Please find various links to Media coverage of our work at Why Not Her? Our Campaign is now one of the biggest Gender and Equality campaigns in music industry history, gathering over 220+ Million Impressions and Audience reach of our reports. We’d like to thank everyone who has supported us and who has not been afraid of joining us in asking the question Why Not Her?
May 2025: RTÉ Culture Op-Ed and Chapter extract of Linda Coogan Byrne’s new book Why Not Her? A Manifesto For Culture Change
https://www.rte.ie/culture/2025/0526/1514650-why-its-time-to-tune-into-irelands-female-musicians
May 2025: BBC Woman’s Hour radio show with Linda Coogan Byrne. This years event sees the 70th Ivor Novello awards taking place at Grosvenor House in London. They are coveted in the UK music industry because they specifically celebrate songwriting. Singer-songwriter Lola Young leads the nominations this year including one for ‘best song musically and lyrically’ for her breakthrough hit Messy, which spent a month at number one in the UK earlier this year. Does this spell good news for women in the music industry? Anita Rani is joined by Linda Coogan-Byrne to discuss.
https://www.bbc.com/audio/play/m002cfk3
April 2025: Irish Independent Newspaper, 4 page interview https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/music/this-dj-said-look-at-imelda-may-i-mean-shes-a-bit-long-in-the-tooth-to-be-releasing-music-sexism-in-the-irish-music-industry/a1032547692.html
April 2024: Irish Examiner Interview with Linda Coogan Byrne
JAN 2025: SUNDAY WORLD, ran article on our Top 100 Song of the year findings: https://www.sundayworld.com/showbiz/irish-showbiz/hozier-hit-most-played-on-irish-radio-set-against-background-of-criticism-over-gender-balance/a1876619195.html
SEPT Issue: IQ Magazine, UK, 8 page special on the Irish Live Music Scene featuring interview with Linda Coogan Byrne of Why Not Her?
AUGUST Issue: Totally Dublin four page interview with Linda Coogan Byrne of Why Not Her?
JUNE 2024: DISTRICT MAGAZINE WHY NOT HER SPECIAL: We Need To Talk About Irish Radio’s Representation Problem
JUNE 2024: IMAGE MAGAZINE: In 2024, just one living female Irish artist has made the top 100 on Irish radio.
JUNE 2024: THE IRISH EXAMINER: WEEKEND MAGAZINE SPECIAL EDITORIAL OP ED PIECE
June 2024: THE IRISH TIMES: “Irish female artists make up just 2% of most-played songs on Irish radio in past year – report”
MAY 2024: IMAGE MAGAZINE SUMMER EDITION 3 PAGE INTERVIEW EXCLUSIVE
Feb 2024: Linda Coogan Byrne founder of Why Not Her? wrote an editorial piece, for The Journal, on Ireland’s Eurovision star Bambie Thug and outlined the gender discrimination that they experienced by the Irish broadcasting sector.
Feb 2024: Linda Coogan Byrne founder of Why Not Her? chats with The Forty-Five about the findings of the Women & Equality report into music industry misogyny. “What is the point of claiming inclusivity if you’re only platforming neurotypical white middle-class women, or if no attention is paid to the women behind the scenes?” Read here: https://thefortyfive.com/opinion/women-and-equality-report-music-industry/
Jan 2024: Women and Equalities Committee Misogyny in music report is published. Featuring data compiled by Why Not Her? and other organisations and collectives.
Jan 2024: Irish Central.
Irish artists in the minority of Irish radio’s most-played songs of 2023
Campaign collective Why Not Her? says the breakdown of Irish artists against international artists on Irish radio in 2023 is “not good enough.” Read Full article and interview here:
Jan 2024: Irish Independent: Weekend.
If Sinéad O’Connor was starting out today, would she get on Ireland’s male-dominated radio playlists?
One beautiful Irish artist was described as ‘a bit long in the tooth’ to be releasing a new album — a statement that nobody has ever made about Bob Dylan. Read Full article and interview in the Independent here:
Jan 2024: Irish Independent: Saturday Edition
‘We’ll never have another Sinéad O’Connor unless Irish radio gets its act together’ – Just 3pc of top tracks on airwaves are by Irish women. Artists join call for gender equality to help pave path for next generation. Read Full article and interview in the Independent here:
Jan 2024:
The great disappearing act: Irish female musicians
Radio stations have been disappearing Irish female musicians for years and it’s only getting worse. Read full article in The Irish Examiner here:
Only one in every four songs on Irish radio is by an Irish artist. Just 6 per cent of the top 100 were by Irish female artists – The Irish Times Exclusive on the 2023 Irish radio Report, June 2023. Read here: https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2023/06/14/why-is-it-still-so-hard-for-women-and-people-of-colour-to-get-airplay-on-irish-radio/
Linda and Áine from Why Not Her? pen an obituary for Sinéad O Connor for The Irish Examiner in July 2023.
https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-41192554.html
In June 2023, Linda Coogan Byrne spoke to The Telegraph about the future of radio. Read article here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/what-to-listen-to/tiktok-radio-1-harry-styles-kylie-minogue-lil-nas-x-youtube/
In March 2023 The Independent UK did a big piece on Glastonbury Headliners and the gender inequality across the line up quoting our data reports
In March 2023, Linda Coogan Byrne spoke to The Irish Sun National Newspaper about her Book being hacked in order to highlight how activists are targeted when they speak up.
Read Full Interview here: https://www.thesun.ie/news/10370810/cyber-bullies-fake-profiles-scam-book-irish-music-dublin/
In Feb 2023 Dr Laura Watson published an academic article on new Wave Feminism in Music – Feminist Musical Activism in Ireland (2016–21) and Feminist Musicology, highlighting the work carried out by Linda Coogan Byrne and Why Not Her? Full Link to article here: https://www.ictm.ie/feminist-musical-activism-in-ireland-2016-21-and-feminist-musicology-laura-watson/
In Jan 2023 Buzz.ie issued an article on our recent Report that detailed the Most Played Songs On Irish radio in 2022: https://www.buzz.ie/music/radio-airplay-chart-ireland-2022-28862133
In Jan 2023 WNH collective issued press release and data report on most played Irish songs of the year: https://www.corkindependent.com/2023/01/13/air-waves-are-not-our-waves/
In Jan 2023 The Star Newspaper did a two-page piece on our recent Report that detailed the Most Played Songs On Irish radio in 2022:
Oct 2022, The Green Party Ireland announce a new Media Regulations Bill https://www.greenparty.ie/news/young-girls-cannot-aim-be-what-they-cannot-see-or-hear-minister-martin-introduces-measures?fbclid=IwAR3qm6OOzb6JHGttepHeQsH9wVvZg6B3q2Jv08p4G4ofOd2_wGJi4cJoMek
Oct 2022, Irish Examiner article – Gender balance in broadcast media – The 2015 National Women’s Council of Ireland Report ‘Hearing Women’s Voices?’ examined news and current affairs programmes on Irish radio and reported a 28:72 ratio of women to men participating in discussions. The ‘Why Not Her?’ Collective has also highlighted the inequality of airplay given to female versus male artists.
https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/politics/arid-40985852.html
Oct 2022, District magazine – Why Not Her? Gender Disparity Report reveals barriers in Irish radio
SEPT 2022, MIXMAG article on the latest annual Data Report on Uk radio: https://mixmag.net/read/new-report-gender-racial-disparity-across-british-radio-news
Sept 2022, Music Week article on the latest Data Report on Uk radio: https://www.musicweek.com/media/read/solo-male-artists-feature-in-airplay-top-100-three-time-more-than-their-female-counterparts-report-finds/086465
Sept 2022, Eastern Eye article on the latest Data Report on Uk radio: https://www.easterneye.biz/white-male-artists-still-dominate-on-air-across-the-top-20-airplay-charts-in-uk-report/
July 2022, Irish Examiner article on the latest annual Data Report: https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-40907720.html
Data collected by the WhyNotHer? campaign found that the stations most successful in achieving gender parity were Spin 103.8, Spin South West, MidWest Radio, RTÉ Radio 1, and RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta, which reached 50:50 gender parity on air last year.
Irish Times article on the 2022 Report: https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/music/2022/07/01/most-songs-on-irish-radio-are-still-by-white-male-artists/
Why Not Her? met with heads of state and the Labour party, including ministers and senators in Leinster House to deliver a new Bill of Broadcasting, that they worked together on with Labour Party Senator Marie Sherlock that urges the government to legislate for diversity, equality and inclusion on the airwaves for women, people of colour and lgbtqia+ community. https://journalofmusic.com/news/labour-bill-seeks-ensure-more-female-artists-and-voices-radio
Our #WhyNotHer social movement campaign gathered the attention of thousands of Irish citizens who sent in solidarity photos supporting the female-identifying artists and musicians of Ireland by asking the question Why Not Her? to those in broadcasting.
Rte 6:1 News also covered the story to almost a million viewers on their evening News programme. You can watch it back here: https://www.rte.ie/entertainment/2021/0128/1193752-huge-lack-of-airtime-for-female-artists-on-irish-radio/
The estimated overall coverage in audience reach for Why Not Her? Campaigns global reach: 150+ million. (As and from Dec 2021) Please see below for coverage and news items:
Exclusive 2 Page Interview with Linda Coogan Byrne for The Sunday Times: The women making waves on the radio: Irish radio stations need to get in tune with the times and give greater airplay to more female musicians, reveals a scathing report by campaigner Linda Coogan Byrne. By Lauren Murphy https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/the-women-making-waves-on-the-radio-7glrp766p
The GUARDIAN Newspaper + PRINT EDITION (ran the exclusive on the Uk Reports in 2020 and 2021)
INDEPENDENT (UK)
CRACK MAGAZINE https://crackmagazine.net/2020/08/female-artists-are-underrepresented-on-uk-radio/embed/#?secret=oKVtBjaDfg
Irish Examiner: Women in music group calls for policy change across radio stations
https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-40339823.html
‘Staggering’ disparity between genders in radio airplay
https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-40333331.html
Irish Examiner Covers the 2022 Gender Disparity Data Report: https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-40907720.html
The Journal: Top commercial stations play Irish female artists in charts at lower rate than most national radio https://www.thejournal.ie/irish-radio-gender-disparity-top-artists-5489937-Jul2021/
The Times UK: 20 Years of the Irish Singles Charts: Interview special with one of our lead researchers Winnie Ama of Why Not Her?
Hotpress: coverage of the 20 Year chart report: https://www.hotpress.com/music/why-not-her-publish-gender-and-racial-disparity-report-analysing-20-years-of-irish-singles-charts-22850224
Irish Times: feature on 20 Years of Chart report:
Celebrity Land https://celebrity.land/en/white-male-artists-dominate-irish-charts-and-radio-report-finds/embed/#?secret=k4cki9UrSf
Irish Country Magazine: here https://irishcountrymagazine.ie/irish-women-in-music-deserve-more-airplay/embed/#?secret=U7W9pQfZIV
Chordblossom IV piece with Linda Coogan Byrne of WNH?
RTE NEWS 6:1 TV covered the latest report to over 900,000 viewers in Ireland.
GCN Magazine coverage of the report with IV https://gcn.ie/whynother-launched-women-opportunities-irish-radio/embed/#?secret=2lMK58tojV
Irish Examiner; Cover the Action Plan
https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-40235069.html
Irish Examiner– feature by Clodagh Finn
https://www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/columnists/arid-40223318.html
Irish Examiner Reaction to the latest report
https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-40214618.html
Turkish Newspaper
http://mezopotamyaajansi29.com/tum-haberler/content/view/126595
Evoke, expose piece on Linda, the woman behind the campaign, full interview https://evoke.ie/2021/02/07/inspire-women-in-business/linda-coogan-byrne/embed#?secret=QRK3kEmmNa
EchoLive, Echo Cork Newspaper, print and online / in Print ran three pages/ Online here
https://www.echolive.ie/entertainment/whatson/arid-40225619.html
Irish Times Women’s Podcast w/Linda Coogan Byrne
Irish Times – Men Rules the charts
Rogue Collective magazine iv with Linda https://roguecollective.ie/post/gender-disparity-in-irish-radio-six-months-on-interview-with-linda-coogan-byrne/?loggedin=true/embed#?secret=FahEK1wpjG
Soul Doubt Magazine IV and on podcast
https://www.souldoubtmag.com/podcast/linda-coogan-byrne-gender-disparity-on-irish-and-uk-radio
Hotpress cover Jim Fitzpatrick donation https://www.hotpress.com/music/veteran-irish-artist-jim-fitzpatrick-offers-solidarity-to-why-not-her-campaign-22844590
District Magazine https://districtmagazine.ie/news/why-not-her-provide-update-on-gender-disparity-report/embed/#?secret=sn3YaZxFry
IV with Newstalk
https://www.newstalk.com/podcasts/highlights-from-moncrieff/gender-disparity-in-irish-charts
MxDWN
http://www.mxdwn.co.uk/news/a-new-report-shows-the-gender-disparity-in-the-irish-music-charts/
Musician.ie cover the latest report http://musician.ie/whynother-publish-second-report-looking-at-gender-disparity-of-irish-radio/
Irish Times IV with Linda over chart report
Nialler 9 charts report
MIXMAG
https://mixmag.net/read/new-survey-british-women-underrepresented-uk-radio-news
Music Week
Ace
https://www.aceshowbiz.com/news/view/00158607.html
Mixtape Madness
https://www.mixtapemadness.com/blog/articles/alarming-gender-disparity-in-u-k-music
BBC coverage – show on the report here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p08pxgtx
HER.ie Iv w Linda
https://www.her.ie/music/why-not-her-linda-coogan-interview-509350
Conversations about Herhttps://conversationsabouther.net/british-female-artists-are-underrepresented-on-uk-radio-according-to-gender-disparity-radio-report-music-news/embed/#?secret=ZPMDMX3NhB
La Depeche
Terra Femina
UPNEWS
AWTY MUSIC
https://www.awtymusic.com/post/why-women-get-the-blues
MSN
MU
Jakarta Post
Irish Tatler
https://irishtatler.com/news/irish-radio-gender-disparity
THE IRISH Examiner
Irish Times
Tony linked another article here: https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/music/what-are-the-best-irish-albums-of-2020-so-far-1.4291571
THE TIMES UK IV W/LINDA
IRISH INDO IV/W LINDA
THE LAST MIXED TAPE INTERVIEW W/LINDA
JOURNAL OF MUSIC
JOURNAL OF MUSIC UK REPORT
MALE RESPONSE ARTICLE ALSO RAN: https://www.hotpress.com/music/conor-obrien-alfie-hudson-taylor-and-more-react-to-report-on-gender-disparity-in-irish-radio-22821246
Evoke INTERVIEW W/LINDA
EVOKE.IEhttps://evoke.ie/2020/06/24/extra/report-gender-disparity-in-irish-radio-airplay/embed#?secret=N7BDM8EH30
THE JOURNAL.IE
https://www.thejournal.ie/music-irish-women-5131737-Jun2020/
THE THIN AIR
http://thethinair.net/2020/06/damning-report-reveals-gender-disparity-in-irish-radio-play/
DISTRICT MAGAZINE
CHORDBLOSSOM
http://www.chordblossom.com/news/gender-disparity-in-irish-radio
NIALLER9
MALE RESPONSE ARTICLE RAN ALSO: https://nialler9.com/male-artists-respond-to-the-irish-radio-gender-disparity-report/
TALK OF THE TOWN
GOLDEN PLEC
https://www.goldenplec.com/times-up-irish-female-artists-deserve-radio-play/
Create Louth
Amazing interview with Joe.ie w/Aineabout:blankEmbed URLPaste a link to the content you want to display on your site.EmbedLearn more about embeds(opens in a new tab)Sorry, this content could not be embedded.Try again Convert to link
The Jam https://www.goldenplec.com/the-irish-jam-28-june-2020/
Connacht Tribune – mentioned in https://connachttribune.ie/lockdown-proves-productive-for-newcomer-making-waves/embed/#?secret=ixhHlV6kPb
Headtopics
Just a chat podcast – coverage on the report
https://podcastaddict.com/episode/109784422
Limerick post https://www.limerickpost.ie/2020/07/22/limerick-lady-podcast-episode-20-the-angry-women-special/embed/#?secret=fIfRyOz2VC
Sunday Business Post 2 page spread in Print edition and also included in online edition here:
