Stephanie Pearl

Stephanie Pearl (PEARLIE PhDJ) is a part-time PhD researcher at the Royal College of Music (RCM) and one of the first researchers at the institution to undertake doctoral study through DJ practice. Her research explores representation, participation, and equity for women and marginalised artists in electronic music, examining how gender, identity, power, and participation shape contemporary music cultures. 

Drawing on her MSc in Performance Science from the RCM, Stephanie's interdisciplinary work combines music psychology, music history, cultural studies, and gender studies. Her distinction-awarded dissertation, The Music, Not the Mess, investigated the psychological and well-being experiences of women and non-binary DJs. She has also contributed to research on maternal well-being through music engagement, including work examining hypnobirthing programmes. 

Stephanie is a Graduate Teaching Assistant within the Centre for Performance Science at the RCM, contributing to the delivery of the Level 5 Healthy Musician module. 

Alongside academia, she is an experienced producer, researcher, reporter, stage manager, and music journalist. BBC Gold Standard qualified in journalism, production, videography, and presenting, she has worked across BBC West, BBC Bristol, BBC Radio 2, BBC 6 Music, BBC Introducing, and natural history productions associated with Sir David Attenborough. In 2026, she worked as a logger and researcher on FIFA World Cup coverage, producing metadata and editorial logs for international broadcasters. Her broadcasting portfolio includes interviews with the first British woman to summit Mount Everest and the only Obstetrics and Gynaecology Consultant serving in the British military. 

Her independent research project, Kate Bush and the Washing Machine, has been presented nationally, including at the 2026 F-List Research Hub Gender in Music Research Conference. She is also a Senior Producer and DJ at Green Man Festival and has worked at major women's rugby events, including Twickenham Stadium. 

A trained Samaritan in suicide awareness and prevention, Stephanie is active in public engagement and advocacy through the Young Women's Trust, The F-List, Donne and the 93% Club. She holds a First Class BA (Hons) in Political Performance Art, an MSc in Performance Science, a Distinction in Production from BBC Academy/ Bauer, and postgraduate credits in Playwriting and Dramaturgy. 

Links: https://linktr.ee/pearlie.phdj