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We play music every chance we get on Minnesota Now — and Wednesday, all the music we played was from female musicians.

To some, that may be no big deal. But it matters. According to the 

, only 20 percent of artists, 12 percent of songwriters and less than 3 percent of music producers on the 2020 Billboard Hot 100 Year-End Charts were women.

There are many barriers to women breaking into the industry. But there are also people committed to doing something about that. One of them is Kari Hedlund, music director at KAXE/KBXE, the community radio station in Grand Rapids, Minn., and Bemidji, Minn.

Hedlund joined host Cathy Wurzer for a conversation about the gender gap in the music industry.

Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.

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Only 20 percent of artists on the 2020 Billboard Hot 100 Year-End Charts were women. Kari Hedlund, music director at KAXE/KBXE community radio, told host Cathy Wurzer about her mission to put more music by women on the air.

Women are underrepresented in the music industry. This MN DJ is putting more women on the air.

Adia Victoria performs at Rock the Garden 2019

Women are underrepresented in music industry. This MN DJ is putting more women on air.

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