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

Recent Transactions - Acquisitions - Additional Information (Detail)

Recent Transactions - Acquisitions - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands										12 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2019	Sep. 09, 2019	Jul. 25, 2019	Jul. 10, 2019	Jun. 06, 2019	Mar. 18, 2019	Sep. 11, 2018	Jul. 25, 2018	Jun. 25, 2018	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Jun. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2017	Jan. 03, 2017
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Reportable Data [Line Items]
Business combination, liabilities arising from contingencies, amount recognized														$ 500
Goodwill										$ 23,998	$ 26,789		$ 26,424
Principal repurchased										18,700	16,400
Cash paid										16,800	15,400
Net gain										1,700	600
Cash dividend distributed										$ 5,827	$ 6,806
Pjmedia.com website [Member]
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Reportable Data [Line Items]
Business acquisition, effective date of acquisition										Mar. 18, 2019
Asset purchase consideration transferred						$ 100				$ 100
KTRBAM [Member]
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Reportable Data [Line Items]
Payment for asset acquisition							$ 5,100
Transaction costs related to asset acquisition							$ 200
KZTS-AM [Member]
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Reportable Data [Line Items]
Payment for asset acquisition								$ 200
Transaction costs related to asset acquisition								$ 30,000
KDXE-FM [Member]
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Reportable Data [Line Items]
Business Combination, Consideration Transferred									$ 1,100
Goodwill									$ 7,400
KPAM-AM In Portland, Oregon Asset Acquisition [Member]
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Reportable Data [Line Items]
Business acquisition, effective date of acquisition	Sep. 27, 2019									Sep. 27, 2019
Asset purchase consideration transferred	$ 1,000									$ 965
FM Translator Construction Permit in Louisville, Kentucky Asset Acquisition [Member]
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Reportable Data [Line Items]
Business acquisition, effective date of acquisition		Sep. 09, 2019								Sep. 09, 2019
Asset purchase consideration transferred		$ 35,000								$ 35
Journey box media [Member]
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Reportable Data [Line Items]
Business acquisition, effective date of acquisition										Jul. 25, 2019
Business Combination, Consideration Transferred										$ 500
Asset purchase consideration transferred			$ 500
Goodwill			$ 4,000
Steelehouse production [Member]
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Reportable Data [Line Items]
Business acquisition, effective date of acquisition										Jul. 10, 2019
Business Combination, Consideration Transferred										$ 100
Asset purchase consideration transferred				$ 100
Goodwill				$ 2,000
Investment House.Com [Member]
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Reportable Data [Line Items]
Business acquisition, effective date of acquisition										Jun. 06, 2019
Business Combination, Consideration Transferred					$ 600					$ 553
Additional incentive payment										10.00%		10.00%
Business combination, liabilities arising from contingencies, amount recognized										$ 2,500