Minor Keys: Gender, Inequality and Work in Electronic Music

Sam Parsley

Minor Keys: Gender, Inequality and Work in Electronic Music

School of Organisations, Systems and People

Research output: Book/Report › Book

Abstract

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.

Original language	English
Place of Publication	Bristol
Publisher	Bristol University Press
Number of pages	218
ISBN (Electronic)	9781529240436
ISBN (Print)	9781529240412, 9781529240429
Publication status	Published - 9 Oct 2025
Event	Inclusion : Your Secret Weapon in Club Culture - Abbey Rd Institute, Q Factory, Amsterdam, Netherlands Duration: 24 Oct 2025 → 24 Oct 2025 https://www.amsterdam-dance-event.nl/en/program/2025/abbey-road-institute-x-nexus-radio-x-in-the-key-present-inclusion-your-secret-weapon-in-club-culture/2701950/

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 5 Gender Equality
SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities

Keywords

Gender discrimination
Electronic Music
DJs
Creative Industries
Ethnography
Male-dominated industries
Qualitative research
Music

Access to Document

https://bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/minor-keys

Why digital violence remains a threat to artists
Parsley, S., 14 Jan 2026, Transforming Society.
Research output: Contribution to specialist publication › Article

Open Access

Talk to music students during 'industry week'
Parsley, S. (Speaker)
29 Jan 2026
Activity: Talk or presentation types › Invited talk
Amsterdam Dance Event
Parsley, S. (Speaker)
24 Oct 2025
Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Participation in conference
Embodying the patriarchy in Electronic Music: A diffractive analysis of embodied autoethnographic episodes
Parsley, S. (Invited speaker)
4 Sept 2025
Activity: Talk or presentation types › Invited talk
Workshop for Women in CTRL Board development programme
Parsley, S. (Invited speaker)
26 Oct 2021
Activity: Talk or presentation types › Invited talk

AlphaTheta’s Equal Beats Initiative is Battling Gender Inequality in Electronic Music
Parsley, S.
3/11/25
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Research cited
Press coverage and media appearances for Minor Keys
Parsley, S.
19/06/25 → 18/09/25
1 item of Media coverage, 2 Media contributions
Press/Media: Research cited

Cite this

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title = "Minor Keys: Gender, Inequality and Work in Electronic Music",

abstract = "What{\textquoteright}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{\textquoteright}s so-called {\textquoteleft}bro culture{\textquoteright}? This book combines the author{\textquoteright}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 {\textquoteleft}ameliorative work{\textquoteright} 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.",

keywords = "Gender discrimination, Electronic Music, DJs, Creative Industries, Ethnography, Male-dominated industries, Qualitative research, Music",

author = "Sam Parsley",

note = "Output does not have a DOI; Inclusion : Your Secret Weapon in Club Culture, ADE Launch ; Conference date: 24-10-2025 Through 24-10-2025",

year = "2025",

month = oct,

day = "9",

language = "English",

isbn = "9781529240412",

publisher = "Bristol University Press",

address = "United Kingdom",

url = "https://www.amsterdam-dance-event.nl/en/program/2025/abbey-road-institute-x-nexus-radio-x-in-the-key-present-inclusion-your-secret-weapon-in-club-culture/2701950/",

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TY - BOOK

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N2 - 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.

AB - 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.

KW - Gender discrimination

KW - Electronic Music

KW - DJs

KW - Creative Industries

KW - Ethnography

KW - Male-dominated industries

KW - Qualitative research

KW - Music

UR - https://bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/minor-keys

M3 - Book

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SN - 9781529240429

BT - Minor Keys

PB - Bristol University Press

CY - Bristol

Y2 - 24 October 2025 through 24 October 2025

ER -

Minor Keys: Gender, Inequality and Work in Electronic Music

Abstract

UN SDGs

Keywords

Access to Document

Fingerprint

Research output

Why digital violence remains a threat to artists

Activities

Talk to music students during 'industry week'

Amsterdam Dance Event

Embodying the patriarchy in Electronic Music: A diffractive analysis of embodied autoethnographic episodes

Workshop for Women in CTRL Board development programme

Press/Media

AlphaTheta’s Equal Beats Initiative is Battling Gender Inequality in Electronic Music

Press coverage and media appearances for Minor Keys

Cite this