Ben Turner, co‑founder of the International Music Summit and the Association for Electronic Music, addressed the challenges of representation in electronic music in a recent interview. He highlighted that promoters can no longer claim lack of excuse for imbalanced lineups and emphasized the need for long‑term investment in new talent.
The discussion noted that debates around gender balance often become heated, with comment threads and panel soundbites simplifying complex arguments about lineup composition, studio access, mentorship and safety. Turner suggested that opening the floor to varied perspectives can foster broader understanding, even if consensus remains elusive.
As first reported by Attack Magazine, Turner questioned whether a smaller pool of women and gender‑diverse DJs makes balanced lineups unrealistic, or if the two issues are unrelated, urging the industry to consider both talent development and equitable representation.