Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Details)				1 Months Ended			12 Months Ended
	Mar. 01, 2019 USD ($)	Jul. 08, 2016	Apr. 26, 2012 USD ($)	Aug. 01, 2017 USD ($)	Apr. 04, 2016	Oct. 01, 2007 USD ($)	Feb. 28, 2019 USD ($) Station	Feb. 28, 2018 USD ($)	Feb. 28, 2017 USD ($)
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Stockholders equity note, stock split, conversion ratio		0.25			0.25
Advertising agency fee rate based on gross revenue							15.00%
LMA fees							$ 11,050,000	$ 10,752,000	$ 10,331,000
Depreciation expenses							2,900,000	3,300,000	4,100,000
Advertising expense							1,600,000	2,600,000	5,700,000
Other than temporary impairment losses, investments, portion recognized in earnings, net							0	0	254,000
Other equity method investments									0
Available for sale investments							800,000	800,000
Impairment charges							$ 300,000	265,000
One time payment made by Katz on behalf of Emmis to enter into a new long-term contract						$ 15,300,000
Lease Term Description	We utilized lease terms ranging from 2019 to 2032
Austin Radio Partnership
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Percentage of controlling interest							50.10%
Digonex Technologies Inc
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Percentage of controlling interest							84.00%
Equity Method Investments
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Other than temporary impairment losses, investments, portion recognized in earnings, net									300,000
Building
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Property plant and equipment, estimated useful life							39 years
Automobiles, office equipment and computer equipment
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Property plant and equipment, estimated useful life							5 years
Minimum
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Lease Liability							$ 27,000,000
Discount Rate	5.10%
Minimum | Broadcasting equipment
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Property plant and equipment, estimated useful life							5 years
Minimum | Software
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Property plant and equipment, estimated useful life							3 years
Maximum
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Lease Liability	$ 31,000,000
Discount Rate	6.20%
Maximum | Broadcasting equipment
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Property plant and equipment, estimated useful life							7 years
Maximum | Software
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Property plant and equipment, estimated useful life							5 years
St. Louis Radio Cluster
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
LMA fees							$ 719,000
Barter
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Barter revenue							3,400,000	4,700,000	7,800,000
Barter expenses							$ 3,500,000	$ 4,800,000	$ 7,900,000
Local Programming And Marketing Agreement
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
LMA fees			$ 8,400,000	$ 400,000
Annual license fees increased in percent							3.50%	3.50%
St. Louis, Austin, Indianapolis and Terre Haute
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Number of FM radio stations | Station							11
Number of AM radio stations | Station							3
Emmis Austin Radio Partnership, L.P. | FM radio
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Percentage of controlling interest							50.10%