-----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,
 UOWyyHxE7rCRNzHfIMjF5Sv3U1YIofzOAQINl07PKZ7CNtbPpq0CP1HGCuOnylsB
 0P488n6MTqf7avS8MTQlHQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000771950-05-000005.txt : 20050315
<SEC-HEADER>0000771950-05-000005.hdr.sgml : 20050315
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050315181045
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000771950-05-000005
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20050314
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050315
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050315

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BORTNICK CHARLES
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001248775

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-14691
		FILM NUMBER:		05682895

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O WESTWOOD ONE
		STREET 2:		40 WEST 57TH ST 15TH FL
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10019
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2126412000

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			WESTWOOD ONE INC /DE/
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000771950
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-AMUSEMENT & RECREATION SERVICES [7900]
		IRS NUMBER:				953980449
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		40 WEST 57TH STREET
		STREET 2:		5TH FLOOR
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10019
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2126412063

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		40 WEST 57TH STREET
		STREET 2:		5TH FLOOR
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10019

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	WESTWOOD ONE DELAWARE INC /CA/
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19860408
</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>2005-03-14</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000771950</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>WESTWOOD ONE INC /DE/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>won</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001248775</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BORTNICK CHARLES</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O WESTWOOD ONE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>40 WEST 57TH STREET</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10019</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chief Operating Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>stock option</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>20.97</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-03-14</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>50000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2006-03-14</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2015-03-14</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>common stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>50000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>50000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Option to buy 50,000 shares of Westwood One, Inc. common stock that will become exercisable in equal one-fifth increments on March 14, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010 at an exercise price of $20.97 per share.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>David Hillman as attorney-in-fact for Charles Bortnick</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-03-15</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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