Minor Keys
Gender, Inequality and Work In Electronic Music
1st Edition
Published on 9. October 2025
Book
Hardback
218 pages
978-1-5292-4041-2 (ISBN)
Description
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.
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.
Reviews / Votes
"Minor Keys is written in approachable prose, and Parsley's research is interwoven with extensive personal anecdotes in the very communities she researches. Drawing on original survey and interview research, Parsley highlights the varied experiences and challenges faced by women, people of color, and gender-expansive artists." CHOICE "This is the book I needed to be written. Parsley dismantles the myths and stereotypes limiting women and gender minorities in electronic music, introducing the powerful theory of ameliorative work. This is an important conceptual contribution which will be invaluable to inequality researchers and sociologists across music and other creative sectors", Vick Bain, Music industry campaigner and researcher, and Queen Mary University of London "A powerful and personal exploration of gender inequality in electronic music. Samantha Parsley combines academic depth with lived experience to expose the hidden labour women, trans and non-binary artists must do to survive in a male-dominated industry. A vital, original and hopeful call for change that we have all been working so hard for. offering much-needed blueprints for a more inclusive future." Eve Horne, Founder, We Are The Unheard CIC/Senate & Board Director Ivor's Academy/ BPI Equity & Justice Advisory Group (EJAG) MemberMore details
Edition
First Edition
Language
English
Place of publication
Bristol
United Kingdom
Product notice
Unsewn / adhesive bound
Cloth over boards
Illustrations
Not illustrated
Dimensions
Height: 234 mm
Width: 156 mm
Thickness: 14 mm
Weight
485 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-5292-4041-2 (9781529240412)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
10/2025
1st Edition
Bristol University Press
€22.49
Available for download
Book
10/2025
1st Edition
Bristol University Press
€19.00
Shipment within 3-4 weeks
Person
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.
Content
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
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