Neil Young decided not to play at Glastonbury in 2025 because he doesn’t like the BBC’s involvement with the festival.
On December 31, Neil wrote on his blog that he feels the BBC has taken over Glastonbury, which used to be a cool, non-commercial festival. He complained that the BBC wanted him to do things differently than he wanted. “It seems Glastonbury is now under corporate control and is not the way I remember it being,” Neil said. The festival doesn’t usually let brands advertise there, except for some charities and media partners.
Back in 2009, Neil was one of the main acts at Glastonbury and loved it so much that he called it one of his favorite outdoor shows ever. But now? It’s just too commercial for him. Last year alone, they gave about $6.4 million to charity!
Fans sometimes wonder if big events are losing their magic because of business interests.
So far, Rod Stewart is the only artist officially booked for Glasto 2025’s special Sunday-afternoon slot.
In Praise of Neil Young’s Eternal Battle With the Music Industry
