Women in Radio Group 2008 Gender analysis study.

According to the latest MIW Gender Analysis Study released by the Mentoring and Inspiring Women in Radio Group (MIWs), out of 10,700 AM and FM radio stations accounted for by MStreet Publications as of November 2008, 1695 or 15.8% have women holding the GM position in 2008.

Whereas that number is down slightly from 2007, which was 15.9%, it does show consistent growth from 2003 when the percentage was only 13.7%. The annual study is compiled, analyzed and released by the MIWs from information provided by *MStreet Publications.

The trends in the top 100 markets also remain about the same: in 2008 16.8% of stations in these markets were managed by women, compared to 16.7% in 2007 but up from 14.8% five years ago in 2003. There’s been essentially no change for the five years between 2003 and 2008 for women sales managers, and although over the same period of time women programmers have been on the increase, the greatest challenge for women is still as programmers: women program only 10.9% of all stations, up .2% – – that’s point two percent since 2003. In the top 100 markets, women are programming 10.0% of all stations versus only 8.9% five years ago.

Overall, the best management opportunities for women continue to be in sales management. In 2008, 30.5% of all stations had women SMs, a slight increase from five years ago when women led the sales departments in 29.5% of all stations. In the top 100 markets, 32.2% of the stations had women SMs, up one percentage point from five years ago in 2003 and down slightly from last year.

“The MIWs have been analyzing and publishing these gender numbers for the past nine years,” commented Heidi Raphael, MIW Spokesperson. “ We believe it is important to continue to analyze, develop and promote an increased role for women in sales, programming and other areas in the radio industry in the future.”