<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<FilingSummary xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xmlns:xsd="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema">
  <Version>2.4.0.6</Version>
  <ProcessingTime />
  <ReportFormat>Html</ReportFormat>
  <ContextCount>56</ContextCount>
  <ElementCount>184</ElementCount>
  <EntityCount>1</EntityCount>
  <FootnotesReported>false</FootnotesReported>
  <SegmentCount>8</SegmentCount>
  <ScenarioCount>0</ScenarioCount>
  <TuplesReported>false</TuplesReported>
  <UnitCount>3</UnitCount>
  <MyReports>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R1.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>00 - Document - Document and Entity Information</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://emmis.com/role/DocumentAndEntityInformation</Role>
      <ShortName>Document and Entity Information</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R2.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>01 - Statement - Consolidated Statements of Operations</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://emmis.com/role/StatementsOfOperations</Role>
      <ShortName>Consolidated Statements of Operations</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R3.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>011 - Statement - Consolidated Statements of Operations (Parenthetical)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://emmis.com/role/StatementsOfOperationsParenthetical</Role>
      <ShortName>Consolidated Statements of Operations (Parenthetical)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>true</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R4.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>02 - Statement - Consolidated Balance Sheets</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://emmis.com/role/BalanceSheets</Role>
      <ShortName>Consolidated Balance Sheets</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R5.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>021 - Statement - Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://emmis.com/role/BalanceSheetsParenthetical</Role>
      <ShortName>Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R6.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>03 - Statement - Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders' Equity/ Deficit</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://emmis.com/role/StatementsOfStockholdersEquity</Role>
      <ShortName>Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders' Equity/ Deficit</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R7.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>04 - Statement - Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://emmis.com/role/StatementsOfCashFlows</Role>
      <ShortName>Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R8.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>06001 - Disclosure - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://emmis.com/role/SummaryOfSignificantAccountingPolicies</Role>
      <ShortName>Summary of Significant Accounting Policies</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R9.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>06002 - Disclosure - Common Stock</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://emmis.com/role/CommonStock</Role>
      <ShortName>Common Stock</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R10.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>06003 - Disclosure - Redeemable Preferred Stock</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://emmis.com/role/RedeemablePreferredStock</Role>
      <ShortName>Redeemable Preferred Stock</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R11.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>06004 - Disclosure - Share-Based Payments</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://emmis.com/role/ShareBasedPayments</Role>
      <ShortName>Share-Based Payments</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R12.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>06005 - Disclosure - Long-Term Debt and Related Deferred Debt Issuance Costs</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://emmis.com/role/LongTermDebtAndRelatedDeferredDebtIssuanceCosts</Role>
      <ShortName>Long-Term Debt and Related Deferred Debt Issuance Costs</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R13.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>06006 - Disclosure - Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://emmis.com/role/DerivativeInstrumentsAndHedgingActivities</Role>
      <ShortName>Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R14.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>06007 - Disclosure - Fair Value Measurements</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://emmis.com/role/FairValueMeasurements</Role>
      <ShortName>Fair Value Measurements</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R15.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>06008 - Disclosure - Acquisitions, Dispositions and Investments</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://emmis.com/role/AcquisitionsDispositionsAndInvestments</Role>
      <ShortName>Acquisitions, Dispositions and Investments</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R16.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>06009 - Disclosure - Going Private Transaction</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://emmis.com/role/GoingPrivateTransaction</Role>
      <ShortName>Going Private Transaction</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R17.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>06010 - Disclosure - Intangible Assets and Goodwill</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://emmis.com/role/IntangibleAssetsAndGoodwill</Role>
      <ShortName>Intangible Assets and Goodwill</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R18.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>06011 - Disclosure - Employee Benefit Plans</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://emmis.com/role/EmployeeBenefitPlans</Role>
      <ShortName>Employee Benefit Plans</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R19.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>06012 - Disclosure - Other Commitments and Contingencies</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://emmis.com/role/OtherCommitmentsAndContingencies</Role>
      <ShortName>Other Commitments and Contingencies</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R20.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>06013 - Disclosure - Income Taxes</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://emmis.com/role/IncomeTaxes</Role>
      <ShortName>Income Taxes</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R21.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>06014 - Disclosure - Segment Information</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://emmis.com/role/SegmentInformation</Role>
      <ShortName>Segment Information</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R22.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>06015 - Disclosure - Restructuring Charge</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://emmis.com/role/RestructuringCharge</Role>
      <ShortName>Restructuring Charge</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R23.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>06016 - Disclosure - Other Income (Expenses), Net</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://emmis.com/role/OtherIncomeExpensesNet</Role>
      <ShortName>Other Income (Expenses), Net</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R24.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>06017 - Disclosure - Related Party Transactions</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://emmis.com/role/RelatedPartyTransactions</Role>
      <ShortName>Related Party Transactions</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R25.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>06018 - Disclosure - Subsequent Events</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://emmis.com/role/SubsequentEvents</Role>
      <ShortName>Subsequent Events</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <LongName>All Reports</LongName>
      <ReportType>Book</ReportType>
      <ShortName>All Reports</ShortName>
    </Report>
  </MyReports>
  <Logs>
    <Log type="Info">'Monetary' elements on report '021 - Statement - Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical)' had a mix of different decimal attribute values.</Log>
    <Log type="Info">Process Flow-Through: 01 - Statement - Consolidated Statements of Operations</Log>
    <Log type="Info">Process Flow-Through: 011 - Statement - Consolidated Statements of Operations (Parenthetical)</Log>
    <Log type="Info">Process Flow-Through: 02 - Statement - Consolidated Balance Sheets</Log>
    <Log type="Info">	Process Flow-Through: Removing column 'Feb. 28, 2010'</Log>
    <Log type="Info">	Process Flow-Through: Removing column 'Feb. 28, 2009'</Log>
    <Log type="Info">Process Flow-Through: 021 - Statement - Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical)</Log>
    <Log type="Info">Process Flow-Through: 04 - Statement - Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows</Log>
  </Logs>
  <InputFiles>
    <File>emms-20120229.xml</File>
    <File>emms-20120229.xsd</File>
    <File>emms-20120229_cal.xml</File>
    <File>emms-20120229_def.xml</File>
    <File>emms-20120229_lab.xml</File>
    <File>emms-20120229_pre.xml</File>
  </InputFiles>
  <SupplementalFiles />
  <BaseTaxonomies />
  <HasPresentationLinkbase>true</HasPresentationLinkbase>
  <HasCalculationLinkbase>true</HasCalculationLinkbase>
</FilingSummary>
