Glastonbury competition just isn’t the one main musical occasion occurring within the UK this 12 months. Loads of others might be staged in parks and fields and seashores over the summer time, however none might be as properly attended – or obtain wherever close to the identical quantity of consideration.
And whereas different occasions battle, with estimates that as many as 100 are prone to name it a day this 12 months, Glastonbury thrives. Tickets (£355) promote out at warp pace (earlier than lineups are even introduced), nobody appears deterred in regards to the worth of food and drinks, and 1000’s flip up earlier than the gates even open.
So Glastonbury is clearly a giant enterprise, a totemic image maybe, of the commercialisation of rock festivals. And one of many causes for its continued success might be the big quantity of tv protection it receives.
The BBC has coated Glastonbury since 1997, providing dwell feeds from across the occasion. For the 2024 version, it’s providing viewers over 90 hours of footage throughout its numerous platforms.
Few occasions – not to mention music festivals – get something like this degree of media help. And help is what the broader British dwell music sector wants.
For whereas the highlight shines on sell-out excursions by the likes of Taylor Swift or the saga of opening large arenas, grassroots music venues face enormous challenges.
Smaller impartial festivals are in a parlous state, with the Towersey competition in Buckinghamshire, which predates Glastonbury, saying that its sixtieth occasion might be its final.
In contrast to Glastonbury, they don’t are likely to get pleasure from sponsorship offers with Land Rover or Vodafone. Nor do many different festivals have such sway that artists comply with carry out for lower than the traditional going price.
So Glastonbury continues to draw thousands and thousands of candidates for tickets, most of whom might be disillusioned. (Lots of my college students writing essays in regards to the occasion will in all probability by no means expertise it for themselves.)
Grassroots
But for all its dominance and impolite well being, Glastonbury can nonetheless boast important help of the grassroots music sector. A whole bunch of latest and rising artists play on the occasion, despite the fact that lots of them won’t ever attain the dizzy heights of the bigger levels – or perhaps a sustainable profession as a full-time artist.
Extra life like success tales may be in retailer for the freelance staff on web site (stage managers, volunteers, crew members) who can add the phrase Glastonbury to their CVs within the hope that it’ll result in extra work elsewhere.
The occasion has additionally lengthy been related to celebrating acts from everywhere in the world. This 12 months sees the primary Okay-pop act, marking the success of a coverage by the South Korean authorities, and Indonesian all feminine Muslim heavy metallic group Voice of Baceprot will get its debut.
The worldwide affect of this British competition can be seen via the quantity of labor the competition does for charitable causes, elevating thousands and thousands of kilos for native charities alongside the likes of Water Assist, Oxfam and Greenpeace.
And in contrast to comparable mega festivals like Coachella, Tomorrowland and Studying, which appear to radiate commercialism from the outset, Glastonbury nonetheless maintains connections with pagan rituals, druids and hippy tradition. Its progressive stance has a trickle-down impact to smaller festivals and contributes massively to the UK’s competition tradition.
All of those elements little doubt contribute to Glastonbury’s continued reputation – and clarify the in depth protection it receives. If there are packing containers to be ticked by BBC schedulers, Glastonbury has been ticking them for many years. It’s worldwide, charitable, ecological, cultural and thrilling.
Since 1970, the competition has advanced to turn out to be an ideal broadcasting and branding alternative. It’s hardly stunning then, that it has turn out to be such a magnet for sponsorships and offers.
Learn extra:
Why go to Glastonbury? Analysis suggests it might change your life
With that monetary success and a conscientious method, the muddy fields of Glastonbury can nonetheless be fertile floor for the UK’s music trade. Away from the sounds of Coldplay or Elton John enjoying on the primary levels, festival-goers will nonetheless be capable to discover new and thrilling artists who’ve bagged a spot underneath a smaller highlight.
For them – and their report labels – it might be a significant alternative, boosted by the BBC’s wall-to-wall protection. The subsequent British authorities would do properly to observe Glastonbury’s lead and discover methods of doing extra – far more – to help the grassroots music sector within the UK.
