-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 WPaYja24HIVt9qSKAqBVsj+Huwi2sVRsIo+oCmSVGz1rSLsxnH7AZJMWvgtDjMbT
 p6P8/CEo1CyxZf5XSpmftw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001193947-04-000001.txt : 20040630
<SEC-HEADER>0001193947-04-000001.hdr.sgml : 20040630
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040630190121
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001193947-04-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040630
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040630

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SORREL LAWRENCE B
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001193947

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-23264
		FILM NUMBER:		04892544

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		40 MONUMENT CIRCLE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 700
		CITY:			INDIANAPOLIS
		STATE:			IN
		ZIP:			46204

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			EMMIS COMMUNICATIONS CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000783005
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RADIO BROADCASTING STATIONS [4832]
		IRS NUMBER:				351542018
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			IN
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0228

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE EMMIS PLAZA
		STREET 2:		40 MONUMENT CIRCLE SUITE 700
		CITY:			INDIANAPOLIS
		STATE:			IN
		ZIP:			46204
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3172660100

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE EMMIS PLAZA
		STREET 2:		40 MONUMENT CIRCLE #700
		CITY:			INDIANAPOLIS
		STATE:			IN
		ZIP:			46204

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	EMMIS BROADCASTING CORPORATION
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>c0001193947d20040630f4f.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-06-30</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000783005</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>EMMIS COMMUNICATIONS CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>EMMS</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001193947</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SORREL LAWRENCE B</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>40 MONUMENT CIRCLE, SUITE 700</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>INDIANAPOLIS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IN</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>46204</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>10340</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Empl Directors' Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>19.84</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2003-06-25</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2012-06-24</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Empl Directors' Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>20.79</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-06-30</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-06-30</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-06-29</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Empl Directors' Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>22.65</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2004-06-25</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2013-06-24</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Empl Directors' Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>26.875</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2002-01-10</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2006-01-09</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Empl Directors' Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>29.18</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2002-06-26</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2006-06-25</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">One third of the options vest on this date, a third vest one year thereafter and the final third vest on the third anniversary of the grant date.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>J. Scott Enright, Attorney in Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-06-30</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----