by Abigail Alty and Dalie Brisson
An examination of gender, sexuality, race, ethnicity and nationality in Canadian Active Rock radio.
In reviewing Watson’s (2019) analysis of gender representation in Canadian country music radio, we learned that between 2005 and 2018 female artists received less airplay than male artists, and had a decreasing presence on Canadian country radio. We were disappointed with the results, but wondered if this was an issue concerning country music radio exclusively. Through a preliminary review of the literature, we discovered that active rock radio is also an overwhelmingly male format (Crider, 2020). Through this project, we set out to analyze not only the gender representation in active rock radio, but to draw on data feminist principles to seek out and highlight the Black, Indigenous, and musicians of colour (BIPOC); two-spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (2SLGBTQ+) musicians; and non-binary musicians that are charting a new path in active rock radio.