-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 HvZ6b7Vy94szrIRop72p625JsiGUlIGR/NIWJN3UCCJuJkANx1QOF+v7Bo4Kv4bf
 grPKz0vXsn+B2maASjOXJw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001244308-04-000004.txt : 20040514
<SEC-HEADER>0001244308-04-000004.hdr.sgml : 20040514
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040514151721
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001244308-04-000004
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040513
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040514

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CUMULUS MEDIA INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001058623
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RADIO BROADCASTING STATIONS [4832]
		IRS NUMBER:				364159663
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3535 PIEDMONT ROAD
		STREET 2:		BUILDING 14, FOURTEENTH FLOOR
		CITY:			ATLANTA
		STATE:			GA
		ZIP:			30305
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4049490700

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3535 PIEDMONT ROAD
		STREET 2:		BUILDING 14, FOURTEENTH FLOOR
		CITY:			ATLANTA
		STATE:			GA
		ZIP:			30305

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			DICKEY LEWIS W JR
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001079750

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-24525
		FILM NUMBER:		04807045

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3060 PEACHTREE ROAD N W #730
		STREET 2:		C/O CUMULUS MEDIA INC
		CITY:			ATLANTA
		STATE:			GA
		ZIP:			30305
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4049490700

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3060 PEACHTREE ROAD N W #730
		STREET 2:		C/O CUMULUS MEDIA INC
		CITY:			ATLANTA
		STATE:			GA
		ZIP:			30305
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-05-13</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001058623</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CUMULUS MEDIA INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>cmls</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001079750</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>DICKEY LEWIS W JR</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>3060 PEACHTREE ROAD N W #730</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>C/O CUMULUS MEDIA INC</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ATLANTA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>GA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>30305</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chairman and CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option (Right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>19.38</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-05-13</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>500000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2013-05-13</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Class A Common Stock, $.01 par value</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>500000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>500000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Grant to reporting person of Option to Buy 500,000 shares of Class A Common Stock in transaction exempt under Rule 16b-3.  The options become exercisable over 4 years, vesting quarterly during the period commencing 5/13/04 and ending 3/31/08.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Lewis W. Dickey, Jr.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-05-14</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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