Document and Entity Information - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Feb. 28, 2019	May 03, 2019	Aug. 31, 2018
Document Information [Line Items]
Document Type	10-K
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Feb. 28, 2019
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2019
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Trading Symbol	EMMS
Entity Registrant Name	EMMIS COMMUNICATIONS CORP
Entity Central Index Key	0000783005
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--02-28
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
Entity Public Float			$ 52,581
Entity Small Business	true
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Class A Common Stock
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		11,856,200
Class B Common Stock
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		1,242,366
Class C Common Stock
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		0