NME Festival Guide 2008
Glastonbury

Glastonbury ticket-selling weekend: Fans' reactions

Glastonbury 2007

How has the nation reacted to this weekend's (April 6) Glastonbury ticket selling kick-off?

Apr 7, 2008
18 Comments
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Tickets for this year's Glastonbury festival went on sale yesterday (April 6) at 9am (BST) to pre-registered customers, with over 100,000 of the 137,500 tickets available sold within the first 24 hours.

Tickets for the festival are still on sale today (April 7). However, last year all the tickets sold out within a few hours, prompting music fans to leave comments on NME.COM and e-mail in with their thoughts about why sales have been slower this year.

Glastonbury boss Michael Eavis had previously suggested that the number of people registering for tickets was lower than last year because Jay-Z was due to play a headline slot. His daughter and co-organiser Emily Eavis later suggested numbers were down because the last two Glastonbury festivals had been extremely muddy and rainy.

NME.COM users have left comments suggesting they believe that Jay-Z's headline slot, recent weather and the registration process itself have all contributed to slower sales in 2008.

"The Jay-Z effect [is the cause]," wrote 'pete12q'. "Who wants to see him ahead of Oasis or The Stone Roses?," they continued, pointing to organisers' choice of the rapper over another traditional rock band to headline was a contributing factor.

'Clemo' agreed, writing, "Like it or not, the headliners will play a big part in this. People who are looking to go for the first time will probably judge the festival and make a decision on the strength of the headliners, and unfortunately, this year, they [the headliners] won't attract the same interest as many of the [headliners of] previous years, and this has shown in the ticket sales so far."

'Haze1' also pointed to Jay-Z, writing, "I'd have to agree that Jay-Z has probably put some people off. The headliners certainly don't have the universal appeal as some of the previous years."

Many users defended the booking of the rapper, though, with 'Daveywebb' writing, "To blame Jay-Z seems a little harsh to me. I'm by no means a fan of the Jigga but there will be plenty of other artists on at the same time. That's why we go to Glasto, isn't it?"

'Heliosvk', meanwhile, pointed to the weather in recent years as the main factor. "Last year the journey back was like being in a concentration camp," they wrote. "[I was] waiting in the rain for a bus back to London for four hours with no information. When the bus arrived it had no heating, I got to London totally hypothermic wondering why I'd paid ?190 for such a big fuck up. So this year, no thanks."

'Clemo' also ointed to ticket prices being a factor this year, in which we have seen an economic downturn in the UK over the past 12 months. "Ticket prices are going up and up every year, and food and drink prices inside the festival are shocking," they wrote.

'Rikkislocombe' pointed to the fact that ticket sales were only available to those who had pre-registered, unlike other festivals. "If tickets went on sale to people who had not pre-registered then it would have sold out in minutes," they wrote.

What do you think? Why were sales of Glastonbury tickets slower this year than last year? Sign in to MyNME below and leave a comment.

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Comments (18)

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markcocky1986

Apr 7, 2008

If somebody decided not to go based on Jay-Z headlining then they are a fool. Personally, Jay-Z and Dizzee Rascal performing alongside the like of Kings of Leon, The Enemy and Kate Nash, is brilliant, and shows why England is the best place in the world for live music. The diversity is one of Glastonbury's unique traits as a festival, and anybody who disagrees is like I said, a fool...

leon_mcdonald

Apr 7, 2008

I think the lure of european festivals becoming more easily accessable plays a huge factor! Although the fustration of actually tring to purchase a ticket is harsh. Last year I probably spent 24 hours of my life on the internet and phones trying to get standard tickets without success!

Christ_On_A_Bike

Apr 7, 2008

The REAL lovers of the Glastonbury festival won't be turned off by this one bit. They know that there will be so much more going on that they can simply go and enjoy something else when Jay-Z is on. Or, like me, if you're interested in seeing him perform, you can. This isn't your Snoop Dog one-trick gangster rubbish we're talking about here. Jay-Z has hooooge tunes, big strings, bass, and presence. Hard Knock Life will be awesome live. Reading had 50 Cent on a few years ago and everyone picked at it. Maybe this is what Glastonbury needs to get back to its fundamentals again. But this is diversity. Jigga is the biggest name in his genre. A bigger name than both KOL or The Verve. This should be welcomed. Also, if this is what it takes to get rid of the middle class Hooray Henrys that have suffocated the festival recently - those a little bit scared of getting mud on their nice Larua Ashley picnic rug - then so be it.

shibb

Apr 7, 2008

I think it's unfair to put the blame on jay-z for the drop in demand of tickets, we all go to glastonbury to see a wide range of acts that cover the whole spectrum of music! If you dont wanna see jay -z fair enough there's enough other acts there to pique your interest! I do agree that maybe the headliners aren't quite up to the standard of previous years, as much as i love the kings of leon i don't really feel they are a headlining act though i could be mistaken ( look at all the naysayers when muse were announced as headliners in 2004 and then they stole the show). In addition fair play the verve,10 years ago! As i havent heard any new material not sure if they warrant automatic elevation to headliner status. However i feel the main reason is blatantly obvious and is simply the weather! The last two glastonbury's i have been too have been complete washouts and though still fun do lead to a dampening of the glastonbury spirit! you simply don't have a much of a laugh cold and soaking wet. After glastonbury 2007 there was much debate about maybe changing the time of the festival to avoid a repeat this year. i know micheal eavis wanted to keep it around the summer solstice but if the bad weather at that time of year continues then we'll probabaly see a further drop in demand next year. I think depending on how this festival pans out, if indeed it turns into a washout again then he really have no choice but to consider moving the date of the festival to a drier warmer month

kerplunka

Apr 7, 2008

I think Jay-Z may cause a big reaction as a headliner, but he shouldn't be the reason for people not to buy a ticket this year. They will be dozens of artists at the same time, so I think he's not an excuse, at least for me. I'll go all the way from Chile (Southamerica) to go to Glasto for the very first time. I don't care about the mud, the rain or Jay-Z. It's about the festival itself, the people and of course, the music in general.

nick-is-here

Apr 7, 2008

universal appeal fuck offthats what makes most modern music pants

KatiePC

Apr 7, 2008

I first went to Glastonbury in 1995, and got my ticket around four weeks before the event for Â£65. The headliners were Oasis, Pulp and The Cure. None were at their peak and no one moaned. In 1997 Radiohead played the best set I've seen at Glasto, and yet people were doubting their headlining abilities at the time. Glastonbury for me has always been about the festival as a whole, not the big headliners that the commercially driven festivals such as V, IOW and Reading put on. I personally did not register this year as I feel that the festival has been overrun with people who go for the sake of going, and have killed the spirit. Last year, no one shouted 'Bollocks' over the duration of the night at camp. No one spoke to each other much, and I was shocked at how many people has thermos flasks and tartan blankets. The weather does bother some I know, but many expect that now. Many people also just sit at the Pyramid stage all day. It's almost like it is full of the population of 'the city' turning up as 'everyone goes to Glasto, luvvie' these days (only heightened by the fact of all the 'BIG' celebrities turning up). I hope that Glastonbury can now start to move on by losing the pressures and expectations that it has gained since the BBC started covering the festival and move back to a more liberated status allowing people to go that want to go to enjoy themselves, not simply to say they have been. And also the fact that Glastonbury has succumbed to allow traders to charge ridiculous money for food doesn't help the cause. Even the cheap Green Field traders have disappeared now. Bring back a decent meal for less than a fiver I say, then note the difference.

paulsimonscat

Apr 7, 2008

I've noticed a few comments here along the lines of Jay Z will at least mean there's less middle class, casual music fans here. Not sure I can agree with that - all the Jay Z fans I know are as middle class as cucumber sandwiches, trying to give themselves an edge by liking a hip-hop artist. Similarly, Jay Z is only the biggest artist in his genre because he can appeal to the casual listener - he has exactly the same audience as Coldplay or Snow Patrol.

weallo

Apr 7, 2008

Im personally not a huge fan of Jay-Z but do appreciate he is one the best rapper's on the planet and a megastar. If any of the rumours come true that he might be appearing at Glasto with the likes of Linkin Park/Beyonce/Chris Martin it would surely be the highlight of the summer?

rock and roll junkie

Apr 7, 2008

I think people have to take into account that last year they made the festival bigger, meaning they sold i think 40,000 more tickets (correct me if i am wrong..) and the registration process was new and exciting in some way.. also tickets for other festivals such as reading and leads don't normally go on sale this time of year. They don't normal confirm any headliners until the tickets are sold..people book the festival because it's exciting not knowing who it'll be to find out who it is might put people off because they feel they're buying into people they might not want to see that much.... despite there still being 700 other acts. Personally i love Glastonbury and the fact that everyones happy even though its raining and muddy.. because it is a happy place to be and the mud brings people together in a odd way..maybe its a bit muddy and its gotten a bit big these days but its still Glastonbury and last year was amazing for me.. bring on June 25th :)

sam88_watkins

Apr 8, 2008

Glastonbury is not just about the bands its the whole experience. why does everyone keep moaning about who's playing??!!! get over it. if it's that bad don't go!

meg.rah15

Apr 8, 2008

as much as Glastonbury organisers and this year Glasto-goers want to say that "this is what Glastonbury is all about" know that's untrue. Glastonbury has a huge 'indie' following. If you don't like that term, EVERYONE knows that Glastonbury is not about rap. It's clear that the decline in ticket buyers this year is because of the headliners, If it was about the mud then no one would have gone last year, simple as that. As an American, I have no desire to go this year and see more of the same bull that we constantly get over here.

Laura_London

Apr 8, 2008

Traditionally, Glastonbury has been more about the people and the atmosphere than the line-up, but based on last year's experience I'm not sure that this is still the case. Glasto has now become so "cool" that it's full of fashionistas who just think Kate Moss looks good in wellies, and middle-aged middle-class types who've read about it in the Sunday supplements. This in itself is not a problem if they actually enjoyed it, but they have no idea how the festival works and are horrified that yes, it is actually as muddy as it looks on the telly, thus completely killing the atmosphere for everybody else. I've been to Glasto three times as a punter and twice as a volunteer steward, but after the amount of abuse I took off the punters last year (seemingly not deterred by my having the name of a well-known humanitarian charity written all over me) I swore I'd never do it again. It's not at all what I expected at Glastonbury and it depressed the hell out of me, so as long as it continues to attract these kinds of people, I have no interest in going, and many of my Glasto-veteran friends are also very disillusioned by last year's experience and are giving it a miss this year. Hopefully it will eventually fall out of fashion and go back to only attracting people who actually understand and appreciate the festival, but it's in a bad place at the moment; I currently think of it as "just another festival" when it used to be so much more.

ladypenelope

Apr 8, 2008

I heard on the grapevine that Lost Vagueness wasn't going to be there this year which would be gutting if it's true. That for me is probably the best bit of Glasto.

Royalwithcheese

Apr 8, 2008

I think it has a lot to do wih the fact Lost Vagueness are not there this year.!! It seems strange that the number of visitors Lost Vagueness usually get (30 thousand...I looked it up!) is exactly what glasto are missing...I know from my friends that glasto tickets were in fact on sale a week before the official deadline too!!! as they were so worried about not selling tickets... Now they are saying on their website that LV was rubbish, but still saying that all the people in LV are in the new area...make your mind up!! LV was and always will be the best area, good luck to them that they all seem to have got out at the right time!! It just shows you what type of people are in Lost Vague as they have not commented on all the digs they have been getting from the new people in the new area...by the way the name 'shangri la' isnt even new...it was used in 2007 to describe lost vagueness, by the OFFICIAL PROGRAMME OF GLASTO....I have lost faith in them and will not be going......!!!!

MissJenny

Apr 10, 2008

Jay-Z is only an additional factor to the main reason why Glastonbury wasn't a sell out on tickets day.Last year, the festival was overcrowded and we were treated like cattle, normally in mud years, straw is put down to make it easier to move around but they didn't take any measures like that until the last day when market traders demanded it as no-one could get to their stalls.People were stuck in the car parks for 10 hours, normally the neighbouring farms would have been paid to bring their tractors and pull people out - and where were the stewards? Not the oxfam volunteer stewards, the paid transport ones - there were very few as Michael Eavis acted last year like the festival was all about making money.And whilst that could be dealt with, it's quite understandable as he probably won't be running it for very much longer (and after the disasters this year he should probably retire).The main problem is that when people were stuck in their cars, he announced on the radio that he no longer wanted his loyal fans, those that have been going to Glasto since the beginning (or certainly for longer than it's been fashionable) by saying the festival was too middle-aged and middle-class.So the hoardes of people for whom Glastonbury is a part of their lives, not just a weekend away with some good music, have turned around and said fine, we won't come.

small.fem

Apr 10, 2008

i cant wait for this year, we may moan when were there about our feet hurting, getting soaked etc but for the rest of the year we think about going to the next one. For all u not interseted in seein jay-z its no big deal as u already know theres much more to see and do, n with glasto gettin bigger this year u can get even further away. so give it a rest. Variety,... the spice of life n all that. not long to go now,. lovin it!!!! let the madness of glasto begin

Barghmyster

Apr 18, 2008

After watching Glastonbury on TV last year i was really inspired and really wanted to go this year, however after the amazing line up of last year i cannot comprehend spending Â£160 on a ticket which is why i am going to Leeds. Glastonbury should be diverse and this is why it has been so successful. It catered for the typical fans of big names such as Killers, Kaiser Chiefs, Oldies such as the Who, Band like Maximo Park who are up and coming and then bands people have never heard of like Hows My Pop a local band near me. This year it has disappeared, whereas V and Leeds/Reading have the line up which cater for everyone which is why they have sold out and Glastonbury is relying on Kings of Leon to pull in the crowds a good band they are but not a headliner!