Unmuted: The Transformational Leadership of Women in the Canadian Music Industry
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Authors
Bruce, Cheryl E
Date
2025-08-20
Type
thesis
Language
eng
Keyword
music , gender , leadership , Canada , women
Alternative Title
Abstract
This project explores the ways in which women enact leadership across diverse sectors of the Canadian music industry, challenging traditional, hierarchical conceptions of musical authority. Drawing on case studies of four prominent figures—Tania Miller (classical conductor), Chelsea McBride (jazz composer and bandleader), Tanya Tagaq (Inuk throat singer and performance artist), and REZZ (electronic music producer and DJ)—this study investigates how leadership is embodied, communicated, and contextualized through genre, identity, and cultural practice. Using the orchestral conductor as a template for embodied leadership, five key aspects are identified as common to each subject: charisma/presence, communication, relationships, mentorship, and musical vision.
The research is informed by interdisciplinary literature in the areas of education, media, gender, and leadership studies, offering a framework through which to understand both the systemic barriers and the enabling conditions that shape women’s paths to leadership in music. Special attention is given to how musical vision expands or reshapes genre expectations, and how cultural context influences both leadership style and public reception. While each case presents a unique trajectory, collectively they demonstrate how women are actively redefining leadership not only through their positions of influence but also through their commitment to collaboration, inclusion, and innovation.
This study contributes to the growing body of feminist and critical leadership scholarship by proposing a new model of musical leadership that integrates mentorship, career creativity, knowledge and understanding, and communication and relationships as essential, interconnected elements. Ultimately, it affirms that women are not simply participating in musical leadership but are reshaping its very meaning.
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Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International