2023 Festival

[gfa]

2 minutes ago, Chad888 said:

This was pretty much the reason for the MSW. To book acts that aren't big enough for the Main Stage headline, but refuse to book anything that isn't a headline.

Effectively a participation trophy slot.

The main reason for MSW was to save money and make the lineup look bigger than it actually is.

Of the first year's MSW headliners 2 of them had headlined before

[Chad888]

48 minutes ago, gfa said:

Of the first year's MSW headliners 2 of them had headlined before

However, there stock had dropped. Were they to headline now on a single Main Stage it would be seen as incredibly weak.

 

Yes the actual business decision is to look like an "insane line-up with 6 headliners" whilst cutting the total acts by 25%, but what it enabled them to do was book artists that they otherwise wouldn't have a spot for.

Halsey for example, she flat out refused to play unless she was headlining. She even refused in 2020 to co-headline with Liam Gallagher. If she was given a headline spot, people would scratch their heads and say "really?". Putting her on MSW solved that issue.

[gfa]

1 hour ago, Chad888 said:

However, there stock had dropped. Were they to headline now on a single Main Stage it would be seen as incredibly weak.

 

Yes the actual business decision is to look like an "insane line-up with 6 headliners" whilst cutting the total acts by 25%, but what it enabled them to do was book artists that they otherwise wouldn't have a spot for.

Halsey for example, she flat out refused to play unless she was headlining. She even refused in 2020 to co-headline with Liam Gallagher. If she was given a headline spot, people would scratch their heads and say "really?". Putting her on MSW solved that issue.

I get that, was just stating that the new stage setup was for £££ reasons. They couldn't care less whether Halsey of all acts is refusing to play.

I'm sure Biffy / Disclosure would have been perfectly fine with co-headlining again

[foolee]

3 hours ago, gfa said:

I get that, was just stating that the new stage setup was for £££ reasons. They couldn't care less whether Halsey of all acts is refusing to play.

I'm sure Biffy / Disclosure would have been perfectly fine with co-headlining again

He’s right though. If there’s a bracket of acts like Halsey and BMTH who wouldn’t accept a sub slot but would accept a headline slot then this opens them up to other acts of that ilk. Bigger name on the poster as well which I think counts for a lot in this industry and when acts are being booked. I’d say MGK would be one of those acts like BMTH and Halsey too that wouldn’t accept a sub slot so fits perfectly in the MSW category. As you’ve mentioned it also caters for the acts that have previously coheadlined or would still accept that kind of slot like Foals. 

[gfa]

1 minute ago, foolee said:

He’s right though. If there’s a bracket of acts like Halsey and BMTH who wouldn’t accept a sub slot but would accept a headline slot then this opens them up to other acts of that ilk. Bigger name on the poster as well which I think counts for a lot in this industry and when acts are being booked. I’d say MGK would be one of those acts like BMTH and Halsey too that wouldn’t accept a sub slot so fits perfectly in the MSW category. As you’ve mentioned it also caters for the acts that have previously coheadlined or would still accept that kind of slot like Foals. 

If the acts who this mainstage suits are BMTH, MGK and Halsey i think i'll stick with one main stage 😂

edit: but fair point yep, halsey has a few tunes also

Edited November 9, 2022 by gfa

[Benj]

6 hours ago, Chad888 said:

However, there stock had dropped. Were they to headline now on a single Main Stage it would be seen as incredibly weak.

 

Yes the actual business decision is to look like an "insane line-up with 6 headliners" whilst cutting the total acts by 25%, but what it enabled them to do was book artists that they otherwise wouldn't have a spot for.

Halsey for example, she flat out refused to play unless she was headlining. She even refused in 2020 to co-headline with Liam Gallagher. If she was given a headline spot, people would scratch their heads and say "really?". Putting her on MSW solved that issue.

The ultimate result being less people watching her while they waited for the 1975, instead of being camped out at the single stage

smart move Halsey

 

guess it’s about selling yourself at other festivals too. Promoters will surely know the score though. MSW headliner is weaker than a Co-head from the old days I reckon

Edited November 9, 2022 by Benj

[Benj]

53 minutes ago, foolee said:

He’s right though. If there’s a bracket of acts like Halsey and BMTH who wouldn’t accept a sub slot but would accept a headline slot then this opens them up to other acts of that ilk. Bigger name on the poster as well which I think counts for a lot in this industry and when acts are being booked. I’d say MGK would be one of those acts like BMTH and Halsey too that wouldn’t accept a sub slot so fits perfectly in the MSW category. As you’ve mentioned it also caters for the acts that have previously coheadlined or would still accept that kind of slot like Foals. 

What is the difference between co-headlining a single stage vs co-headlining a day across two stages

NOTHING in reality

Couldve had BMTH/ Halsey co head

MTS subbing Dave, RHCP on their own with Charli Xcx/ Wolf Alice beneath them no worries

[gfa]

13 minutes ago, Benj said:

What is the difference between co-headlining a single stage vs co-headlining a day across two stages

NOTHING in reality

Couldve had BMTH/ Halsey co head

MTS subbing Dave, RHCP on their own with Charli Xcx/ Wolf Alice beneath them no worries

No idea why you've chucked in RHCP with these but ignoring that it leaves AM and 1975/RATM. All 3 would want a solo headline slot, RATM could maybe co-headline but that still doesn't add up for having all 6 on one main stage

[Benj]

1 hour ago, gfa said:

No idea why you've chucked in RHCP with these but ignoring that it leaves AM and 1975/RATM. All 3 would want a solo headline slot, RATM could maybe co-headline but that still doesn't add up for having all 6 on one main stage

Gah meant RATM!

can’t believe I missed AM too, does make it tougher to squeeze them in

Dave>BMTH co-head

AM>MTS

RATM/1975>Wolf Alice

No room for Halsey if it’s headline or bust…

 

Edited November 9, 2022 by Benj

[gfa]

1 hour ago, Benj said:

Gah meant RATM!

can’t believe I missed AM too, does make it tougher to squeeze them in

Dave>BMTH co-head

AM>MTS

RATM/1975>Wolf Alice

No room for Halsey if it’s headline or bust…

 

nor 1975 there either

[Benj]

Just now, gfa said:

nor 1975 there either

There is. An either or RATM/1975

[gfa]

1 minute ago, Benj said:

There is. An either or RATM/1975

I thought the idea you were putting forward was to fit all 6 in the old setup, my mistake

[Chad888]

7 hours ago, gfa said:

I thought the idea you were putting forward was to fit all 6 in the old setup, my mistake

The point is, you have 3 acts that want to flat out headline (Halsey, Arctic Monkeys, 1975 (or RATM), you have 2 acts that are happy to co-headline (Dave & BMTH), with BMTH willing in negotiations (in 2020 anyway) to be the first up in the co-headline slot.

So you can either have -

Dave & BMTH | Arctic Monkeys | 1975

or

Halsey | Arctic Monkeys | 1975

 

Edit - To add I don't think Halsey would have been aware that what she was doing is effectively subbing the 1975, or headlined the 2nd stage. She brought out all the fireworks that usually happen at the end of the festival when the big Mainstage act finishes up. 1975 just ended with an "oh, thats it, everyone home"

 

I think that kind of whimpered ending would have been a factor in the aftermath as there was no "closure" for all that pent up energy. So ultimately, Halsey directly caused the riots.

Edited November 10, 2022 by Chad888

[gfa]

3 hours ago, Chad888 said:

I think that kind of whimpered ending would have been a factor in the aftermath as there was no "closure" for all that pent up energy. So ultimately, Halsey directly caused the riots.

Wtf have i just read 😂

[Benj]

11 hours ago, gfa said:

I thought the idea you were putting forward was to fit all 6 in the old setup, my mistake

It was I did 5/6 including either RATM or 1975 as part of it

The point being losing 60 acts and 30% of choice to see at any one moment is not worth being able to see Halsey

Every other act on the lineup would’ve been able to fit in the old format

The ‘festival’ has gone down the toilet in a massive bait and switch, one many returning visitors won’t be falling for again

[Matt42]

Louis Tomlinson touring US up until the end of July, reckon he’d be booked?

[andyrhodes24]

13 minutes ago, Matt42 said:

Louis Tomlinson touring US up until the end of July, reckon he’d be booked?

I just can’t see then booking someone like this at all.

Genuine question - obviously they’re booking chart stuff these days but where are we thinking they draw the line?

[Benj]

55 minutes ago, Matt42 said:

Louis Tomlinson touring US up until the end of July, reckon he’d be booked?

Fuck sake

dont know if people are taking the piss or not these days

[WhoOdyssey]

17 hours ago, andyrhodes24 said:

I just can’t see then booking someone like this at all.

Genuine question - obviously they’re booking chart stuff these days but where are we thinking they draw the line?

I don’t think there is any line now tbh, Mabel, Becky Hill, Lewis Capaldi etc are as pop as it’s gets. However it’s not been completely filled with pop acts in recent years, and I think it’ll stay that way. 

[Will b]

15 minutes ago, WhoOdyssey said:

I don’t think there is any line now tbh, Mabel, Becky Hill, Lewis Capaldi etc are as pop as it’s gets. . 

Mabel Becky hill and Lewis Capaldi are popular with a wide range of school leavers - Louis Tomlinson would raise some eyebrows within that community much like announcing someone like sam smith or Rita ora or the jonas brothers etc - yes he’s popular but not realllyyy with the reading and Leeds crowd

Edited November 11, 2022 by Will b

[stanh]

I think if any 1D member ever does it, it'd be Niall Horan.

[SleepingGiants]

55 minutes ago, stanh said:

I think if any 1D member ever does it, it'd be Niall Horan.

I think Styles is a possible booking theoretically at some point given some of their other headline bookings. 

To be frank out of 1D only Styles, Horan and Tomlinson are properly active in any way in the music scene.

Zayn has vanished off the face of the earth, and Liam Payne... the less said the better 😂

[stanh]

Just now, SleepingGiants said:

I think Styles is a possible booking theoretically at some point given some of their other headline bookings. 

To be frank out of 1D only Styles, Horan and Tomlinson are properly active in any way in the music scene.

Zayn has vanished off the face of the earth, and Liam Payne... the less said the better 😂

Yeah, I absolutely love Harry - I'd really enjoy seeing him do a headline set there, I think I spoke about it earlier this/last year, and think my opinion may be slightly different now. But think for Styles to be there he'd really have to be given the big bucks with him doing 4 nights at Wembley alone, not sure if him and his team would have R&L even on their radar and may just be aiming for Glasto. Certainly don't think he's out the picture though in the future, he'd smash it. But for now, with Niall doing festivals next year (incl. TRNSMT) don't really think he can be ruled out either, think it'd probably go down relatively well with the GCSE Leavers.

[TKOCF]

I think there’s a good chance of Harry doing MSE at some point. 
 

He’d drain a good 70% of the budget but he’d sell tickets.

[gfa]

I feel like any of the 1D people will sell tickets / please the same crowd. may as well just get a cheap one to plug the hole each year vs getting harry and wasting a headliner slot.

Similar logic ish to IOW getting liam then noel then liam again all in a row (covid gap too) - its just easy