AI analysis of 74 US radio stations reveals 77% male speaking time
Men dominate radio airtime 7:1, even during commutes, per 1,400-hour study.
Researchers analyzed over 1,400 hours from 74 US news and talk radio stations using VANPY, an in-house voice-analysis framework that is publicly available. Results show male speakers accounted for 77% of total speaking time (SD = 6.8%). During commute periods, female speaking time was approximately 7.5–9.5 minutes per hour compared to about 30.6–32.9 minutes for male speakers. Female representation was lowest in "Talk Show Segments" at 10.8% and highest in "Entertainment News" at 35.8%. The tool provides a systematic approach for analyzing large-scale audio data.
- Men speak 77% of airtime on US news/talk radio (SD=6.8%) across 74 stations and 1,400+ hours.
- During commute hours, women get only 7.5–9.5 minutes of speaking time per hour vs. 30.6–32.9 minutes for men.
- Female representation ranges from 10.8% in talk show segments to 35.8% in entertainment news; VANPY is publicly available.
Why It Matters
Open-source AI tool quantifies persistent gender imbalance in mass media, enabling data-driven advocacy and policy changes.