Female disc jockeys History of radio disc jockeys

dj alison steele

in u.s., radio dj profession historically male-dominated, beginning in top 40 era, female disc jockeys became more common. judy dibble on wdgy in minneapolis started sidekick male dj in mid 1960s , later went on host own dj show.

alison steele began career @ wnew-fm in late 1960s. responding ad female disk jockeys, steele auditioned 800 other women , chosen 3 others launch woman format. when wnew abandoned format in 1967 after 18‐month trial, steele 1 asked stay on. late night show host, steele created on-air persona, calling herself nightbird . popularity grew, drawing average nightly audience of 78,000. in 1976, steele first woman chosen billboard magazine fm personality of year , , instrumental in promoting performers such moody blues. worked announcer search tomorrow , producer @ cnn, returning wnew in 1984. in later years, known grand dame of new york night .

maxanne sartori first female progressive rock dj on kol-fm in seattle , subsequently hired in 1970 afternoon dj wbcn-fm in boston. sartori has been credited influencing success of artists such aerosmith , cars.

in 1973, yvonne daniels first female dj hired wls (am) in chicago. wabc (am) in new york hired dj liz kiley in 1979.

dj karen begin (aka darien o toole) credited being first female shock jock. promoted herself morning beyotch , antidote howard stern on show on san francisco radio stations ksan , kfrc-fm in late 1990s.

less handful of women employed radio djs in britain before 1970s. dj annie nightingale hosted progressive rock show on bbc radio 1 in 1969. in 1998, zoe ball began hosting bbc s key breakfast show slot, followed sarah cox in 2000.