Published
Nov 1, 2025Page count
192 pagesISBN
978-1529240429Dimensions
234 x 156 mmImprint
Bristol University PressPublished
Nov 1, 2025Page count
192 pagesISBN
978-1529240412Dimensions
234 x 156 mmImprint
Bristol University PressPublished
Nov 1, 2025Page count
192 pagesISBN
978-1529240436Dimensions
234 x 156 mmImprint
Bristol University Press
Minor Keys
What’s it like to work in the male-dominated world of electronic music? How do women and gender-expansive music producers and DJs thrive despite clubland’s so-called ‘bro culture’? This book combines the author’s personal journey into DJing and music production with insights from a six-year immersive research project and interviews with 63 global artists to explore the challenges women and gender-expansive artists face in the industry.
The book tackles common myths around gender, technology and cultural production head on, introducing the concept of ‘ameliorative work’ to recognise the continual and considerable additional work that minoritized genders do in order to succeed.
Engaging, accessible and thought-provoking, this book is a must-read for anyone interested in electronic music, the sociology of the contemporary club scene or diversity issues for workers in the creative industries.
Samantha Parsley is a writer, coach, DJ and founder of In the Key a directory and platform championing the careers of women, trans and non-binary electronic music producers (www.inthekey.org). She is Professor of Organization Studies at the University of Portsmouth and coaches research-led writers as Curious View (www.curiousview.co.uk). Samantha DJs and produces music as Dovetail and lives with her husband on the south coast of England.
Prelude
1. Introduction: Being a Gender Minority in Electronic Music
2. There Aren’t Any Women Producers
3. Good Music Is All That Matters
4. But… Nobody Discriminates!?
5. Positive Action Is Just Not Fair
6. Women Don’t Make Their Own Music
7. Girls Just Aren’t Into Tech
8. Women Just Need To Be More Confident
9. Conclusion and Manifestos for an Inclusive Industry
Appendix. Knowing the Industry Inside-Out
