Moogfest: Leading the Charge for Gender Diversity in Music Festivals
Music festivals face a serious issue: all-male acts dominate 70% of this summer’s biggest lineups, according to Pitchfork. While organizers recognize the problem, they say change takes time. In February, 45 international festivals and conferences pledged to achieve 50/50 representation by 2022. Recently, another 40 joined them. But Moogfest, a unique music and tech festival in Durham, North Carolina, has already made male performers the minority.
A Festival with a Mission
Moogfest, taking place from May 17-20, features dozens of electronic artists across local venues. It also offers daytime programming, much of it free and open to the public. Kelela headlines and leads an afternoon talk. Jenny Hval discusses performance and invites attendees to bring found sounds to her session before her live set. Umfang, cofounder of Discwoman, hosts a vinyl DJ 101 session. Norwegian duo Smerz will teach using melody and vocals in electronic music. Male artists like Jon Hopkins and KRS-One will also perform. However, Moogfest stands out with a lineup where male artists are the minority.
Honoring Bob Moog’s Legacy
The festival’s blend of music and tech skill-sharing honors Bob Moog, the engineer whose synthesizers shaped decades of music, from Donna Summer to Nine Inch Nails. As the electronic music industry, which Moog helped build, faces criticism for being too white, male, and straight, Moogfest aims to be part of the solution. By booking a lineup that favors female and LGBTQ acts, Moogfest leads by example.
Commitment to Inclusivity
“Moogfest’s lineup over the past decade showcases luminaries from Laurie Anderson to Moor Mother,” says Moogfest President and Owner Parag Bhandari. “They embrace Bob Moog’s legacy as an inventor, humanist, scientist, and musician.” Lorna-Rose Simpson, Moogfest’s Director of Programming, adds, “Inclusivity is at the core of Moogfest. It’s who we are as a festival and as a platform for our community of musicians, creators, technologists, activists, and audiences.”
Navigating the Challenges of Inclusion
Inclusion remains a sensitive topic. Prioritizing non-male talent sparked controversy. Last December, Moogfest released an early lineup poster featuring exclusively female and LGBTQ artists. Caroline Polachek, who had greater fame with her former band Chairlift, reacted with frustration, tweeting, “I don’t need a sympathy pedestal.” Although more acts were announced later, Polachek left the festival. Other female performers also expressed concerns about being used as a marketing gimmick.
However, as Moogfest nears and the full schedule is out, it’s clear that women, people of color, and non-binary performers are not sidelined. Emma Olson of Umfang and Discwoman notes that the initial lineup announcement “wasn’t tacky.” Moogfest did not congratulate itself on inclusivity. “They just said, ‘Here’s our first wave of announcements.’ I think that’s cool.”
Authentic Partnerships
Olson values partnerships that offer exposure to women and minorities. Her relationship with Moogfest feels authentic and meaningful. “It’s really in line with what we want to do. It’s educational. It encourages young people to learn something that feels guarded. Learning to use musical instruments and synthesizers is a powerful form of expression.”
Moogfest provides not just a platform but also access to equipment. Last year, Moog gave Discwoman’s artists like Stud1nt and DJ Haram free DFAM synthesizers, which usually cost $679. Olson notes, “The easiest way for Moog to reach a younger, more diverse market is to give people synths and show other types of people using them.”