Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 88,050	$ 30,592	$ 12,814	$ 16,224
Restricted cash	5,921	3,854
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $2,765	207,563	236,804
Trade receivable	6,104	5,967
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	45,441
Compensation held in trust		24,807
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	45,481	22,315
Total current assets	353,119	324,339
Property and equipment, net	255,903	278,070
Broadcast licenses	1,602,373	1,625,415
Other intangible assets, net	258,303	390,509	552
Goodwill	1,195,594	1,334,512	56,079
Other assets	78,283
Other assets	77,825	87,746
Total assets	3,743,575	4,040,591
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	102,586	160,186
Trade payable	4,803	4,999
Current portion of long-term debt	76,468	13,250
Other current liabilities	11,386
Total current liabilities	195,243	178,435
Long-term debt, excluding 7.75% senior notes	2,014,599	2,227,287
7.75% Senior Notes	610,000	610,000
Other liabilities	45,313	63,938
Deferred income taxes	559,918	556,771
Total liabilities	3,425,073	3,636,431
Redeemable preferred stock:
Series A cumulative redeemable preferred stock	71,869	113,447
Stockholders' equity (deficit):
Treasury stock, at cost	(252,001)	(251,666)
Additional paid-in-capital	1,514,849	1,526,114
Accumulated (deficit) equity	(1,018,202)	(985,473)
Total stockholders' equity (deficit)	246,633	290,713	(341,309)	(372,512)
Total liabilities, redeemable preferred stock and stockholders' equity (deficit)	3,743,575	4,040,591
Series A Redeemable Preferred Stock
Redeemable preferred stock:
Series A cumulative redeemable preferred stock	71,869	113,447
Class A Common Stock
Stockholders' equity (deficit):
Common stock	1,827	1,608
Class B Common Stock
Stockholders' equity (deficit):
Common stock	154	124
Class C Common Stock
Stockholders' equity (deficit):
Common stock	6	6
Cumulus Media Inc. (Parent Guarantor)
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	81,599	11,714	12,638	11,674
Restricted cash	5,921	3,854
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	6,928
Compensation held in trust		24,807
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		3,750
Total current assets	94,448	44,125
Property and equipment, net	4,690	6,555
Investment in consolidated subsidiaries	415,573	590,729
Other assets	11,605
Other assets		13,577
Total assets	526,316	654,986
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	10,690	60,345
Total current liabilities	10,690	60,345
Other liabilities	3,651	42,552
Intercompany payables	193,473	147,929
Total liabilities	207,814	250,826
Redeemable preferred stock:
Series A cumulative redeemable preferred stock	71,869	113,447
Stockholders' equity (deficit):
Treasury stock, at cost	(252,001)	(251,666)
Additional paid-in-capital	1,514,849	1,526,114
Accumulated (deficit) equity	(1,018,202)	(985,473)
Total stockholders' equity (deficit)	246,633	290,713
Total liabilities, redeemable preferred stock and stockholders' equity (deficit)	526,316	654,986
Cumulus Media Inc. (Parent Guarantor) | Series A Redeemable Preferred Stock
Redeemable preferred stock:
Series A cumulative redeemable preferred stock	71,869	113,447
Cumulus Media Inc. (Parent Guarantor) | Class A Common Stock
Stockholders' equity (deficit):
Common stock	1,827	1,608
Cumulus Media Inc. (Parent Guarantor) | Class B Common Stock
Stockholders' equity (deficit):
Common stock	154	124
Cumulus Media Inc. (Parent Guarantor) | Class C Common Stock
Stockholders' equity (deficit):
Common stock	6	6
Cumulus Media Holdings Inc. (Subsidiary Issuer)
Current assets:
Investment in consolidated subsidiaries	3,354,891	3,476,698
Other assets	47,818
Other assets		55,176
Total assets	3,402,709	3,531,874
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	8,213	12,496
Current portion of long-term debt	76,468	13,250
Total current liabilities	84,681	25,746
Long-term debt, excluding 7.75% senior notes	2,014,599	2,227,287
7.75% Senior Notes	610,000	610,000
Intercompany payables	277,856	78,112
Total liabilities	2,987,136	2,941,145
Stockholders' equity (deficit):
Additional paid-in-capital	232,964	433,735
Accumulated (deficit) equity	182,609	156,994
Total stockholders' equity (deficit)	415,573	590,729
Total liabilities, redeemable preferred stock and stockholders' equity (deficit)	3,402,709	3,531,874
Subsidiary Guarantors
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	6,451	18,878	176	4,550
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $2,765	207,563	236,804
Trade receivable	6,104	5,967
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	38,553
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		17,554
Total current assets	258,671	279,203
Property and equipment, net	251,213	271,515
Other intangible assets, net	258,303	390,509
Goodwill	1,195,594	1,334,512
Investment in consolidated subsidiaries	1,127,135	1,157,317
Intercompany receivables	471,329	226,041
Other assets	18,860
Other assets		18,993
Total assets	3,581,105	3,678,090
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	83,683	87,070
Trade payable	4,803	4,999
Other current liabilities	11,386
Total current liabilities	99,872	92,069
Other liabilities	41,662	21,386
Deferred income taxes	84,680	87,937
Total liabilities	226,214	201,392
Stockholders' equity (deficit):
Additional paid-in-capital	3,853,001	4,198,891
Accumulated (deficit) equity	(498,110)	(722,193)
Total stockholders' equity (deficit)	3,354,891	3,476,698
Total liabilities, redeemable preferred stock and stockholders' equity (deficit)	3,581,105	3,678,090
Subsidiary Non-guarantors
Current assets:
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		1,011
Total current assets		1,011
Broadcast licenses	1,602,373	1,625,415
Total assets	1,602,373	1,626,426
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued expenses		275
Total current liabilities		275
Deferred income taxes	475,238	468,834
Total liabilities	475,238	469,109
Stockholders' equity (deficit):
Additional paid-in-capital	2,099,514	2,131,251
Accumulated (deficit) equity	(972,379)	(973,934)
Total stockholders' equity (deficit)	1,127,135	1,157,317
Total liabilities, redeemable preferred stock and stockholders' equity (deficit)	1,602,373	1,626,426
Eliminations
Current assets:
Investment in consolidated subsidiaries	(4,897,599)	(5,224,744)
Intercompany receivables	(471,329)	(226,041)
Total assets	(5,368,928)	(5,450,785)
Current liabilities:
Intercompany payables	(471,329)	(226,041)
Total liabilities	(471,329)	(226,041)
Stockholders' equity (deficit):
Additional paid-in-capital	(6,185,478)	(6,763,877)
Accumulated (deficit) equity	1,287,879	1,539,133
Total stockholders' equity (deficit)	(4,897,599)	(5,224,744)
Total liabilities, redeemable preferred stock and stockholders' equity (deficit)	$ (5,368,928)	$ (5,450,785)