ACQUISITIONS AND RECENT TRANSACTIONS (Narrative) (Details)

v2.4.1.9

ACQUISITIONS AND RECENT TRANSACTIONS (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	0 Months Ended	12 Months Ended			0 Months Ended								9 Months Ended	0 Months Ended	1 Months Ended	0 Months Ended			1 Months Ended	0 Months Ended
	Mar. 14, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Mar. 05, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Nov. 28, 2014	Sep. 29, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 28, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 03, 2013	Dec. 12, 2011	Feb. 15, 2013	Aug. 10, 2013	Dec. 10, 2013	Dec. 10, 2013	Mar. 13, 2015	Dec. 09, 2013 Installment	Feb. 07, 2014	Feb. 05, 2013	Jan. 10, 2014	Jun. 06, 2014	Apr. 15, 2014	May 06, 2014	May 22, 2014	Oct. 03, 2014	Nov. 24, 2014	Dec. 22, 2014	Dec. 23, 2014	Feb. 20, 2015	Dec. 20, 2013	Dec. 12, 2012	Jun. 01, 2012	Sep. 06, 2011	Jun. 01, 2011	Dec. 01, 2010	Jun. 01, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009	Sep. 11, 2013	Sep. 23, 2013	Oct. 01, 2014	Dec. 10, 2014
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Reportable Data [Line Items]
Loss on early retirement of long-term debt	$ 33,000us-gaap_GainsLossesOnExtinguishmentOfDebt	$ (391,000)us-gaap_GainsLossesOnExtinguishmentOfDebt	$ (27,795,000)us-gaap_GainsLossesOnExtinguishmentOfDebt	$ (1,088,000)us-gaap_GainsLossesOnExtinguishmentOfDebt
Class A and Class B common stock, dividend paid		6,183,000us-gaap_PaymentsOfDividendsCommonStock	5,158,000us-gaap_PaymentsOfDividendsCommonStock	3,412,000us-gaap_PaymentsOfDividendsCommonStock
Class A and Class B common stock, dividend declared per share, paid		$ 0.24us-gaap_CommonStockDividendsPerShareCashPaid	$ 0.21us-gaap_CommonStockDividendsPerShareCashPaid	$ 0.14us-gaap_CommonStockDividendsPerShareCashPaid
Amount due on close of Transaction		12,682,000salm_BusinessAcquisitionInitialPurchasePrice	7,477,000salm_BusinessAcquisitionInitialPurchasePrice			12,682,000salm_BusinessAcquisitionInitialPurchasePrice
Business Acquisition, Purchase Price Allocation, Goodwill Amount		24,684,000us-gaap_Goodwill	22,374,000us-gaap_Goodwill			24,684,000us-gaap_Goodwill
Business acquisition purchase price																																		500,000salm_BusinessAcquisitionCostOfAcquiredEntityCashPaidNet
Discount on advertising credits			600,000salm_AllowanceNetPresentValueAdvertiserCredits
Fair value of advertising credits payable over ten years			2,427,000salm_BusinessAcquisitionAdvertisingCreditsPayable
Advertising credits payable term			ten
Amortization period of interest expense			10 years
Amortization of bond issue costs and bank loan fees		643,000us-gaap_AmortizationOfFinancingCosts	853,000us-gaap_AmortizationOfFinancingCosts	1,291,000us-gaap_AmortizationOfFinancingCosts
Purchase price		18,656,000us-gaap_BusinessCombinationConsiderationTransferred1	12,820,000us-gaap_BusinessCombinationConsiderationTransferred1
Payments		(300,000)salm_BusinessCombinationContingentConsiderationArrangementsPayment
Acquisition-related expenses		500,000us-gaap_BusinessCombinationAcquisitionRelatedCosts	200,000us-gaap_BusinessCombinationAcquisitionRelatedCosts
Third-party valuation fees		100,000salm_BusinessCombinationThirdPartyValuationFees				100,000salm_BusinessCombinationThirdPartyValuationFees
Brokerage fees		100,000salm_BusinessCombinationBrokerageFees	100,000salm_BusinessCombinationBrokerageFees			100,000salm_BusinessCombinationBrokerageFees
Subsequent Event [Member]
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Reportable Data [Line Items]
Class A and Class B common stock, dividend declared per share					$ 0.0650us-gaap_CommonStockDividendsPerShareDeclared / us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis = us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember
Revolver under senior credit facility [Member]
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Reportable Data [Line Items]
Loss on early retirement of long-term debt	900,000us-gaap_GainsLossesOnExtinguishmentOfDebt / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = us-gaap_RevolvingCreditFacilityMember
Term Loan B [Member]
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Reportable Data [Line Items]
Debt, issuance of principal amount		300,000,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = salm_TermBLoanMember				300,000,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = salm_TermBLoanMember				300,000,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = salm_TermBLoanMember
Repayment of Term Loan B		15,300,000us-gaap_PaymentsForLoans / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = salm_TermBLoanMember				4,000,000us-gaap_PaymentsForLoans / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = salm_TermBLoanMember	4,000,000us-gaap_PaymentsForLoans / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = salm_TermBLoanMember	5,000,000us-gaap_PaymentsForLoans / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = salm_TermBLoanMember	2,250,000us-gaap_PaymentsForLoans / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = salm_TermBLoanMember	750,000us-gaap_PaymentsForLoans / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = salm_TermBLoanMember	4,000,000us-gaap_PaymentsForLoans / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = salm_TermBLoanMember	4,000,000us-gaap_PaymentsForLoans / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = salm_TermBLoanMember	4,000,000us-gaap_PaymentsForLoans / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = salm_TermBLoanMember
Loss on early retirement of long-term debt		100,000us-gaap_GainsLossesOnExtinguishmentOfDebt / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = salm_TermBLoanMember								3,000us-gaap_GainsLossesOnExtinguishmentOfDebt / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = salm_TermBLoanMember		14,000us-gaap_GainsLossesOnExtinguishmentOfDebt / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = salm_TermBLoanMember	16,000us-gaap_GainsLossesOnExtinguishmentOfDebt / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = salm_TermBLoanMember
Credit facility, borrowing capacity	300,000,000us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = salm_TermBLoanMember	276,000,000us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = salm_TermBLoanMember				276,000,000us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = salm_TermBLoanMember
Unamortized Discount		16,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscount / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = salm_TermBLoanMember				16,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscount / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = salm_TermBLoanMember	15,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscount / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = salm_TermBLoanMember	18,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscount / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = salm_TermBLoanMember	8,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscount / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = salm_TermBLoanMember	3,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscount / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = salm_TermBLoanMember	16,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscount / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = salm_TermBLoanMember	14,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscount / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = salm_TermBLoanMember	16,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscount / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = salm_TermBLoanMember
Amortization of bond issue costs and bank loan fees		300,000us-gaap_AmortizationOfFinancingCosts / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = salm_TermBLoanMember	300,000us-gaap_AmortizationOfFinancingCosts / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = salm_TermBLoanMember
Revolver [Member]
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Reportable Data [Line Items]
Credit facility, borrowing capacity	25,000,000us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = salm_RevolverMember	1,800,000us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = salm_RevolverMember				1,800,000us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = salm_RevolverMember
Terminated 95/8% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes [Member]
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Reportable Data [Line Items]
Debt, issuance of principal amount																																									300,000,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = salm_SeniorSecuredSecondLienNotesMember
Loss on early retirement of long-term debt	26,900,000us-gaap_GainsLossesOnExtinguishmentOfDebt / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = salm_SeniorSecuredSecondLienNotesMember	900,000us-gaap_GainsLossesOnExtinguishmentOfDebt / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = salm_SeniorSecuredSecondLienNotesMember												900,000us-gaap_GainsLossesOnExtinguishmentOfDebt / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = salm_SeniorSecuredSecondLienNotesMember	800,000us-gaap_GainsLossesOnExtinguishmentOfDebt / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = salm_SeniorSecuredSecondLienNotesMember
Principal repurchased or redeemed	212,597,000salm_DebtInstrumentPrincipalAmountRepurchasedOrRedeemed / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = salm_SeniorSecuredSecondLienNotesMember													903,000salm_DebtInstrumentPrincipalAmountRepurchasedOrRedeemed / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = salm_SeniorSecuredSecondLienNotesMember	12,500,000salm_DebtInstrumentPrincipalAmountRepurchasedOrRedeemed / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = salm_SeniorSecuredSecondLienNotesMember																				4,000,000salm_DebtInstrumentPrincipalAmountRepurchasedOrRedeemed / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = salm_SeniorSecuredSecondLienNotesMember	17,500,000salm_DebtInstrumentPrincipalAmountRepurchasedOrRedeemed / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = salm_SeniorSecuredSecondLienNotesMember	5,000,000salm_DebtInstrumentPrincipalAmountRepurchasedOrRedeemed / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = salm_SeniorSecuredSecondLienNotesMember	17,500,000salm_DebtInstrumentPrincipalAmountRepurchasedOrRedeemed / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = salm_SeniorSecuredSecondLienNotesMember	12,500,000salm_DebtInstrumentPrincipalAmountRepurchasedOrRedeemed / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = salm_SeniorSecuredSecondLienNotesMember	17,500,000salm_DebtInstrumentPrincipalAmountRepurchasedOrRedeemed / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = salm_SeniorSecuredSecondLienNotesMember
Debt, aggregate purchase price	240,300,000salm_DebtInstrumentPurchasePrice / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = salm_SeniorSecuredSecondLienNotesMember
Percent of debt purchase price	110.65%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPricePercentage / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = salm_SeniorSecuredSecondLienNotesMember
Amount paid for redemption	22,700,000salm_DebtInstrumentRedemptionAmount / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = salm_SeniorSecuredSecondLienNotesMember
Unamortized Discount	837,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscount / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = salm_SeniorSecuredSecondLienNotesMember													3,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscount / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = salm_SeniorSecuredSecondLienNotesMember	62,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscount / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = salm_SeniorSecuredSecondLienNotesMember																				17,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscount / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = salm_SeniorSecuredSecondLienNotesMember	80,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscount / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = salm_SeniorSecuredSecondLienNotesMember	26,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscount / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = salm_SeniorSecuredSecondLienNotesMember	93,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscount / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = salm_SeniorSecuredSecondLienNotesMember	70,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscount / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = salm_SeniorSecuredSecondLienNotesMember	105,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscount / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = salm_SeniorSecuredSecondLienNotesMember
Bond Issue Costs	2,867,000salm_DebtInstrumentIssuanceCosts / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = salm_SeniorSecuredSecondLienNotesMember														337,000salm_DebtInstrumentIssuanceCosts / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = salm_SeniorSecuredSecondLienNotesMember																				57,000salm_DebtInstrumentIssuanceCosts / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = salm_SeniorSecuredSecondLienNotesMember	287,000salm_DebtInstrumentIssuanceCosts / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = salm_SeniorSecuredSecondLienNotesMember	135,000salm_DebtInstrumentIssuanceCosts / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = salm_SeniorSecuredSecondLienNotesMember	472,000salm_DebtInstrumentIssuanceCosts / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = salm_SeniorSecuredSecondLienNotesMember	334,000salm_DebtInstrumentIssuanceCosts / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = salm_SeniorSecuredSecondLienNotesMember	417,000salm_DebtInstrumentIssuanceCosts / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = salm_SeniorSecuredSecondLienNotesMember
GodUpdates Facebook page [Member]
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Reportable Data [Line Items]
Business acquisition purchase price																																										300,000salm_BusinessAcquisitionCostOfAcquiredEntityCashPaidNet / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = salm_BusinessAcquisitionFiveMember
WTOH-FM, Columbus, Ohio (business acquisition) [Member]
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Reportable Data [Line Items]
Purchase price																4,000,000us-gaap_BusinessCombinationConsiderationTransferred1 / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = salm_BusinessAcquisitionThreeMember
Acquisition date																Feb. 15, 2013
Christnotes.org (business acquisition) [Member]
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Reportable Data [Line Items]
Business acquisition purchase price																	500,000salm_BusinessAcquisitionCostOfAcquiredEntityCashPaidNet / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = salm_BusinessAcquisitionSixMember
Business acquisition, goodwill																	20,755us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredGoodwillAndLiabilitiesAssumedNet / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = salm_BusinessAcquisitionSixMember
Purchase price																	500,000us-gaap_BusinessCombinationConsiderationTransferred1 / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = salm_BusinessAcquisitionSixMember
Acquisition date																	Aug. 10, 2013
Twitchy.com (business acquisition) [Member]
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Reportable Data [Line Items]
Amount due on close of Transaction																		900,000salm_BusinessAcquisitionInitialPurchasePrice / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = salm_BusinessAcquisitionThirteenMember	900,000salm_BusinessAcquisitionInitialPurchasePrice / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = salm_BusinessAcquisitionThirteenMember
Contingent earn-out consideration																		1,200,000us-gaap_BusinessCombinationContingentConsiderationAsset / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = salm_BusinessAcquisitionThirteenMember	1,200,000us-gaap_BusinessCombinationContingentConsiderationAsset / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = salm_BusinessAcquisitionThirteenMember
Contingent earn-out consideration achievement of milestone period																			2 years
Contingent earn-out consideration estimated fair value																		600,000us-gaap_BusinessCombinationAssetsArisingFromContingenciesAmountRecognized / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = salm_BusinessAcquisitionThirteenMember	600,000us-gaap_BusinessCombinationAssetsArisingFromContingenciesAmountRecognized / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = salm_BusinessAcquisitionThirteenMember
Business Acquisition, Purchase Price Allocation, Goodwill Amount																		400,000us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = salm_BusinessAcquisitionThirteenMember	400,000us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = salm_BusinessAcquisitionThirteenMember
Advertising cost																		1,200,000us-gaap_BusinessCombinationContingentConsiderationLiability / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = salm_BusinessAcquisitionThirteenMember	1,200,000us-gaap_BusinessCombinationContingentConsiderationLiability / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = salm_BusinessAcquisitionThirteenMember
Purchase price																		1,536,000us-gaap_BusinessCombinationConsiderationTransferred1 / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = salm_BusinessAcquisitionThirteenMember
Estimated fair value of contingent earn-out consideration		400,000us-gaap_BusinessCombinationLiabilitiesArisingFromContingenciesAmountRecognized / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = salm_BusinessAcquisitionThirteenMember				400,000us-gaap_BusinessCombinationLiabilitiesArisingFromContingenciesAmountRecognized / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = salm_BusinessAcquisitionThirteenMember												600,000us-gaap_BusinessCombinationLiabilitiesArisingFromContingenciesAmountRecognized / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = salm_BusinessAcquisitionThirteenMember	600,000us-gaap_BusinessCombinationLiabilitiesArisingFromContingenciesAmountRecognized / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = salm_BusinessAcquisitionThirteenMember
Acquisition date																		Dec. 10, 2013
Twitchy.com (business acquisition) [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member]
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Reportable Data [Line Items]
Payments																				600,000salm_BusinessCombinationContingentConsiderationArrangementsPayment / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = salm_BusinessAcquisitionThirteenMember / us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis = us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember
Additional contingent earn-out consideration to be paid over remaining earn-out period																				700,000us-gaap_BusinessCombinationContingentConsiderationArrangementsRangeOfOutcomesValueHigh / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = salm_BusinessAcquisitionThirteenMember / us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis = us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember
EverythingInspirational.com (asset purchases) [Member]
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Reportable Data [Line Items]
Amount due on close of Transaction																					100,000salm_BusinessAcquisitionInitialPurchasePrice / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = salm_BusinessAcquisitionTwentyTwoMember
Business acquisition purchase price																					400,000salm_BusinessAcquisitionCostOfAcquiredEntityCashPaidNet / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = salm_BusinessAcquisitionTwentyTwoMember
Amount payable		300,000salm_BusinessAcquisitionFutureFixedCashPayment / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = salm_BusinessAcquisitionTwentyTwoMember
Deferred cash payment, number of installments																					3salm_BusinessAcquisitionNumberOfConsiderationInstallments / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = salm_BusinessAcquisitionTwentyTwoMember
Purchase price																					400,000us-gaap_BusinessCombinationConsiderationTransferred1 / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = salm_BusinessAcquisitionTwentyTwoMember
Acquisition date																					Dec. 09, 2013
KDIS-FM, Little Rock, Arkansas and KRDY-AM, San Antonio, Texas [Member]
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Reportable Data [Line Items]
Business Acquisition, Purchase Price Allocation, Goodwill Amount																						18,000us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = salm_BusinessAcquisitionEightMember
Business acquisition purchase price																						2,000,000salm_BusinessAcquisitionCostOfAcquiredEntityCashPaidNet / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = salm_BusinessAcquisitionEightMember																					2,500,000salm_BusinessAcquisitionCostOfAcquiredEntityCashPaidNet / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = salm_BusinessAcquisitionEightMember
Purchase price																						1,984,000us-gaap_BusinessCombinationConsiderationTransferred1 / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = salm_BusinessAcquisitionEightMember
Acquisition date																						Feb. 07, 2014
KRDY-AM tower site in San Antonio, Texas [Member]
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Reportable Data [Line Items]
Business acquisition purchase price																																											500,000salm_BusinessAcquisitionCostOfAcquiredEntityCashPaidNet / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = salm_BusinessAcquisitionTwentyFourMember
WJKR-FM, Columbus, Ohio [Member]
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Reportable Data [Line Items]
Business acquisition purchase price																4,000,000salm_BusinessAcquisitionCostOfAcquiredEntityCashPaidNet / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = salm_BusinessAcquisitionOneMember
WGTK-FM, Greenville, South Carolina [Member]
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Reportable Data [Line Items]
Amount due on close of Transaction																							1,000,000salm_BusinessAcquisitionInitialPurchasePrice / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = salm_BusinessAcquisitionTwoMember
Amount payable																							2,000,000salm_BusinessAcquisitionFutureFixedCashPayment / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = salm_BusinessAcquisitionTwoMember
Business acquisition purchase price																							5,400,000us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireBusinessesGross / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = salm_BusinessAcquisitionTwoMember
Advertising cost																							3,000,000us-gaap_BusinessCombinationContingentConsiderationLiability / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = salm_BusinessAcquisitionTwoMember
Acquisition payment date																							2014-04
Purchase of various intangible Internet assets (asset purchases) [Member]
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Reportable Data [Line Items]
Business acquisition purchase price			200,000salm_BusinessAcquisitionCostOfAcquiredEntityCashPaidNet / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = salm_BusinessAcquisitionSevenMember
Purchase price			207,000us-gaap_BusinessCombinationConsiderationTransferred1 / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = salm_BusinessAcquisitionSevenMember
Eagle Publishing (business acquisition) [Member]
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Reportable Data [Line Items]
Amount due on close of Transaction																								3,500,000salm_BusinessAcquisitionInitialPurchasePrice / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = salm_BusinessAcquisitionTwentyEightMember
Contingent earn-out consideration																								8,500,000us-gaap_BusinessCombinationContingentConsiderationAsset / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = salm_BusinessAcquisitionTwentyEightMember
Contingent earn-out consideration achievement of milestone period																								3 years
Business Acquisition, Purchase Price Allocation, Goodwill Amount																								2,300,000us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = salm_BusinessAcquisitionTwentyEightMember
Advertising cost																								8,500,000us-gaap_BusinessCombinationContingentConsiderationLiability / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = salm_BusinessAcquisitionTwentyEightMember
Purchase price																								10,628,000us-gaap_BusinessCombinationConsiderationTransferred1 / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = salm_BusinessAcquisitionTwentyEightMember
Estimated fair value of contingent earn-out consideration		1,700,000us-gaap_BusinessCombinationLiabilitiesArisingFromContingenciesAmountRecognized / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = salm_BusinessAcquisitionTwentyEightMember				1,700,000us-gaap_BusinessCombinationLiabilitiesArisingFromContingenciesAmountRecognized / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = salm_BusinessAcquisitionTwentyEightMember																		2,000,000us-gaap_BusinessCombinationLiabilitiesArisingFromContingenciesAmountRecognized / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = salm_BusinessAcquisitionTwentyEightMember
Payments		900,000salm_BusinessCombinationContingentConsiderationArrangementsPayment / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = salm_BusinessAcquisitionTwentyEightMember
Additional contingent earn-out consideration to be paid over remaining earn-out period		5,900,000us-gaap_BusinessCombinationContingentConsiderationArrangementsRangeOfOutcomesValueHigh / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = salm_BusinessAcquisitionTwentyEightMember				5,900,000us-gaap_BusinessCombinationContingentConsiderationArrangementsRangeOfOutcomesValueHigh / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = salm_BusinessAcquisitionTwentyEightMember
Acquisition date																								Jan. 10, 2014
Eagle Publishing (business acquisition) [Member] | January 2015 [Member]
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Reportable Data [Line Items]
Amount payable		2,500,000salm_BusinessAcquisitionFutureFixedCashPayment / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = salm_BusinessAcquisitionTwentyEightMember / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = salm_JanuaryTwoThousandFifteenMember
Acquisition payment date		2015-01
Early payment made																									1,500,000salm_BusinessCombinationContingentConsiderationArrangementsCashPaymentMade / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = salm_BusinessAcquisitionTwentyEightMember / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = salm_JanuaryTwoThousandFifteenMember
Deferred payments, present value																								900,000salm_BusinessCombinationUndiscountedAmountOfDeferredPaymentDueInFuture / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = salm_BusinessAcquisitionTwentyEightMember / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = salm_JanuaryTwoThousandFifteenMember
Eagle Publishing (business acquisition) [Member] | January 2016 [Member]
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Reportable Data [Line Items]
Amount payable		2,500,000salm_BusinessAcquisitionFutureFixedCashPayment / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = salm_BusinessAcquisitionTwentyEightMember / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = salm_JanuaryTwoThousandSixteenMember
Acquisition payment date		2015-01
Additional costs associate associated with liabilities incurred by the seller																								400,000salm_AdditionalPurchasePriceAdjustmentPayments / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = salm_BusinessAcquisitionTwentyEightMember / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = salm_JanuaryTwoThousandSixteenMember
Deferred payments, present value																								2,300,000salm_BusinessCombinationUndiscountedAmountOfDeferredPaymentDueInFuture / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = salm_BusinessAcquisitionTwentyEightMember / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = salm_JanuaryTwoThousandSixteenMember
FM Translators, Orlando, Florida, Tampa, Florida, Omaha, Nebraska (asset purchase)
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Reportable Data [Line Items]
Business acquisition purchase price																										400,000salm_BusinessAcquisitionCostOfAcquiredEntityCashPaidNet / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = salm_BusinessAcquisitionThirtyTwoMember
Purchase price																										357,000us-gaap_BusinessCombinationConsiderationTransferred1 / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = salm_BusinessAcquisitionThirtyTwoMember
Acquisition date																										Apr. 15, 2014
WRTH-FM (formerly WOLT-FM), Greenville, South Carolina (business acquisition)
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Reportable Data [Line Items]
Business Acquisition, Purchase Price Allocation, Goodwill Amount																											6,400us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = salm_BusinessAcquisitionThirtyOneMember
Business acquisition purchase price																											1,100,000salm_BusinessAcquisitionCostOfAcquiredEntityCashPaidNet / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = salm_BusinessAcquisitionThirtyOneMember
Purchase price																											1,125,000us-gaap_BusinessCombinationConsiderationTransferred1 / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = salm_BusinessAcquisitionThirtyOneMember
Acquisition date																											May 06, 2014
WOCN-AM Miami, Florida (business acquisition)
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Reportable Data [Line Items]
Business Acquisition, Purchase Price Allocation, Goodwill Amount																												12,000us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = salm_BusinessAcquisitionThirtyMember
Business acquisition purchase price																												2,500,000salm_BusinessAcquisitionCostOfAcquiredEntityCashPaidNet / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = salm_BusinessAcquisitionThirtyMember
Purchase price																												2,450,000us-gaap_BusinessCombinationConsiderationTransferred1 / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = salm_BusinessAcquisitionThirtyMember
Acquisition date																												May 22, 2014
KXXT-AM Phoenix, Arizona (business acquisition)
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Reportable Data [Line Items]
Business Acquisition, Purchase Price Allocation, Goodwill Amount																																												1,400us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = salm_BusinessAcquisitionThirtyThreeMember
Business acquisition purchase price																																												600,000salm_BusinessAcquisitionCostOfAcquiredEntityCashPaidNet / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = salm_BusinessAcquisitionThirtyThreeMember
Purchase price																													575,000us-gaap_BusinessCombinationConsiderationTransferred1 / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = salm_BusinessAcquisitionThirtyThreeMember
Acquisition date																													Oct. 01, 2014
FM Translator, Traveler's Rest, South Carolina (asset acquisition)
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Reportable Data [Line Items]
Business acquisition purchase price																														200,000salm_BusinessAcquisitionCostOfAcquiredEntityCashPaidNet / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = salm_BusinessAcquisitionThirtyFourMember
Purchase price																														200,000us-gaap_BusinessCombinationConsiderationTransferred1 / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = salm_BusinessAcquisitionThirtyFourMember
Acquisition date																														Nov. 24, 2014
Radio station, WDYZ-FM in Orlando, Florida (asset acquisition)
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Reportable Data [Line Items]
Business acquisition purchase price																																													1,300,000salm_BusinessAcquisitionCostOfAcquiredEntityCashPaidNet / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = salm_BusinessAcquisitionThirtyFiveMember
FM Translator, Bayshore Gardens, Florida (asset acquisition)
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Reportable Data [Line Items]
Business acquisition purchase price																															100,000salm_BusinessAcquisitionCostOfAcquiredEntityCashPaidNet / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = salm_BusinessAcquisitionThirtySixMember
Purchase price																															140,000us-gaap_BusinessCombinationConsiderationTransferred1 / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = salm_BusinessAcquisitionThirtySixMember
Acquisition date																															Dec. 22, 2014
FM Translator, Pickens, South Carolina (asset acquisition)
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Reportable Data [Line Items]
Business acquisition purchase price																																200,000salm_BusinessAcquisitionCostOfAcquiredEntityCashPaidNet / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = salm_BusinessAcquisitionThirtySevenMember
Purchase price																																185,000us-gaap_BusinessCombinationConsiderationTransferred1 / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = salm_BusinessAcquisitionThirtySevenMember
Acquisition date																																Dec. 23, 2014
WLTE-FM Pendleton, South Carolina (asset acquisition)
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Reportable Data [Line Items]
Business acquisition purchase price																																500,000salm_BusinessAcquisitionCostOfAcquiredEntityCashPaidNet / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = salm_BusinessAcquisitionThirtyEightMember
Purchase price																																525,000us-gaap_BusinessCombinationConsiderationTransferred1 / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = salm_BusinessAcquisitionThirtyEightMember
Acquisition date																																Dec. 23, 2014
Radio station, WDDZ-AM in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania | Subsequent Event [Member]
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Reportable Data [Line Items]
Business acquisition purchase price																																	1,000,000salm_BusinessAcquisitionCostOfAcquiredEntityCashPaidNet / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = salm_BusinessAcquisitionThirtyNineMember / us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis = us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember
Purchase price																																	1,000,000us-gaap_BusinessCombinationConsiderationTransferred1 / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = salm_BusinessAcquisitionThirtyNineMember / us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis = us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember
Acquisition date																																	Feb. 20, 2015
Radio station WDWD-AM in Atlanta, Georgia | Subsequent Event [Member]
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Reportable Data [Line Items]
Business acquisition purchase price																																	2,800,000salm_BusinessAcquisitionCostOfAcquiredEntityCashPaidNet / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = salm_BusinessAcquisitionFortyMember / us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis = us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember
Purchase price																																	2,800,000us-gaap_BusinessCombinationConsiderationTransferred1 / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = salm_BusinessAcquisitionFortyMember / us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis = us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember
Acquisition date																																	Feb. 20, 2015
Purchases of domain names (asset purchases)
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Reportable Data [Line Items]
Business acquisition purchase price		400,000salm_BusinessAcquisitionCostOfAcquiredEntityCashPaidNet / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = salm_BusinessAcquisitionTwentyNineMember				400,000salm_BusinessAcquisitionCostOfAcquiredEntityCashPaidNet / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = salm_BusinessAcquisitionTwentyNineMember
Purchase price		$ 487,000us-gaap_BusinessCombinationConsiderationTransferred1 / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = salm_BusinessAcquisitionTwentyNineMember