Glastonbury faces a challenging situation in a surprising turn of events: Negotiations with a prominent headliner, Stevie Wonder, have reached an impasse.
Festival organizer Emily Eavis extended an invitation for the "Isn't She Lovely" singer to headline a Sunday night slot, including his name on a preliminary lineup poster.
Glastonbury Festival 2024 Drama
As per a report from The Sun, discussions between the festival organizers and Stevie Wonder's team hit a snag due to conflicting schedules, resulting in the collapse of negotiations.
Currently, in the process of arranging summer performances, Stevie's schedule conflicts prevented him from securing the Sunday slot for the upcoming events.
his marks the third setback for Glastonbury, as negotiations with Madonna and Stevie Nicks have also fallen through, resulting in a significant void in the festival's lineup.
According to a source familiar with the situation, the atmosphere surrounding the unsuccessful discussions with Stevie is tense and uneasy.
Emily is reportedly eager to secure a stellar lineup but currently faces challenges at every turn.
She is also said to be making significant efforts to please music enthusiasts despite facing doubts about winning over Stevie's team.
Reports further suggest that Coldplay and Dua Lipa could headline the upcoming festival at Worthy Farm in Somerset from June 26 to 30, 2024.
In advance of the breakdown in communication with Stevie Wonder, an insider shared with The Sun that Stevie Wonder's management has been actively preparing for a major tour, with arranging a performance at Glastonbury being a top priority.
"He last performed there in 2010, when it was Glastonbury's 40th birthday, and the American soul legend's set went down a storm. To have him back on the farm is something organizers Michael Eavis and his daughter Emily are keen to make happen, and they'll move heaven and earth to get Stevie on the lineup."
Additionally, Stevie's group is said to be finalizing his schedule, and they anticipate solidifying the plans soon.
Is Madonna Performing at Glastonbury Festival 2024?
This development follows reports that negotiations with Madonna fell through due to the festival's decision not to meet her performance fee demands.
According to a source in Glastonbury who spoke to the Daily Mail in December 2023, the inability to secure a deal with the Material Girl has genuinely been a setback.
They explained, "Emily was so keen to have her play the legend slot. After she saw Madonna's tour in London in October, she raved about her on Instagram, something she rarely does without Glastonbury in mind."
"But everyone knows that after last year and the criticism over the gender balance, we've got to have big-name females heading the lineup. Dua Lipa is a real catch. Now we need another."
The insider went on to say, "There is still some hope it can be resurrected but it's pretty unlikely. There are money issues at the root of this, it's a real shame. The management approached music legend Stevie Nicks from Fleetwood Mac to secure a high-profile performer. However, Stevie Nicks had already committed to performing at the BST festival in London's Hyde Park.
Who Will Perform at The Glastonbury Festival 2024?
Rumors suggest that Coldplay is being considered for the headline slot on Saturday. Meanwhile, rumors are also circulating that British pop star Dua Lipa may take the Friday night headline spot, although the official lineup has not been finalized.
Allegations have also been raised against the organizers of the Glastonbury music festival for favoring male performers as headliners.
In 2023, all top slots were occupied by male acts, including Arctic Monkeys, Guns N' Roses, and Sir Elton John.
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