FEATURE:
International Women’s Day 2023
IMAGE CREDIT: Glastonbury Festival
Why Glastonbury’s All-Male Headline Announcement Is Especially Angering
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I understand that Taylor Swift…
IN THIS PHOTO: Self Esteem(Rebecca Lucy Taylor)
has touring commitments that means she could not headline Glastonbury this year. I feel that Björk, Self Esteem, Little Simz or any number of other incredible women in music could have headliners. Glastonbury have announced the first wave of names and it is an all-male, white line-up. Whereas the festival will get at least a fifty-fifty gender balance when all names have been confirmed, why are there no women headlining?! The Guardian’s Laura Sapes reported on the news:
“Festivals are struggling with a dearth of viable female headliners owing to an industry “pipeline” problem, Glastonbury co-organiser Emily Eavis said as the festival announced a lineup of all-white, all-male headliners for this year’s event.
Following the news that Elton John would conclude the 2023 edition on Sunday, Eavis confirmed that Arctic Monkeys would headline Friday, their third time closing the Pyramid stage, while Guns N’ Roses would make their Worthy Farm debut on Saturday.
Guns N’ Roses were booked when a previously confirmed female headliner pulled out because she “changed her touring plans”, said Eavis. She declined to name names but said she hoped they would headline within the next five years. Fans had anticipated Taylor Swift, who was due to headline Glastonbury 2020 prior to its cancellation as a result of Covid – but the US leg of her Eras tour this summer obviated the possibility.
IN THIS PHOTO: Surely a worthy festival headliner, Little Simz
Guns N’ Roses had been discussed as prospective headliners pre-pandemic, said Eavis. “They’ll be brilliant and provide something totally different to the rest of the headliners.” Lizzo will open for the US rockers and has joint headline billing. “She could totally headline,” said Eavis, adding that the Pyramid stage often sees bigger crowds in the afternoon than at night. “Many of the artists could. But the headline slot had already been promised to someone else.”
Further down the bill, this year’s lineup includes debut performances from the Eurovision winners Måneskin, the Brit-winning girl band Flo and the US country stars the Chicks. Lil Nas X will return to play before Elton John, while Lana Del Rey will graduate from her 2014 Pyramid stage afternoon slot to headline the Other stage.
53% of the 55 names on this week’s partial lineup announcement – with many more acts still to come – are male. Eavis said she remained “entirely focused on balancing our bill. It’s not just about gender, it’s about every aspect of diversity.” 43% of those 55 names are non-white, or feature non-white members: Afrobeats star Wizkid will headline the Other stage on Friday. “We’re probably one of the only big shows that’s really focused on this.”
The music industry needs to invest in more female musicians to create future headliners, said Eavis. “We’re trying our best so the pipeline needs to be developed. This starts way back with the record companies, radio. I can shout as loud as I like but we need to get everyone on board.”
Next year’s festival should see two women headline, said Eavis – one confirmed, one close, and both of them Glastonbury first-timers. Rihanna and Madonna are among the top-billing acts who have never played the festival.
Eavis said that as a woman in the music industry she saw the matter as a personal issue, recalling the days where there was only one woman working as a live booking agent. “It’s top of our agenda, and it probably makes it a bit harder because we’ve decided to make that important to us. To be honest, sometimes it’s easier to keep your head down”.
What about moving up Blondie and replacing Guns N’ Roses?! Perhaps having a younger female act replace the band? I can understand why Elton Jon is headlining, and maybe Arctic Monkeys is a fair shout, but you NEED the third name to be female. If Taylor Swift’s busy diary means that she left Emily and Michael Eavis looking for a replacement, how is it that there are no other women free?! I know Glastonbury have already booked two female headliners for 2024, but why not this year?! Directories like The F-List are invaluable when it comes to options. Even Reading & Leeds have a headliner in the form of Billie Eilish. Why couldn’t Glastonbury book Dua Lipa, Paramore or any number of solo artists, duos or bands fronted by women?! By booking both Arctic Monkeys and Guns N’ Roses, it seems to be aiming for a very similar demographic. The band have not released new material for years, and the view from the other side of the stage is dismal. Women and upcoming artists will look at bills and know that, sure, they can make it on, but can they ever headline?! To say the ‘90s was more progressive when it came to female headliners is all you need to know! There is no ‘pipeline’ issue. In terms of female artist that are commercial and popular, there are more than enough to choose from. If legends like Guns N’ Roses are booked, why not a legend like Shania Twain or move a great artist like Lizzo to the headline slot? A younger male artist like Harry Styles would have been better. It looks very creaky and regressive on the headline slots! Another year and another festival failing to book a female act as headliner. Glastonbury showed they could do it last year as they booked Billie Eilish. There is a huge amount of female talent out there. Festivals like Glastonbury needs to lead the way and…
DO much better.