The results of this study reveal a dismally low level of minority and female ownership of radio stations in America that has left two-thirds of the U.S. population with few stations representing their communities or serving their needs. Racial or ethnic minorities own just 7.7 percent of all full-power commercial broadcast radio stations, though they account for 33 percent of the U.S. population.
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- Latinos own just 2.9 percent of all U.S. full-power commercial broadcast radio stations.
- African-Americans own only 3.4 percent of this country's full-power commercial broadcast radio stations.
- People of Asian descent own less than 1 percent of full-power commercial broadcast radio stations.
Listen to the press conference announcing the release of the report featuring FCC Commissioners Michael Copps and Johnathan Adelstein, Gloria Steinem, and Civil Rights leaders.
Our previous study, Out of the Picture, found that minority ownership of broadcast television stations was similarly anemic -- people of color own just 3.3 percent of stations.
These groups' level of radio station ownership is only slightly higher, despite the fact that the cost of operating a radio station is dramatically lower than a TV station. Moreover, radio station ownership is very low compared to the levels seen in other commercial industry sectors.
Minority-Owned Stations Thrive in Less-Concentrated Markets
Our analysis suggests that minority-owned stations thrive in markets that are less concentrated. Markets minority owners have fewer stations per owner on average than markets without them.
- The probability that a particular station will be minority-owned is significantly lower in more concentrated markets.
- The probability that a particular market will contain minority-owned station is significantly lower in more concentrated markets.
Allowing further industry consolidation will unquestionably diminish the number of female- and minority-owned stations. The FCC should seriously consider these consequences before enacting any policies that could further concentration.
Ownership and Programming Diversity: A Case Study of Talk Radio
Though the focus of this study was on structural ownership, recent controversy surrounding remarks by two prominent talk radio hosts —Rush Limbaugh and Don Imus — spurred an examination talk radio programming on minority- and female-owned stations. We found:
- No minority-owned stations aired "Imus in the Morning" at the time of its cancellation.
- All minority-owned stations and minority-owned talk and news format stations were significantly less likely to air "The Rush Limbaugh Show."
- Having a minority-owned station in a market was significantly correlated with a market airing bothconservative and progressive programming.
- Overall, markets that aired both conservative and progressive hosts were significantly less concentrated that markets that aired just one type of programming.
These results suggest that diversity in ownership leads to diversity in programming content. This result may seem obvious. But policymakers may have forgotten the reason behind ownership rules and limits on consolidation: Increasing diversity and localism in ownership will produce more diverse speech, more choice for listeners, and more owners who are responsive to their local communities.
There are more links to the actual studies and how to defend media diversity at the link below. Good info this audio addict likes to be aware of. :-)
5 comments:
Only 12 percent of the U.S. are African American's. So you think that Radio Stations should be owned 50/50 in this country? Are you aware of the money involved to get approval, location and rules that you must follow to get certified? Guess not. And IMUS has nothing to do with this situation. Another uneducated observation that proves the point that IMUS was set up. Many or most African/American's don't listen to IMUS. So why so much hatred for the man? If IMUS does not come back on terrestrial radio stations, there will be chances for African/American's to buy them. Due only to lack of sponsorship.
Good Luck
I appreciate your thoughts about this, Anon. I believe both Rush Limbaugh and Imus were mentioned, it wasn't Imus alone.
But that wasn't the point. The point was, as you helped point out, is money, as well as availability.
Thanks again for your thoughts on this!
~Dani
Was looking through the summary of the report, and another thing to point out is this:
• Women own just 6 percent of all full-power commercial broadcast radio stations, even though
they comprise 51 percent of the U.S. population.
A little more than 12 percent. :-)
As I said in the post, good information to be aware of.
~Dani
What would be valuable information is the ethnic breakdown of podcasts and the variety of topics that break down culturally.
Since podcasts don't shut people down through any kind of corporate structure, but rather strictly through financial means, is there more or less minority involvement?
Searching for correlation between radio vs podcasting, finding none and moving on.
The greatest fear I have of diversity, is the lack there of in the United States what with Rupert Murdock buying up everything.
Lack of diversity is what got Don Imus fired, not what he said. Look at it now. Taking his place is a political pundit, Joe "In the Morning" Scarborough. Ain't that a kick?
Joe will be able to say what he wants, to whomever he wants, anyway he wants, why?
Because he is the predominate majority in broadcasting, and furthermore, not liberal.
To degree Don Imus was and that made him a target.
Toward the last question here. There is much more involvement by minorities in the blogosphere if you care to venture into that realm. Google the word afrosphere to equate yourself and get your own answers.
-=t=-
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