There has been some ill-informed "debate" about the fact that the vast majority of current popular rock bands are single-gendered. The easy conclusion to adopt is that there exists a reason why women are excluded.

However, there is absolutely no shortage of women making great music at the moment. In all styles and genres of music the most interesting, innovative and seminal (!) music is created and written by women: Ellen Allien, Mira Calix, Pauline Oliveros, Kaffe Matthews, Sachiko M. Haco, Afrirampo, The Blow, Solex, Bjork, Smoosh, Polly Harvey, MIA, Electrelane, Joanna Newsom, Marianne Nowottny....

The reason that there are not dozens of female bands trying to sound like Oasis or Joy Division is that the women who are creating new music have set their sights much higher and do not want to rehash something that has already been done. They leave that to their lazier male couterparts.

The argument that women are being excluded misses the point. Perhaps we should be concerned about why so many young men choose not to use their muscial skills in an interesting way