At Clubbing TV, we LOVE Ibiza. We have a studio, are broadcasted on the TDT, we have a team, a lot of friends and tons of amazing memories. Yet, amid the euphoria, a pressing question echoes:
Where are the women DJS?
This year, we turned the spotlight toward this glaring query, meticulously parsing through the season’s lineups.
Our aim? To quantify what many have sensed but not measured—the gender disparity in Ibiza’s DJ booths.
Fully cognizant of Ibiza’s unique market dynamics, our intention isn’t to cast blame or shame upon any individual or entity within the vibrant ecosystem that defines this iconic club scene. Instead, we see a substantial margin for progress—an opportunity to elevate and amplify the presence of women, both local and international, behind the decks. It’s a call to trust in the immense talent and draw of female DJs, to foster environments where diversity isn’t just a token but a testament to the industry’s evolution.
Armed with data from Ibiza Spotlight, we handpicked every artist from June to September 2023. It was a long task, tallying names across the island’s famed clubs—Pacha, Amnesia, Hï, Ushuaia, Eden, O Beach, Ibiza Rocks, DC10, and Club Chinois.
With a keen eye and a count by count approach, we’ve distilled the lineups into hard stats. As you read on, bear in mind the human element of our endeavor; the possibility of error exists, albeit slight. This is our honest, transparent breakdown of the times women took the stage in a world dominated by men.
Here’s the club-by-club breakdown that underpins this year’s gender representation on the island:
(All the excels we made are available on demand)
- Pacha: Out of 182 DJs, only 30 were women, which is 16.48%.
- Amnesia: With 286 total appearances, women took 68 spots, marking 23.77%.
- Hï Ibiza: Women represented 20.40%, with 70 out of 343 DJs.
- Ushuaia: A mere 10,79% with only 23 female DJs out of 213 total.
- Eden: Hosting 260 DJs, 40 were women, reaching 15.38%.
- O Beach: Had 107 DJs with 17 women, accounting for 15.89%.
- Ibiza Rocks: Here, 38 out of 152 DJs were women, totaling 25% – the highest among the clubs.
- DC10: Saw 24.34% female representation with 56 out of 230 DJs.
- Club Chinois: With 283 appearances, women made up 21.20%, with 60 female DJs.
Subsequently, we refined our analysis to ensure uniqueness among performers, removing any duplicates of artists who graced stages across multiple clubs. This process led us to a consolidated total of 1,336 distinct performances, providing a clearer, more accurate representation of Ibiza’s club scene dynamics.
Out of these 1,336 performances, 289 were by women and non-binary DJs.
While there’s a margin for error due to the manual collection method, the figures are a call to action for more balanced representation.
Now let’s crawl to what 2024 starts to look like :
Those are the only parties we found that had announced their full lineups.
Pyramid (Amnesia) : 35.48% (22 women 40 MEN)
Ants (Ushuaïa Ibiza) : 22% (17 women 61 men)
Camelphat (Pacha Ibiza) : 15% (5 women 29 men)
Defected (Ushuaïa Ibiza) : 14% (11 women 69 men)
Glitterbox (Hï Ibiza) : 18% (17 women 79 men)
Addressing the elephant in the room, the rationale often cited for this disparity is market-driven: clubs prioritize artists believed to draw the largest crowds and, consequently, sell the most tickets. However, this argument is increasingly threadbare in the 2023/24 season. The electronic music landscape is rich with talented female DJs, whose presence and prowess are undeniable. The issue is not a lack of available talent but rather the opportunities afforded to them.
With more female artists than ever before, ready to lead the night and captivate audiences, the persistently low representation is not just disappointing—it’s a glaring missed opportunity for the industry to evolve.
In conclusion, it’s time to turn the conversation towards the gatekeepers of Ibiza’s nightlife: the bookers and club owners. The question isn’t just about highlighting the disparity in gender representation; it’s about understanding the rationale behind these booking decisions. By engaging in open dialogues, we aim to uncover the barriers that exist and work collaboratively towards dismantling them.
This is a call to action—not just for those in positions of power but for women and non-binary artists as well. The stage is vast, and there’s room for everyone.
So, let’s challenge the status quo, foster inclusivity, and ensure that the decks of Ibiza echo with the diversity of its audience. Women and non-binary artists, the time is now: come and claim your space in the spotlight.
