2025 Headliners

[efcfanwirral]

I'd probably prefer Rihanna myself, saw Olivia last year and she's great but Rihanna has so many more universally known songs. 

[fullfathom5]

I’d be gutted if O-Rod doesn’t play, I really want to see her.

[Suprefan]

2 hours ago, fullfathom5 said:

I’d be gutted if O-Rod doesn’t play, I really want to see her.

 

How about they got rid of matty healy and its riri and o rod.

[Euphoricape]

10 hours ago, Superscally said:

Aren't we all watching the Maccabees anyway? 🤷‍♂️

Prodigy for me!

[nikkic]

36 minutes ago, Suprefan said:

 

How about they got rid of matty healy and its riri and o rod.

The better option, for sure 

[NorthernSoul52]

Would be the first time since when that they didn't have a homegrown headliner if so? 2015, if it had originally panned out as Foo Fighters, Kanye West and possibly Prince is the only exception I can think of.

 

It ain't happening. One of them will be British, and with Neil Young already confirmed to fill one of three spots, any Rihanna talk would be moving onto the Olivia Rodrigo patch.

 

Your third will be The 1975 or Sam Fender. (Or maybe another former headliner drafted out of nowhere, but I'd wager not.)

[Acid_Haze]

14 minutes ago, NorthernSoul52 said:

Would be the first time since when that they didn't have a homegrown headliner if so? 2015, if it had originally panned out as Foo Fighters, Kanye West and possibly Prince is the only exception I can think of.

 

It ain't happening. One of them will be British, and with Neil Young already confirmed to fill one of three spots, any Rihanna talk would be moving onto the Olivia Rodrigo patch.

 

Your third will be The 1975 or Sam Fender. (Or maybe another former headliner drafted out of nowhere, but I'd wager not.)

Yeah there's never been a time when none of the headliners are British, and I think it is something that the organisers think about - I think they like to use the festival to champion British music a bit.

 

Especially with the Pyramid sub pool looking quite American too (Paramore, Chappell Roan, Noah Kahan). Would make Pulp more likely though as a sub!

[Superscally]

1 hour ago, Euphoricape said:

Prodigy for me!

Why not both?

[CaledonianGonzo]

5 minutes ago, Acid_Haze said:

Yeah there's never been a time when none of the headliners are British, and I think it is something that the organisers think about - I think they like to use the festival to champion British music a bit.

 

They do, but I'm sure that also a financial dimension to it as well.  And if they lined up 3 non British superstars at the right price to headline in the same year they probably wouldn't worry too much about the optics of it.

[Euphoricape]

9 minutes ago, Superscally said:

Why not both?

I always forget the park headliner starts later, both it is!

[flagging_glast]

Regardless of whether she’s big enough, Brit factor is why I think charli on pyramid is a possibility if there is anything to Rihanna (or other American superstar) rumours for third slot - esp if o-rod is locked 

[NorthernSoul52]

1 hour ago, CaledonianGonzo said:

 

They do, but I'm sure that also a financial dimension to it as well.  And if they lined up 3 non British superstars at the right price to headline in the same year they probably wouldn't worry too much about the optics of it.

The financial dimension always plays into it, but because the endeavour is so expensive in general, I don't see that as a likelihood. It would still likely be needing at least two of those superstars to drop prices or have a festival affiliation - see; Neil Young.

 

Still such a bizarre saga, that one.

[charlierc]

3 hours ago, NorthernSoul52 said:

Would be the first time since when that they didn't have a homegrown headliner if so? 2015, if it had originally panned out as Foo Fighters, Kanye West and possibly Prince is the only exception I can think of.

 

It ain't happening. One of them will be British, and with Neil Young already confirmed to fill one of three spots, any Rihanna talk would be moving onto the Olivia Rodrigo patch.

 

Your third will be The 1975 or Sam Fender. (Or maybe another former headliner drafted out of nowhere, but I'd wager not.)

Would be in keeping with the moment by the look of it, given 9 of the top 10 most streamed songs in the UK last year on Spotify were by US artists, and even then, the exception was Hozier.

[flagging_glast]

3 hours ago, flagging_glast said:

Regardless of whether she’s big enough, Brit factor is why I think charli on pyramid is a possibility if there is anything to Rihanna (or other American superstar) rumours for third slot - esp if o-rod is locked 

As in, Charli / Neil / American superstar inc o-rod. And if o-rod is locked, having two guitar headliners makes charli more likely than 75 or fender imo. Total guesswork ofc! 

[MEGABOWL]

3 hours ago, Acid_Haze said:

Yeah there's never been a time when none of the headliners are British, and I think it is something that the organisers think about - I think they like to use the festival to champion British music a bit.

 

Especially with the Pyramid sub pool looking quite American too (Paramore, Chappell Roan, Noah Kahan). Would make Pulp more likely though as a sub!

Im guessing here but with the majority of the acts they book across the site each year being British most of the agents and Managers they speak to will be British. There’s a symbiotic relationship between the festival and the British Music Industry. A lot of British acts get a big push towards prominence from the festival and GFL needs British acts to keep coming through and making it big as they’re a lot easier/cheaper to book than non-British acts. 

[charlierc]

There any indication yet on when a line-up will get announced and put us closer to no longer having to guess?

[charlierc]

3 hours ago, flagging_glast said:

Regardless of whether she’s big enough, Brit factor is why I think charli on pyramid is a possibility if there is anything to Rihanna (or other American superstar) rumours for third slot - esp if o-rod is locked 

We're assuming they either don't have the budget for Rihanna with O-Rod sub-headlining or that O'Rod would be a "headliner or nothing" deal right?

[flagging_glast]

5 minutes ago, charlierc said:

We're assuming they either don't have the budget for Rihanna with O-Rod sub-headlining or that O'Rod would be a "headliner or nothing" deal right?

Yeah o-rod would be headliner or nothing 

[NorthernSoul52]

38 minutes ago, charlierc said:

Would be in keeping with the moment by the look of it, given 9 of the top 10 most streamed songs in the UK last year on Spotify were by US artists, and even then, the exception was Hozier.

But as SZA proved, that isn't necessarily the metric.

 

Of course, the album charts isn't exactly kind either - Taylor Swift, The Weeknd, Sabrina Carpenter, Noah Kahan, Billie Eilish, Chappell Roan and Olivia Rodrigo all in the top ten for sales too.

 

Just Charli XCX, Coldplay and the British part of Fleetwood Mac holding up the flag there.

[NorthernSoul52]

39 minutes ago, flagging_glast said:

As in, Charli / Neil / American superstar inc o-rod. And if o-rod is locked, having two guitar headliners makes charli more likely than 75 or fender imo. Total guesswork ofc! 

I just cannot see Charli XCX headlining Glastonbury when she's got sales still to go at two other festivals of a significantly smaller variety in this country.

 

Conversely, I could perhaps see an argument if you've got a mahoosive headliner instead of Olivia Rodrigo.

 

Charli XCX will be there, I think, but it won't be atop the bill.

 

As for the guitar line, don't think they'll consider it an issue having three guitar-led headliners if that's the way they are skewing. Olivia Rodrigo wouldn't play a "rock" show anyway, surely? It'd be a "pop" show.

[flagging_glast]

21 minutes ago, NorthernSoul52 said:

I just cannot see Charli XCX headlining Glastonbury when she's got sales still to go at two other festivals of a significantly smaller variety in this country.

 

Conversely, I could perhaps see an argument if you've got a mahoosive headliner instead of Olivia Rodrigo.

 

Charli XCX will be there, I think, but it won't be atop the bill.

 

As for the guitar line, don't think they'll consider it an issue having three guitar-led headliners if that's the way they are skewing. Olivia Rodrigo wouldn't play a "rock" show anyway, surely? It'd be a "pop" show.

It’s tricky - she is way bigger than other names thrown out for other stage headliner (loyle prodigy etc) but doesn’t instinctively feel cross gen enough for pyramid. And her show needs to be dark so def not sub. All considered reckon its pyramid or nothing 

[charlierc]

31 minutes ago, NorthernSoul52 said:

But as SZA proved, that isn't necessarily the metric.

 

Of course, the album charts isn't exactly kind either - Taylor Swift, The Weeknd, Sabrina Carpenter, Noah Kahan, Billie Eilish, Chappell Roan and Olivia Rodrigo all in the top ten for sales too.

 

Just Charli XCX, Coldplay and the British part of Fleetwood Mac holding up the flag there.

Yeah I'm aware there's more to music than Spotify, much as they try to think they're the be-all-and-end-all.

 

But yeah, there's a certain vibe of an American pop invasion being in vogue, akin to film or TV as well. Maybe there's a budding British star that can grab the bull by the horns waiting for their moment.

[FKA SOSOTWS]

Going for a British headliner makes sense, but just like with female headliners, there's likely to be a year where it won't be doable.

 

 

 

Edited February 23, 2025 by FKA SOSOTWS

[northernangel]

1 hour ago, charlierc said:

Yeah I'm aware there's more to music than Spotify, much as they try to think they're the be-all-and-end-all.

 

But yeah, there's a certain vibe of an American pop invasion being in vogue, akin to film or TV as well. Maybe there's a budding British star that can grab the bull by the horns waiting for their moment.

 

The big thing I find with Spotfiy is that you can virtually turn any song/band you want and that will add to streaming and then there will be people who return.

 

For example I am used Spotify to listen to songs and setlistfm in turn for what those bands are generally playing currently for Download. Sometimes it's a case of 1 of their most popular songs aren't even in the set but there is definitely some acts I searched that I won't be returning to as there is no need.

 

Ticket sales ultimately is the key but arena and sole gig sales aren't a direct to festival example, especially the likes of Glastonbury where, one it's hard to get tickets and two, you're there for the weekend with locals getting Sunday tickets. Much different cases for places where day tickets are available but some people aren't festival people, with the potential weather coming into it compared to an arena gig.  Even outside stadium gigs they are at least sat down or on ground out down, not churned up mud etc. Loads of factors.

[Superscally]

9 hours ago, Euphoricape said:

I always forget the park headliner starts later, both it is!

Well actually Sunday, it finishes earlier...but both still applies!