Document and Entity Information - shares	6 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016
Document Information [Line Items]
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Aug. 31, 2016
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2017
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q2
Trading Symbol	EMMS
Entity Registrant Name	EMMIS COMMUNICATIONS CORP
Entity Central Index Key	0000783005
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--02-28
Entity Filer Category	Smaller Reporting Company
Class A Common Stock
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		11,178,875
Class B Common Stock
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		1,142,366
Class C Common Stock
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		0