Mentoring and Inspiring Women in Radio, Inc. (MIW), a designated 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to the advancement of female leadership in radio broadcasting, annually compiles and analyzes the number of women in radio broadcasting who are rising to the ranks of management. Data gathered for their annual MIW Gender Analysis Study specifically tracks the progress of female professionals holding General Manager, Sales Manager, and Program Director/Brand Manager positions.
The MIW Gender Analysis Study, based on raw data collected by PrecisionTrak from all US-based commercial radio stations, has been released every year since the organization’s start in 2000. The figures and percentages shown below represent the calendar year 2023 and are reflective of 11,215 AM and FM radio stations across America, as accounted for by PrecisionTrak as of December 31, 2023.*
General Managers: 22.17% (2356 stations) had women holding the General Manager position in 2023. This is almost 2 share points of growth from last year but continues to show growth from 2004 when the percentage of female General Managers was only 14.9%.
In the Top 100 markets, 23.96% (828 stations) were managed by women, which is also more than a full percentage point up from 2022 and still continues to run a bit higher than the national average.
Sales Managers: Overall, the best management opportunities for women in radio continues to be in sales management. 34.37% (3476 stations) had a woman Sales Manager in 2023, but that number is basically flat from 33.45% in 2022.
In the Top 100 markets, although the numbers run slightly higher than the national average, the story showed a 3-point percentage drop for 2023. 35.16% (1379 stations) had women serving as Sales Managers in 2023, versus 38.05% in 2022.
Program Directors/Brand Managers: The greatest challenge for women in radio management continues to be in the area of Program Directors/Brand Managers. Women currently program 11.50% (1173 stations) Which again, is flat from 2022.
In the Top 100 markets, the news was even worse as female programmers now represent only 10.14% of the total number of Program Directors/Brand Managers, which is another drop of over 3 share points from 2022.
MIW Board President Ruth Presslaff said, “Navigating today’s landscape poses unique challenges for both the industry at large and women in particular. Our commitment to fostering change remains unwavering. Through MIW’s array of mentoring initiatives, we not only recognize but also amplify the voices of women. We are beyond grateful to the companies and individuals who champion our mission. As we press forward, we eagerly anticipate seizing new opportunities to empower even more women in the year ahead.”
*All information provided by PrecisionTrak is subject to limitations of data provided by radio companies. The analysis is dependent upon the accuracy and completeness of PrecisionTrak (Precisiontrak.com) data as of December 31, 2023.
