Salem Media Group, Inc. Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

CONTINGENT EARN-OUT CONSIDERATION (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Business Acquisition, Contingent Consideration [Line Items]
Beginning Balance	$ 441	$ 2,276	$ 775	$ 3,285
Acquisitions	66	0	66	300
Accretion of acquisition-related contingent earn-out consideration	5	29	21	86
Change in the estimated fair value of contingent earn-out consideration	(196)	(603)	(458)	(792)
Reclassification of payments due in next 12 months to short-term	0	0	0	0
Payments	(11)	(16)	(99)	(1,193)
Ending Balance	305	1,686	305	1,686
Short-Term Accrued Expenses [Member]
Business Acquisition, Contingent Consideration [Line Items]
Beginning Balance	441	1,190	173	1,575
Acquisitions	66	0	66	176
Accretion of acquisition-related contingent earn-out consideration	5	17	13	48
Change in the estimated fair value of contingent earn-out consideration	(196)	(418)	(404)	(631)
Reclassification of payments due in next 12 months to short-term	0	0	556	798
Payments	(11)	(16)	(99)	(1,193)
Ending Balance	305	773	305	773
Long-Term Other Liabilities [Member]
Business Acquisition, Contingent Consideration [Line Items]
Beginning Balance	0	1,086	602	1,710
Acquisitions	0	0	0	124
Accretion of acquisition-related contingent earn-out consideration	0	12	8	38
Change in the estimated fair value of contingent earn-out consideration	0	(185)	(54)	(161)
Reclassification of payments due in next 12 months to short-term	0	0	(556)	(798)
Payments	0	0	0	0
Ending Balance	$ 0	$ 913	$ 0	$ 913