International Women’s Rights Day in the Electronic Music World, a Montreal Case

Interview by Léa Dieghi
Genres and styles : Electronic

Additional Information

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“Globally, only 30% of festival bookings were female, while 58.5% were male. In 2023 in the U.S., only 6.5% of music producers were women, and the global gender pay gap remains around 20%, with even high-ranking women earning less than their male counterparts for the same work.” 

In the context of International Women’s Rights Day, March 8th, our collaborator Léa Dieghi could talk with the collective Women of the Industry, where Regularfantasy, alongside Karaba, Ekitwanda, and Duchess, will be performing on March 8th. The show will feature a mix of DJ performances, VJ projects, and burlesque acts—delivering high-energy, sensual performances throughout the night, all led, of course, by women. Providing key insights about their organization, as well as educational facts on the role of women in the industry, let’s dive into their vision together. 

PAN M 360 :  Can you tell me more about your organization? When did it start, and who are the key figures in your collective? 

Women of the Industry: Women of the Industry began as an idea from one of our collective’s members, Elisa, four years ago. She wanted to host an event on March 8th, International Women’s Rights Day, to celebrate and support women in the nightlife industry. The following year, Elisa—known to friends as Zaza—reached out to us, Catherine and Margaux, the creators of PeachClub, to help organize the first full-scale edition. This version featured an all-female lineup of DJs, burlesque performers, and local vendors, transforming the event into a true celebration of women in the scene.For the past two years, it has evolved into an annual co-production with Moment Factory. 

PAN M 360 : Your concept revolves around the role of women in the electronic music industry, right? Can you tell me more about how this idea came to life?

Women of the Industry: The reality of women’s place in the nightlife industry is, to put it mildly, problematic. A quick glance at our Instagram page (@womenoftheindustry) reveals some telling statistics about the ongoing gender gap. For example, globally, only 30% of festival bookings were female, while 58.5% were male. In 2023 in the U.S., only 6.5% of music producers were women, and the global gender pay gap remains around 20%, with even high-ranking women earning less than their male counterparts for the same work.  When you consider these statistics and the broader political climate, it’s clear why we feel it’s essential to create events that amplify women’s voices and give them the space they deserve. 

PAN M 360:  What performances are planned for this edition? What kind of atmosphere do you want to create? 

Women of the industry: Like last year, we’ll be collaborating with Arabesque Burlesque, a bilingual burlesque school based in Montreal that takes an inclusive and intersectional feminist approach to its programming. They’ll be bringing high-energy, sensual performances throughout the night, including gogo dancers and both solo and duo burlesque acts. These performances will be enhanced by a groundbreaking VJ project created by Moment Factory’s Innovation Team, led—of course—by a woman. The project combines AI technology with real-time image creation and projection, immersing partygoers in a visually stunning atmosphere where performers and the audience seamlessly blend together. Our goal is to create an unforgettable dancefloor experience that feels immersive, inclusive, and electric. 

PAN M 360:  What is your long-term vision for Women of the Industry? What do you hope to achieve? 

Women of the Industry : At its core, Women of the Industry is about giving women a platform—helping them build connections, create new opportunities, and reach their full potential in this industry and beyond. To stay updated on what’s coming next, we encourage everyone to follow PeachClub (@tastethepeach) and Elisa (@turnt) on Instagram. Also, Don’t forget to follow the wonderful Regularfantasy, on Instagram, but also on Bandcamp, Spotify and Soundcloud.

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