Who is the 3rd headliner likely to be?

[thewayiam]

Holy balls this thread got hilarious while I was away.

Anyway I agree with the sentiment that if SOAD play they will headline, if they don't I think they could easily sell out a handful of September arena dates if they wanna, rather than cut their set down.

But I think 4 shows in 5 days is too much - that Italian date is just a gig they could arrange around their schedule isn't it? Why would they have it so quickly after a three show weekend? And also it would represent a heavier lineup than in previous years, will alienate more than a few R+L goers.

I'm with Matt on Mumfords or Blur. Mumfords not playing either V or R+L seems ridiculous, and even if Damon said 'no UK shows', I'm not that inclined to believe him. In fact when Noel Gallagher asked about those Teenage Cancer Trust shows, I think Damon said Blur are over, thats why him and Graham are playing solo performances there, and now they're all over the place this summer.

[Mouseboy11]

SOAD headline and R&L slowly becomes just Reading again. When the festivals gets to the point twice in 3 years where it ends up booking a band to headline that aren't big enough for it. Leeds has already started showing ticket sale drops and Reading itself has been hit too.

This year just gone, you had Elbow, FATM and The Black Keys as subs, all bigger ticket sellers than SOAD and I'm fairly sure they'll all sell more.

[PDAD]

SOAD headline and R&L slowly becomes just Reading again. When the festivals gets to the point twice in 3 years

This year just gone, you had Elbow, FATM and The Black Keys as subs, all bigger ticket sellers than SOAD and I'm fairly sure they'll all sell more.

[thewayiam]

*Parmore, not Elbow but yeah, i do see your point...however on the flip side, you could argue that all 3 of these were bigger ticket sellers than The Cure...i dont necessarily think the headline HAS to be the biggest seller, as bands such as these examples in the other strong positions will help sales a lot....however such as The Cure, SOAD are a band who opportunities rarely arise to see them play, and therefore, i think theyd much more warrant a headlining position than a sub....Like Florence etc did last year, im sure there will subs (maybe Bloc Party/The XX) or whoever who will bring in sales for weekend tickets yet as a headliner, i think a band like SOAD would be great...just my interpretation though...

[thewayiam]

Fucking hell, wasn't at the set but Hayley must of really let herself go.

[mattgimmeshelter]

Would like blur, I still think it's possible

[PDAD]

your headliners! need to be money spenders.

[Yellow_Fellow]

SOAD headline and R&L slowly becomes just Reading again. When the festivals gets to the point twice in 3 years where it ends up booking a band to headline that aren't big enough for it.

[thewayiam]

I dont necessarily think they need to be expensive, i think they need to attract people to the festival, in whatever way possible...i obviously cant deny that Mumford or Blur would sell FAR more than SOAD but i think, if the lineup is filled with 'typical strong R+L acts' to suit the demographic such as Biffy Clyro/Bloc Party (or whoever), i think there can be room for a slightly more niche headliner, to attempt to attract a different audience as well....With the inclusion of the R1 Dance and 1Xtra stages, more of the young demographic will be drawn to R+L this year i believe, and Eminem will be a great draw also...So to have a headliner, which doesnt necessarily have to be popular with the kids but still has a niche audience, i think is perfectly feasable

Edited January 19, 2013 by thewayiam

[PDAD]

I get what you're saying but a lot comes down also to what will people pay for bands. The big seller point is your main stage headliners, and to some extent yours subs and NME headliners. Your Radio 1 Xtra headers are not going to sell £200 tickets.

It's not about entirely how expensive the band cost for the bookers, although I'd imagine that the more expensive a band is has an affect on ticket prices (more own tour sales), but those bands still need to be relevant enough for position and sell a ticket enough for that position.

Bloc Party for example can really on R&L crowds a lot cause they always pull a huge one but others bands are not the same.

[kaosmark2]

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[thewayiam]

Yeah, very true but im not sure how much headliners come into people's decision a lot of the time....a lot of people go now after exams almost as a right of passage and half the time, dont see all the healdiners...not that i can speak for everyone, but ive been the last 3 years and seen only 5/9 of the headliners...admittedly, headliners are more likely to sell than anything else, itd be stupid to say otherwise...but as there are loads of bands throughout the weekend...i think a lot of people will be more inclined to book simply for the headliner if its a band who they wouldnt get the opportunity to see a lot..(The Cure eg), however Mumford or Kasabian fans have loads of opportunities to see them and hence, wont necessarily think 'wow i must go to reading if theyre playing'

[thetime]

'wow i must go to reading if theyre playing'

[thewayiam]

Name me some bands that have the 'wow' factor that could play reading/titp/v/day gigs who have not played year in year out.

Thats a problem they all play the circuit to often

[thetime]

This is why I believe that sooner rather than later, if they don't book the right acts, they'll be announcing a lineup for one site and not two.

[thewayiam]

Theres different reason why ticket sales are down, they had foos playing last year.

[Mouseboy11]

Exactly,Radiohead and Arcade Fire had very small crowds when they headlined yet the festival still sold out. It's more to do with a decline in general popularity of festivals.

[thetime]

Exactly,Radiohead and Arcade Fire had very small crowds when they headlined yet the festival still sold out. It's more to do with a decline in general popularity of festivals.

[thetime]

Indeed I know, they also had Kasabian - who didn't sell out all their arena tour they did before the fest and that's a guarantee.

[Mouseboy11]

I wouldnt go that far as glasto/v/bestival all sell out.

If you aim a festival at a certain age group your asking for trouble, if that age group goes elswhere then your asking for trouble. Especially the 16-21 age group who follow the trends more thab say glasto and v who seem to have a mix of age groups that go.

[thewayiam]

Exactly,Radiohead and Arcade Fire had very small crowds when they headlined yet the festival still sold out. It's more to do with a decline in general popularity of festivals.

[dentalplan]

Because when you can't argue, pedantry and condescending comments are the key.

Edited January 20, 2013 by dentalplan

[thewayiam]

So who would you have headline thats available?

[thetime]

Glasto is different, it sells out every year regardless on hype alone. Reading used to sell out because it was fashionable to go, now it's less so.

[thesecretingredientiscrime]

Glasto is different, it sells out every year regardless on hype alone. Reading used to sell out because it was fashionable to go, now it's less so.