By D. W. G. Kalani Tharanga, JadeTimes News
The Shift from Bands to Solo Acts at Festivals
Growing up dreaming of forming a band and headlining a major music festival like Reading and Leeds has been a long standing fantasy for many music enthusiasts. However, the landscape of these festivals is evolving. This past bank holiday weekend saw thousands of festival goers braving the elements to witness headliners such as Fred Again, Gerry Cinnamon, Liam Gallagher, Catfish and the Bottlemen, Blink 182, and Lana Del Rey mostly solo acts. In contrast, the same festival a decade ago featured bands like Queens of the Stone Age, Paramore, Arctic Monkeys, and Blink 182.
This shift raises the question: is the type of music we hear at festivals changing, and is it becoming more challenging for newer bands to secure top billing? The statistics suggest so. Last year, only four new songs released by bands cracked the top 100 Singles Chart, signaling a decline in the mainstream success of bands. Other major festivals, such as Glastonbury and Radio 1's Big Weekend, also saw Coldplay as the sole band headlining, further emphasizing this trend.
The Financial Struggles of Bands in Today's Industry
Welsh pop punk band Neck Deep, who performed double sets at both Reading and Leeds, have only ever known fame as a group. Yet, guitarist Sam Bowden describes bands as "a dying part of the industry," highlighting the financial hardships that make it difficult for bands to thrive. "It's financially crushing for bands now," Bowden explains. "It's hard to go out there and break even."
The rising costs of equipment, travel, and finding venues where bands traditionally begin their journey have exacerbated these challenges. In 2023 alone, 125 UK venues stopped hosting live music, with over half closing down entirely due to financial pressures. Additionally, the modern music industry, driven by algorithms on platforms like TikTok and streaming services, seems more tailored to solo acts. These platforms often make it easier for solo artists to go viral, while bands struggle with the complexities of promoting multiple personalities.
Neck Deep drummer Matt Powles notes that following a single individual on apps like TikTok is simpler for fans than keeping up with a full band. The Wombats’ frontman, Matthew "Murph" Murphy, echoes this sentiment, pointing out that solo artists are "easier to sign, they're cheaper to promote, and there's only one consciousness to deal with rather than four."
The Rise of Solo Artists and the Future of Bands
The festival scene’s shift toward solo artists doesn’t seem to bother some, like London born pop star CHINCHILLA, who performed at Reading and Leeds. CHINCHILLA, who started her musical journey in a band before going solo, appreciates the creative control that comes with being a solo artist. "All the people who I'm inspired by are big, female solo artists," she says, expressing her satisfaction with the autonomy that being a solo act offers.
Rapper Zino Vinci, who made his festival debut at Reading, also enjoys the solo spotlight. Despite his early exposure to band centric music through video games, Zino admits he prefers the limelight to himself. "You can have a band in rap, but I like the limelight too much," he laughs, embracing the individual attention that comes with being a solo artist.
However, not all fans are entirely sold on the dominance of solo acts. At Reading Festival, 21 year olds Callum Nurse, Charlotte Tambinayagam, and Saphia Lamb shared their mixed feelings. While Charlotte and Saphia favored solo artists for their karaoke friendly tunes, they acknowledged that bands offer a better live experience. Callum added that bands create a "better vibe" at festivals, with more going on musically compared to solo performances.
Despite the industry's lean towards solo acts, these festival goers all agreed that if they were to pursue music themselves, they would choose to be in a band rather than go solo, indicating that the allure of band life still holds a special place in the hearts of music lovers.
