A new study by Free Press reports that

for every female-owned radio station in the country, the average market has 16 stations owned by white men. For each minority-owned station, the average market has eight stations owned by white men

This means that although 51 percent of all Americans are women only 6 percent of all full-power radio and TV stations are owned by women. Similarly, ethnic minorities make up 33 percent of the population but only have ownership of 7.2 percent of TV and radio stations.

By comparison women own 28 percent of all non-farm businesses in the US, while minorities own 18 percent of such businesses.

The lack of diversity is even greater when it comes to TV ownership.

Hispanics represent 14.4 percent of the US population but only 1.1 percent of TV stations are owned by this minority. Similarly, blacks constitute 12.8 percent but have ownership of only 1.3 percent of stations.

The authors of the report state that media consolidation is

one of the key structural factors keeping women and minorities from accessing the public airwaves

The growing disparity in minority media ownership has occurred despite a federal court telling the FCC several years ago to pay more attention to issues of minority and female ownership.

This report was released also at an time when there are serious concerns that minority ownership will decline further as the FCC considers approving three new significant media moves: News Corp.’s proposed Wall Street Journal buyout, the merger of satellite radio rivals XM and Sirius, and Sam Zell’s proposed acquisition of Tribune.