Chicago Radio: Tribune Highlights Women In Male-Dominated Industry

Mix 101.9 FM Studio

Struck by what it says is a number of high-profile women departing radio jobs, the Chicago Tribune interviewed three dozen women in Chicago radio over the past 10 months, finding both enthusiasm for their work and widespread frustration with what many described as a male-dominated business. Ten women said they left their jobs because they were not happy with the way they were treated, while other female voices were reduced or silenced because of cost-cutting efforts by radio companies — including during the pandemic.

In Chicago, some station audiences can go hours without hearing a female host, according to the lengthy Tribune story.

“It’s unfortunate. The voices on the radio should reflect the community that they serve. Not only is it bad for women, but it’s bad for people of color,” said Lisa Dent, who lost her midday host job at WEBG  95.5 FM in September 2020 when the iHeartMedia station transitioned from country to rock. The Country Radio Hall of Fame inductee is currently heard on WGN 720 AM. “Outside of the Black radio stations in town, which are hugely successful and have great talent, you don’t hear many (Black) voices, especially women.”

Veteran radio personality Trish Biondo — a mainstay at WUSN-FM 99.5 until her 2013 exit — told the Tribune she had a “fabulous career” with “many wonderful bosses and co-workers” but left the country station after more than 27 years because of what she described as a “culture of unprofessionalism” that stemmed from station management’s attempt “to be edgier.”

Biondo said in a statement that before her departure she was “consistently presented” with material to talk about on air she “felt was degrading to women” and received a suggestion from one of her bosses to pose for a “strategically covered topless photo” for the station. Biondo, who now serves on the board of advisers for Loyola University’s School of Communication, also described the photo suggestion and other alleged incidents in a Facebook post in 2017, as the #MeToo movement gained steam.

“There are things that women have to deal with in radio that I think women have to deal with in every profession. You ignore it, overlook it and even laugh at it until one day you say it’s not worth it,” Biondo wrote to the Tribune. “When you leave, the standard line is ‘she wants to be with her family.’ The part they’re leaving out is ‘because it’s not worth being away from family to work in an environment like this.’ ”

When Biondo left US99, it and six other stations in the Chicago market were owned by CBS Radio, which merged with Philadelphia-based Entercom Communications in November 2017. One of several out-of-town broadcasting giants that operate multiple stations in Chicago, Entercom recently changed its name to Audacy.

Audacy declined to comment on alleged incidents from when CBS Radio owned its stations. In a statement to the Tribune, Audacy said “providing a working environment where employees of all genders, race and backgrounds thrive is a top priority, and we do not tolerate any forms of discrimination or harassment.”

➤Read More Here.