Kari Hedlund

The Music Director since 2014, Kari (pronounced Car-ee) Hedlund oversees the music programming and content you hear each day on KAXE. She hosts Headwaters every Wednesday (9 a.m. and 10 p.m.), occasionally on Mondays, and is co-host to Heidi Holtan on the Thursday Morning Show.

Kari oversees all programming and web content related to music for this rural community, people-powered radio station. She has participated in many panels over the years at various industry conferences discussing the importance of equity and community, and its place in public radio, particularly the impact in rural areas.

KAXE has worked toward a 50-50 gender representation on the air since the early 2000s. Kari has continued to push that as a priority into this next era, along with expanding into equity of all kinds on the air and within festival and concert lineups.

Kari also coordinates Grand Rapids Riverfest, held each September on the banks of the Mississippi River. A venue with a 3,500 person capacity, she leads the charge on artists each year, booking, marketing and community efforts, along with day of details.

She also coordinates and books other KAXE events throughout the year including Kick It With KAXE, Beltrami Block Party, various concert series' presented by KAXE like Live at the Historic Chief Theater, summer concerts under the tent at KAXE, CenterStage MN series at the Reif Center, and other one-time shows.