Regulatory, Legal and Other Matters	6 Months Ended
Aug. 31, 2011
Regulatory, Legal and Other Matters [Abstract]
Regulatory, Legal and Other Matters	Note 10. Regulatory, Legal and Other Matters Certain individuals and groups have challenged applications for renewal of the FCC licenses of certain of the Company’s stations. The challenges to the license renewal applications are currently pending before the FCC. Emmis does not expect the challenges to result in the denial of any license renewals. On December 24, 2010, Emmis entered into an agreement with Bose McKinney & Evans, LLP (“Bose”) and JS Acquisition LLC for the purpose of coordinating the prosecution of certain litigation (the “Litigation”) by JS Acquisition against Alden Global Distressed Opportunities Master Fund, L.P., Alden Global Value Recovery Master Fund, L.P., and Alden Media Holdings, LLC (collectively, “Alden”) relating to the going private transaction in which Emmis, JS Acquisition and Alden participated. Under the terms of the agreement, Bose is representing both Emmis and JS Acquisition in connection with the Litigation. Emmis has agreed to initially invest up to $0.2 million in support of the prosecution of JS Acquisition’s claim in exchange for first recoupment of 150% of the amount invested from any JS Acquisition recovery. The investment by Emmis, which is currently included in other assets, net in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets, was unanimously approved by Emmis’ Board of Directors, including all of its independent directors. Subsequently, Alden sued each of the directors of Emmis in New York state court alleging breach of fiduciary duty and related claims. Alden’s suit against each of the directors was dismissed on July 14, 2011. In addition, on March 21, 2011, Emmis filed suit against Alden in Federal District Court for the Southern District of New York, seeking recoupment of approximately $0.3 million of short-swing profits under section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The Company is a party to various other legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business. In the opinion of management of the Company, there are no legal proceedings pending against the Company likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company. Effective December 31, 2009, our radio music license agreements with the two largest performance rights organizations, American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (“ASCAP”) and Broadcast Music, Inc. (“BMI”), expired. The Radio Music License Committee (“RMLC”), which negotiates music licensing fees for most of the radio industry with ASCAP and BMI and of which we are a participant, filed motions in the U.S. District Court in New York against BMI and ASCAP on behalf of the radio industry, seeking interim fees and a determination of fair and reasonable industry-wide license fees. The U.S. District Court in New York approved reduced interim fees for ASCAP and BMI. The final fees, still to be determined by the court, may be retroactive to January 1, 2010 and may be different from the interim fees.

Note 10. Regulatory, Legal and Other Matters

Certain individuals and groups have challenged applications for renewal of the FCC licenses of certain of the Company’s stations. The challenges to the license renewal applications are currently pending before the FCC. Emmis does not expect the challenges to result in the denial of any license renewals.

On December 24, 2010, Emmis entered into an agreement with Bose McKinney & Evans, LLP (“Bose”) and JS Acquisition LLC for the purpose of coordinating the prosecution of certain litigation (the “Litigation”) by JS Acquisition against Alden Global Distressed Opportunities Master Fund, L.P., Alden Global Value Recovery Master Fund, L.P., and Alden Media Holdings, LLC (collectively, “Alden”) relating to the going private transaction in which Emmis, JS Acquisition and Alden participated. Under the terms of the agreement, Bose is representing both Emmis and JS Acquisition in connection with the Litigation. Emmis has agreed to initially invest up to $0.2 million in support of the prosecution of JS Acquisition’s claim in exchange for first recoupment of 150% of the amount invested from any JS Acquisition recovery. The investment by Emmis, which is currently included in other assets, net in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets, was unanimously approved by Emmis’ Board of Directors, including all of its independent directors. Subsequently, Alden sued each of the directors of Emmis in New York state court alleging breach of fiduciary duty and related claims. Alden’s suit against each of the directors was dismissed on July 14, 2011. In addition, on March 21, 2011, Emmis filed suit against Alden in Federal District Court for the Southern District of New York, seeking recoupment of approximately $0.3 million of short-swing profits under section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

The Company is a party to various other legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business. In the opinion of management of the Company, there are no legal proceedings pending against the Company likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company.

Effective December 31, 2009, our radio music license agreements with the two largest performance rights organizations, American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (“ASCAP”) and Broadcast Music, Inc. (“BMI”), expired. The Radio Music License Committee (“RMLC”), which negotiates music licensing fees for most of the radio industry with ASCAP and BMI and of which we are a participant, filed motions in the U.S. District Court in New York against BMI and ASCAP on behalf of the radio industry, seeking interim fees and a determination of fair and reasonable industry-wide license fees. The U.S. District Court in New York approved reduced interim fees for ASCAP and BMI. The final fees, still to be determined by the court, may be retroactive to January 1, 2010 and may be different from the interim fees.