Where Do Women Fit in Country Music?

I've been asking myself that a lot these days. In Canada, the problem is not too big of an issue, but in the USA, country radio seems to have all but banned women from their stations. It's so heartbreaking and absolutely ridiculous. 

From an artist's perspective, it's devastating to work so hard on your album to then have to fight to possibly get any airtime on any major radio station. If you can't get your music out there, nobody is going to buy it. No one will care enough to pay for a ticket to come to your concert. Radio plays a huge part in an artist's success.

From  a songwriter's perspective, when we are asked to write a song for a female artist, I really don't see the point. I mean, I'm a girls girl. I support other women and cheer them on for all their successes in life, but if I want to get a cut on somebody's album, I am better off to write for a male artist. My chances go up 80%, especially if it's an uptempo number. My practical side just likes the odds better.

But the point I am trying to make is that this whole female discrimination by country radio is not acceptable. I would never say, let's remove most of the male artists from radio and make it all about the ladies. I believe we need balance and fair consideration when it comes to choosing what music should be decreed worthy of radio airplay.  This isn't the stone ages and I am pretty sure women were declared equal to men back in the 1920's.

Anyway, it is safe to say I don't like it, not one little bit.