Neil Young Pulls Out of Glastonbury, Citing BBC’s “Corporate Control”

Legendary Canadian musician Neil Young has made the decision to withdraw from this year’s Glastonbury Festival, pointing the finger at the BBC’s “corporate control” as the reason for his departure. In a post on his website, the Neil Young Archives, Young announced that he and his band, the Chrome Hearts, will not be taking the stage at the renowned U.K. music event in June.

In his statement, Young expressed his disappointment, saying, “The Chrome Hearts and I were looking forward to playing Glastonbury, one of my all-time favorite outdoor gigs. We were informed that the BBC, now a partner in Glastonbury, wanted us to adhere to certain guidelines that did not align with our artistic vision.”

Young went on to criticize the festival’s shift towards corporate influences, stating, “It seems Glastonbury is now under corporate control and is not the way I remember it being. We will not be participating in Glastonbury on this tour because it has lost its authenticity and appeal for me. I hope to connect with fans at other venues on the tour.”

Although Young had not been officially announced as part of the festival lineup, he has previously headlined Glastonbury in 2009, sharing the stage with music icons like Bruce Springsteen and Blur. However, only snippets of Young’s performance were broadcast by the BBC, prompting backlash from fans. The BBC defended its coverage, stating that negotiations with Young’s management had been ongoing.

The BBC has been a broadcasting partner of Glastonbury since 1997, taking over from Channel 4. Despite Young’s withdrawal, tickets for this year’s festival sold out in just 32 minutes. Scheduled for June 25-29, the full lineup for the event has yet to be unveiled. The only confirmed performer so far is Rod Stewart, who will be taking on the coveted Glastonbury legends slot after headlining the festival in 2002. Last year’s festival featured headline performances from Dua Lipa, Coldplay, and SZA.

As of now, neither the BBC nor the Glastonbury Festival has responded to requests for comments from CBC News.