MIW Releases 25th Gender Analysis Study

Why It Matters

The findings reveal uneven progress toward gender parity in radio management, signaling both opportunities and risks for broadcasters seeking diverse leadership.

Key Takeaways

• Women GMs at 22% of U.S. stations 2025.
• Top‑100 markets show 24% women GMs, up 5% YoY.
• Women sales managers hold 35% of roles, flat growth.
• Female program directors only 13% nationally, 15% top markets.
• Progress in GM and programming roles, but sales stagnates.

Pulse Analysis

The Mentoring and Inspiring Women in Radio (MIW) released its 25th annual gender analysis, a quarter‑century of tracking female leadership in U.S. commercial radio. The study examines general managers, sales managers, and program directors/brand managers, using PrecisionTrak data. Women now hold 22 % of general‑manager positions nationwide, up from 15 % in 2004, and 24 % in the top‑100 markets. These modest gains highlight the longevity of the benchmark while underscoring the slow pace of change in a historically male‑dominated industry. These figures also serve as a baseline for future equity initiatives.

Growth is most evident in general‑manager and program‑director roles, where percentages rose to 22 % and 13 % respectively, with top‑100 markets outpacing the national average. Conversely, women’s representation among sales managers stalled at 35 % nationwide, a flat year‑over‑year figure that fell from 43 % in top markets the previous cycle. The stagnation in sales leadership suggests structural barriers remain, while the modest rise in programming indicates incremental acceptance of women in content‑driven positions. Together, these mixed signals reveal uneven progress across the radio hierarchy. Addressing these gaps will require intentional recruitment and transparent reporting.

Industry executives should view the MIW findings as a call to embed diversity metrics into promotion pipelines and to sponsor mentorship programs that target sales and technical tracks, which remain under‑represented. Advertisers increasingly favor stations with inclusive leadership, linking gender balance to audience relevance and brand safety. As the radio market confronts digital disruption, companies that accelerate female advancement may gain strategic agility and fresh perspectives. Continued monitoring through MIW’s longitudinal study will be essential to gauge whether policy interventions translate into measurable gains. Stakeholders can leverage this data to benchmark progress against peers.