Salem Media Group, Inc. Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Income Taxes - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
Income Taxes - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Income Tax And Carryforwards [Line Items]
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes	$ 153,000	$ 6,110,000	$ 2,695,000
Valuation allowance to offset deferred tax asset	2,913,000	2,798,000
Discontinued Operations
Income Tax And Carryforwards [Line Items]
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes	(60,000)	500,000	30,000
Federal Tax
Income Tax And Carryforwards [Line Items]
Net operating loss carryforwards	125,900,000
Net operating loss carryforwards, beginning expiry year	2020
Net operating loss carryforwards, ending expiry year	2032
State
Income Tax And Carryforwards [Line Items]
Net operating loss carryforwards	$ 844,500,000
Net operating loss carryforwards, beginning expiry year	2013
Net operating loss carryforwards, ending expiry year	2032

Amount of deferred tax assets for which it is more likely than not that a tax benefit will not be realized.

The sum of the current income tax expense or benefit and the deferred income tax expense or benefit pertaining to continuing operations.