Document and Entity Information (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 23, 2012 Class A Common Stock	Mar. 23, 2012 Class B Common Stock	Mar. 23, 2012 Class C Common Stock	Mar. 23, 2012 Class D Common Stock
Document Information [Line Items]
Document Type	10-K
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2011
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2011
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Trading Symbol	ROIA
Entity Registrant Name	RADIO ONE, INC.
Entity Central Index Key	0001041657
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
Entity Public Float		$ 52,600,000
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding			2,731,860	2,861,843	3,121,048	41,409,667