bater revenue			8,500,000	8,500,000	9,200,000
Barter expenses			8,700,000	8,700,000	9,200,000
One time payment made by Katz on behalf of Emmis to enter into a new long-term contract		15,300,000
Maximum borrowing capacity under credit agreement			12,000,000
LMA Fee Expense			4,208,000	0	0
Courseload Inc
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Available for sale investments, carrying value				6,000,000
Additional investment			400,000	300,000
Other than Temporary Impairment Losses, Investments, Portion Recognized in Earnings, Net			6,700,000
Carrying value of investment			0
TuneIn Inc
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Available for sale investments, carrying value				500,000
Available for sale investments			500,000
Slovakia Radio Network (Radio)
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Selling cash price of land, towers and other equipment						21,200,000
Gain (loss) on sale of business			0	0	14,798,000	14,800,000
Gain (loss) on sale of assets			0	0	244,000
Bulgaria Radio Network (Radio)
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Selling cash price of land, towers and other equipment							1,700,000
Gain (loss) on sale of business			0	0	(1,254,000)		(1,300,000)
Emmis Interactive Inc. (Radio)
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Gain (loss) on sale of business			0	0	(654,000)			(700,000)
Sampler Publications
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Selling cash price of land, towers and other equipment									8,700,000
Gain (loss) on sale of business			0	0	695,000				700,000
Transaction expenses and tax obligations									200,000
Repayment of term loans under credit agreement									8,500,000
Gain (loss) on sale of assets			0	0	0
KXOS-FM (Radio)
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Selling cash price of land, towers and other equipment										85,500,000
Gain (loss) on sale of business										32,800,000
Gain (loss) on sale of assets			0	0	0
Building
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Property plant and equipment, estimated useful life			39 years
Broadcasting equipment | Minimum
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Property plant and equipment, estimated useful life			5 years
Broadcasting equipment | Maximum
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Property plant and equipment, estimated useful life			7 years
Automobiles
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Property plant and equipment, estimated useful life			5 years
Office equipment and automobiles | Minimum
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Property plant and equipment, estimated useful life			3 years
Office equipment and automobiles | Maximum
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Property plant and equipment, estimated useful life			5 years
Local Programming And Marketing Agreement
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Annual license fees received											$ 8,400,000
Annual license fees increased in percent			3.50%
New York and Los Angeles | FM radio
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Number of radio stations in operation			4
New York and Los Angeles | AM radio
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Number of radio stations in operation			1
St. Louis, Austin, Indianapolis and Terre Haute | FM radio
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Number of radio stations in operation			15
St. Louis, Austin, Indianapolis and Terre Haute | AM radio
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Number of radio stations in operation			3
Emmis Austin Radio Partnership, L.P. | FM radio
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Percentage of controlling interest			50.10%