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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
World
Sian Baldwin

Glastonbury cannot afford Oasis, says Isle of Wight Festival organiser

Isle of Wight Festival boss John Giddings has said he doesn’t believe Oasis will perform at any festivals next summer because no-one can afford to book them.

The music mogul said he believes the Britpop band, who made their comeback announcement in August, would snub any offer to headline Glastonbury.

Oasis have already released a statement saying they would not be appearing at “any festivals next year”, and will only perform their plethora of hits at their 2025 reunion tour.

And now festival bosses say they expect that to stay consistent and for fans not to get their hopes up.

Speaking at Experience 25 – an exhibition celebrating the history of the IOW Fest – Mr Giddings told The Mirror that both the Isle of Wight and Glastonbury “can’t afford” to have Oasis as headliners “because they want money”, unlike other artists who would perform at Glastonbury “for 10p”.

Music agent Giddings also said he knew for a while about the band getting back together, which he claims was driven by the brothers’ children – Noel’s daughter Anaïs, 24, and Liam’s kids Lennon, 25, Gene, 24, and Molly, 26, who were reportedly instrumental in getting the band to reunite.

He said: “The families came together and persuaded their partners to do it.

“I didn’t even tell my wife. You have to keep things quiet, as you know it is going to be big news.”

Glastonbury famously offers low pay for artists.

Speaking on the George Ezra & Friends podcast, organiser Emily Eavis revealed how the festival focuses more on investing in the site and charitable causes, rather than turning a profit or paying artists big fees.

She is said to already be in talks over who will perform at the festival in 2025.

She said that they pay artists “10 per cent” of what they would typically receive from any other festival.

Eavis added: “Obviously, people would try and save money on the areas, but we put all the money into the areas so you do get these incredible areas that are just like another world.

“But then we also don’t pay the bands big fees, and so we’re competing with really big commercial festivals who pay bands.”

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