Glastonbury 2023 controversy as all-white, all-male headliners announced

Emily Eavis has blamed the music industry for a lack of viable female headliners

The first wave of artists for Glastonbury 2023 have been announced, including a trio of all-male, all-white headliners. Elton John had already been confirmed as the Sunday night headliner in December last year, but now festival organiser Emily Eavis has revealed the other two headliners to close out the Friday and Saturday nights. Arctic Monkeys will headline the first night, their third time closing the Pyramid Stage, whilst legendary rock group Guns N' Roses will make their first ever appearance at Worthy Farm by headlining the Saturday night. https://twitter.com/glastonbury/status/1631588298228367361 The festival is likely to attract criticism though because of the lineup of all-white, all-male headliners for this year’s event. https://twitter.com/ICGenie/status/1631589514375311360 https://twitter.com/JonathanDean_/status/1631583682661081090 But Eavis has said festivals are struggling with a dearth of viable female headliners due to an industry “pipeline” problem. She explained to the Guardian that Guns N' Roses were booked after a female headliner pulled out because she “changed her touring plans.” https://twitter.com/jBlake92/status/1631587743116435458 Eavis didn't name who this was, but Taylor Swift had been due to headline the 2020 edition of the festival before Covid-19 struck.

53% of the 55 names on this week’s partial lineup announcement are male.

Eavis said she remained “entirely focused on balancing our bill," adding that 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, and Afrobeats star Wizkid will headline the Other stage on Friday.

Eavis said Glastonbury was "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, she continued.

Eavis said: “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.”

But she said that two women are set to headline next year's festival - 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.

The 2023 lineup so far is: Arctic Monkeys Guns N’ Roses Elton John Lizzo Aitch Alison Goldfrapp Alt-J Amadou and Mariam Becky Hill Blondie Candi Staton Carly Rae Jepsen Cat Burns Central Cee Christine and the Queens Chvrches Ezra Collective Fatboy Slim Fever Ray Flo Fred Again Hot Chip Joey Bada$$ Kelis Lana Del Rey Leftfield Lewis Capaldi Lil Nas X Loyle Carner Maggie Rogers Mahalia Måneskin Manic Street Preachers Nova Twins Phoenix Queens of the Stone Age Raye Rina Sawayama Royal Blood Rudimental Shygirl Slowthai Sparks Stefflon Don Sudan Archives Texas The Chicks The War on Drugs Thundercat Tinariwen Warpaint Weyes Blood Wizkid Young Fathers Yusuf/Cat Stevens Related links:

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