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

Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Recent Transactions - Divestitures - Additional Information (Detail)

Recent Transactions - Divestitures - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($)												1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2019	Sep. 27, 2019	Sep. 26, 2019	Sep. 18, 2019	Aug. 15, 2019	Aug. 13, 2019	Jun. 27, 2019	May 14, 2019	Mar. 21, 2019	Feb. 28, 2019	Feb. 27, 2019	Apr. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Oct. 23, 2019	Mar. 19, 2019
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Reportable Data [Line Items]
Proceeds from sale of intangible assets														$ 4,202,000	$ 8,518,000
Pre-tax Gain (Loss) on Sale of land							$ 400,000
Proceeds from sale of Other assets									$ 900,000
Gain (loss) on disposition of other assets									$ 100,000
Time Brokerage Agreement [Member]
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Reportable Data [Line Items]
Payments to acquire businesses, gross												$ 1,200,000
Fee for not exercising purchase option												$ 100,000
HumanEvents.Com [Member]
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Reportable Data [Line Items]
Proceeds from sale of intangible assets											$ 300,000
Gain (loss) on disposition of intangible assets											$ (200,000)
Miami Florida [Member]
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Reportable Data [Line Items]
Proceeds from Sale of Land Held-for-use							$ 900,000
FM Translators [Member]
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Reportable Data [Line Items]
Proceeds from sale of intangible assets					$ 0
Local Marketing Agreements [Member]
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Reportable Data [Line Items]
Agreement termination date		Mar. 30, 2018
Wspz Am Tower Site [Member]
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Reportable Data [Line Items]
Business Combination, Consideration Transferred								$ 800,000
Business Gross Estimated Gain Loss On Sale Assets																	$ 3,800,000
Business Combination Expected Additional Loss								$ 32,000
Turner Investment Products [Member]
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Reportable Data [Line Items]
Proceeds from sale of intangible assets										$ 0
Gain (loss) on disposition of intangible assets										$ (200,000)
Radio stations [Member]
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Reportable Data [Line Items]
Pretax loss on sale of assets		$ 1,300,000	$ 4,700,000										$ (9,900,000)
Proceeds from sale of intangible assets		$ 0	8,200,000			$ 8,700,000
Cash received upon closing			$ 400,000
Radio stations [Member] \| Subsequent Event [Member]
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Reportable Data [Line Items]
Proceeds from sale of intangible assets	$ 200,000
Cash held in escrow																$ 7,800,000
Worl AM [Member]
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Reportable Data [Line Items]
Pretax loss on sale of assets				$ 1,600,000
Proceeds from sale of intangible assets				$ 900,000