Research on power in musical practices and institutions

Despite extensive research on inequalities in music, it remains unclear how power is conceptualised and analysed within musical contexts. The purpose of this study is to explore contemporary academic research on power in musical practices and institutions. Through a scoping literature review of peer-reviewed articles published between 2013 and 2023, the study examines how inequalities in music are framed and explored. Our findings reveal a strong emphasis on gender, race and social justice, with music education emerging as the most studied context. Despite frequent references to power, the concept is often left undefined, and research primarily highlights marginalised groups’ experiences rather than the mechanisms through which power operates, limiting the ability to address structural inequities. We suggest that future research should further engage with how power operates, is maintained and contested in musical institutions and practices, with particular attention to dominant groups, material power and institutional mechanisms shaping inequalities.