Philly Radio: Audacy Settles Gender Discrimination Case

Radio news anchor Carol MacKenzie and Audacy Media have settled their gender/age discrimination case.

MacKenzie, a veteran morning drive news anchor at KYW Newsradio (1060/103.9) in Philadelphia, filed a gender and age discrimination lawsuit against her employer, Audacy Media, in late 2023. The case alleged systemic pay disparities and unfair treatment based on gender and age.

MacKenzie claimed that for her 20-year tenure at KYW, she was paid $20,000 to $30,000 less annually than her male and/or younger coworkers for similar roles, violating the Equal Pay Act of 1963 and the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009.

A 2021-2022 investigation by SAG-AFTRA, the union representing MacKenzie and other KYW broadcasters, allegedly confirmed systemic gender-based pay violations throughout her employment.

Carol MacKenzie

In 2019, after MacKenzie raised the pay disparity issue with management, Audacy paid her a lump sum, but she was then allegedly forced to take a pay cut during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Contract disputes further fueled the case: In late 2021, MacKenzie was offered a contract renewal with a salary of $137,000 for the first year, with $3,000 raises in years two and three. She rejected this, believing it was still below her male and younger female colleagues’ pay. A revised offer of $150,000 for 2022, $152,500 for 2023, and $155,000 for 2024 was accepted, but MacKenzie maintained it did not fully address the disparity.

Initial Filing and Bankruptcy Pause: MacKenzie filed the lawsuit in late 2023 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. However, Audacy’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing in January 2024 led to an automatic stay, halting proceedings. The court administratively closed the case, with Audacy given 10 days to resume proceedings after bankruptcy reorganization or lifting of the stay.  By November 2024, after Audacy’s bankruptcy proceedings progressed, the lawsuit recommenced.

Details of the settlement have not been released.