Benj

Have you seen the demographic at Styles' shows Not sure if they would go see him at Reading but if they did, it would be the end of the festival as its even known now

Fuck sake dont know if people are taking the piss or not these days

It was I did 5/6 including either RATM or 1975 as part of it The point being losing 60 acts and 30% of choice to see at any one moment is not worth being able to see Halsey Every other act on the lineup would’ve been able to fit in the old format The ‘festival’ has gone down the toilet in a massive bait and switch, one many returning visitors won’t be falling for again

There is. An either or RATM/1975

Gah meant RATM! can’t believe I missed AM too, does make it tougher to squeeze them in Dave>BMTH co-head AM>MTS RATM/1975>Wolf Alice No room for Halsey if it’s headline or bust…

What is the difference between co-headlining a single stage vs co-headlining a day across two stages NOTHING in reality Couldve had BMTH/ Halsey co head MTS subbing Dave, RHCP on their own with Charli Xcx/ Wolf Alice beneath them no worries

The ultimate result being less people watching her while they waited for the 1975, instead of being camped out at the single stage smart move Halsey guess it’s about selling yourself at other festivals too. Promoters will surely know the score though. MSW headliner is weaker than a Co-head from the old days I reckon

New Alvvays album is great if you like female fronted Indie rock type stuff

A dire attempt at a guess

Wow, that’s properly shit

You’d hope he’ll be doing the opposite of encouraging that in future

It’s more the amazement that they can sell out 22.5k yet alone 45k Fair play to them, hard to imagine an audience for them in this day and age

They headlined Truck?! AMAZED

The Kooks playing 4th on the bill in 2022 is the biggest crime here

Issue seems to be is he more of a credible musical draw than KSI?? Assume there will be some kind of 'art' vs 'celebrity' clash in the next 12-36 months..... always a cycle, must be due soon

She was the first proper full on pop star to play reading I think As in dancers on stage etc etc and all. Big turn of the tide

I know, I was taking the piss It’s the other stage, only not ANother thing to watch. Theyve basically cut 50+ acts and 30% of choice, under the guise of “6 Headliners!!!!” It is now a shit festival. Not because of who is booked but because the number of people booked is far, far lower. The stripped out all choice to save themselves money under the guise of more. Festival shrinkflation, only they have the brass balls to make out it’s an upgrade

What?! Hang on I thought we had 6 bone fide healdiners now to make up for the loss of two stages and 50+ acts over the weekend We’ve been duped lads!

Hmmm loads of bands touted as Reading MSW headliners playing as subs elsewhere🤔 Almost as if we’re being sold magic beans isn’t it

The festival has been embracing pop music for 4-5 years now. There’s no such thing as Alternative music anymore (not in the sense it once was anyway) and Reading has not been an alternative festival since the mid noughties

Seems to be little cynical opi about these days, given how easy it is for people to produce and promote themselves these days. KSI seems about the worst of it 🏃‍♀️ 💨

I’m not suggesting they are or will be, just that Central Cee may not get a sub-spot, despite many thinking he is a big enough name to do so, due to the fact he won’t help shift tickets to much of audience they need to attract with the lineup. KSI it seems has been given a big slot for the kids In the old days, sounds like he could’ve been a shoe in big tent filler, up against Greenday or similar. An actual big event for the kids, as opposed to a 4th on the day anti-climax

They’re not being complacent though. They’re booking who the kids want to see, the latest up and coming acts, to maintain that audience, while selling to the other audience with top billing acts. It has ever been thus. Where they’re being complacent (ans ever with me!) is by cutting down on slots. Eventually both audiences may think there is not enough for them? No one else to watch while Central is on? No one else to watch while Green Day are on?

18 year olds go to the festival whatever, it’s tougher to sell tickets to the market that actually generates revenue at the festival… So while there’s no doubt it seems he’ll draw a massive crowd. The 18 year olds, as proven, will flock in at 4pm to see him and then promptly flick out again to booze/ pill themselves back up at the their tents. If he’s struggling to sell live tickets, then the assumption that his name high up on the bill of a festival won’t help shift tickets for the festival is a relatively sound one, esp if it’s to a market that is not his.

Fook knows. yours, Fellow Boomer