This year’s will see music legends Sir , Guns N’ Roses and headline the Pyramid Stage and it’s a line-up that just smells of money.
So you might assume that is splashing out the big bucks to secure the biggest names in music each year.
However, an industry expert has revealed that might not be the case, especially with the pandemic, Brexit and the cost of living crisis creating all sorts of challenges for the world-renowned music event.
with Arctic Monkeys (if frontman ), followed by American rock legends Guns N’ Roses on Saturday and leaving Britain’s national treasure Sir Elton to close the festival on Sunday.
Not to mention, there are across a bevvy of stages, so Glastonbury has to have pretty stretchy purse strings.
Emily previously confirmed that of what they are typically paid by other festivals, as Glasto prefers to donate £2 million to charities every year. This might dispel past claims that Glastonbury headliners can rake in around £1m to perform on the Pyramid Stage and, according to a music industry insider, that figure is likely even lower.
Lyle Bignon, a music consultant specialising in live music venues and festivals, told Metro.co.uk: ‘Glastonbury headliners can expect to pick up performance fees of anywhere between £35,000 and £300,000 – depending on their profile.
‘The likes of Elton John and Guns N’ Roses, who have decades of global fame behind them, can likely command higher prices running into the £250,000+ range.’
Not too shabby but still much than you’d expect the likes of Sir Elton and Axl Rose and co. to command.
Bignon continued: ‘However, the costs of the huge production values that festival goers and viewers at home have become used to, along with transport, accommodation and other costs for the act and their crew, can often mean some artists and bands will leave Glastonbury having broken even or making a loss.
‘While some of the audio-visual elements of production will be shared with other acts over the course of a day, bespoke lighting and sound systems are often brought in by headliners at the cost of £10,000-£40,000.’
The expert, who is employed by Birmingham City University, noted that touring transport and accommodation can hike up the cost into the tens of thousands of pounds, plus lighting and sound engineers earn more than £400 a day.
Glasto performers might not be paid a huge fee for the privilege, but they do benefit from the ‘exposure’ of gracing the world’s biggest stage – much like the
Bignon explained: ‘For many acts and their teams, Glastonbury is seen as a loss leader in the sense that given the heightened national and international focus on the festival, particularly through TV and radio coverage, it is worth taking the financial hit on.
‘Losses can be recouped throughout the year – from touring elsewhere where fees are higher, as well as merch sales, brand sponsorships and endorsements.
‘“Exposure” in the music industry is an often-over-used term.
‘But in the case of Glastonbury, most managers, agents, and artists will happily push to be booked – even if it means losing money – as the long-term benefits of playing a main stage outweigh any deficit incurred.’
Bignon highlighted the fact that Glastonbury donates ‘several million pounds’ to charities such as Greenpeace, Oxfam, and WaterAid each year.
‘Alongside the festival’s status as a must-play global music event, this charity factor also strengthens Emily Eavis and co’s negotiating position when dealing with artist agents and managers,’ he said.
Glastonbury goers have already arrived at Worthy Farm, Somerset but the music kicks off on Friday and runs until Sunday.
Metro.co.uk has reached out to Glastonbury for comment.
