MIW Study: Women GMs Steady; But Women PDs Few And Far Between

Women In Management

The latest MIW Gender Analysis Study of 11,229 AM and FM radio stations -- released by the MENTORING AND INSPIRING WOMEN IN RADIO GROUP (MIW), as of DECEMBER 31st, 2016 -- found that 1,944 or 17.8% of those stations have women GMs.  This is a half-point increase from 2015, which was 17.3%, but 14.9% higher than 2004.

In the top-100 radio markets, the number of female GMs is almost the same as the national average when evaluating all markets. In 2016, women managed 17.7% of stations in these markets, which compares to 16.3% in 2015.  

Overall, sales management continues to provide the best management opportunities for women. In 2016, 31.5% of all stations had a women sales manager, up one full percentage point from the prior year. In the top 100 markets, 31.4% of the stations have women SMs, which is a slight increase from 2015.

The greatest challenge for women in radio management continues to be found in the programming department. Women currently program only 10.7% of all stations in the country, which is the same number 10 years ago. The news is better in the top-100 markets where women programmers now represent 12.2%, which is basically flat from last year.

“It is so important that we track women in broadcast leadership roles,” MIW GROUP spokeswoman KAY OLIN said. “Not only does it keep us focused on our MIW mission, it keeps us focused on supporting and growing a leadership path for female professionals that have chosen a career in radio broadcasting.” 

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