Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Detail)			1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Feb. 11, 2014 USD ($)	Apr. 26, 2012 USD ($)	Oct. 01, 2007 USD ($)	Feb. 29, 2016 USD ($) Station	Feb. 28, 2015 USD ($)	Feb. 28, 2014 USD ($)
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				$ 4,300,000	$ 5,000,000	$ 4,800,000
Gain (loss) on sale of assets				(56,000)	0	8,000
Advertising expense				4,100,000	3,200,000	2,800,000
Income (loss) from equity method investments				(82,000)	11,000	96,000
Available for sale investments, carrying value				1,137,000	1,026,000
Other than Temporary Impairment Losses, Investments, Portion Recognized in Earnings, Net				0	6,682,000	0
Available for sale investments				800,000	500,000
Bater revenue				8,500,000	8,500,000	8,500,000
Barter expenses				8,500,000	8,700,000	8,700,000
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				17,000,000
LMA fees				0	4,208,000	$ 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
Minimum
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Percentage of controlling interest				50.00%
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 | Station				4
New York and Los Angeles | AM radio
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Number of radio stations in operation | Station				1
St. Louis, Austin, Indianapolis and Terre Haute | FM radio
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Number of radio stations in operation | Station				15
St. Louis, Austin, Indianapolis and Terre Haute | AM radio
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Number of radio stations in operation | Station				3
Emmis Austin Radio Partnership, L.P. | FM radio
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Percentage of controlling interest				50.10%