Glastonbury 2025: Neil Young’s Set Missing from BBC Coverage Amid Past Dispute

Neil Young’s Glastonbury 2025 headline set won’t be broadcast by BBC, stirring buzz after prior disagreements with the festival’s corporate ties.

Neil Young’s Absence from BBC’s Glastonbury Broadcast

Fans gearing up for Glastonbury 2025 might be surprised to learn that although Neil Young is set to headline the iconic Pyramid Stage with his band, The Chrome Hearts, his performance is absent from the BBC’s official coverage lineup. The highly anticipated slot is scheduled for Saturday, June 28, nestled between The 1975’s Friday opener and Olivia Rodrigo’s closing Sunday set.

The BBC has announced plans to broadcast up to 90 hours of performances via TV, radio, and digital platforms like BBC iPlayer and BBC Sounds, encompassing five main stages: Pyramid, Other, West Holts, Woodsies, and The Park. However, Neil Young’s headline act is noticeably missing from these broadcast schedules.

BBC’s Glastonbury 2025 Coverage Lineup

While Neil Young’s set isn’t listed, other artists scheduled for coverage on Saturday include:

• JADE
• Brandi Carlile
• Weezer
• Good Neighbours
• John Fogerty
• Gary Numan
• Ezra Collective
• Amyl & The Sniffers
• Beth Gibbons
• The mysterious ‘Patchwork’

Additionally, Charli XCX’s set on The Other Stage and Doechii’s performance at West Holts will be broadcast live, despite coinciding with Neil Young’s time slot.

Interestingly, both other Pyramid Stage headliners, The 1975 and Olivia Rodrigo, have their sets confirmed for TV and radio broadcast.

Background: Neil Young’s Prior Comments on Glastonbury and BBC

The BBC hasn’t explicitly explained why Neil Young’s headline set is excluded, but the roots may trace back to the singer’s previous public remarks about Glastonbury’s partnership with the broadcaster.

Last year, Neil Young shocked fans by announcing he was pulling out of Glastonbury 2025, citing “creative differences” and expressing frustration over the festival’s new corporate control linked to the BBC. He stated:

“The Chrome Hearts and I were looking forward to playing Glastonbury, one of my all time favorite outdoor gigs. We were told that BBC was now a partner in Glastonbury and wanted us to do a lot of things in a way we were not interested in... It seems Glastonbury is now under corporate control and is not the way I remember it being. Thanks for coming to see us the last time! We will not be playing Glastonbury on this tour because it is a corporate turn-off, and not for me like it used to be.”

However, just days later, Neil Young reversed his decision, clarifying the initial withdrawal was due to misinformation:

“Due to an error in the information received, I had decided to not play the Glastonbury festival, which I always have loved. Happily, the festival is now back on our itinerary and we look forward to playing! Hope to see you there!”

Festival organizer Emily Eavis also expressed enthusiasm about Neil Young’s return:

“What a start to the year! Neil Young is an artist who’s very close to our hearts at Glastonbury. He does things his own way and that’s why we love him. We can’t wait to welcome him back here to headline the Pyramid in June.”

Uncertainty Around Broadcast Decisions

A BBC spokesperson commented on the lineup and coverage excitement, stating:

“There’s always great excitement about Glastonbury’s bookings and who will appear at the legendary festival. We’ll talk more about our broadcast plans as the line-up shapes up.”

Despite this, no clear explanation has been offered regarding the omission of Neil Young’s performance from the broadcast schedule. Both the artist and the BBC have remained silent on the potential lack of coverage.

Whether any updates will surface as the festival opens remains to be seen.

Neil Young’s Return to Glastonbury’s Pyramid Stage

This 2025 appearance marks Neil Young’s return to the Pyramid Stage after headlining in 2009. His 2009 show was memorable, closing with an electrifying “Rockin’ In The Free World” and a heartfelt cover of The Beatles’ “A Day In The Life.” That earlier headline came after an injury forced him to cancel a scheduled 1997 appearance.

Earlier this month, Neil Young kicked off his 2025 world tour with Chrome Hearts, performing rare live classics, warming up fans ahead of Glastonbury.

Looking Ahead: Glastonbury 2025 and Beyond

This edition of Glastonbury will be the last before the festival takes a fallow year in 2026. Notably, tickets for the 2025 festival sold out in just 32 minutes last November, facilitated by a new queuing system designed to streamline access.

Stay tuned for more festival updates and live coverage as the event unfolds.

Are you planning to catch Neil Young’s show live at Glastonbury, or will you be tuning in to other broadcasts instead?

Frequently Asked Questions

• Why is Neil Young’s Glastonbury 2025 set not on BBC’s broadcast schedule?
  The BBC hasn't given an official reason, but it may relate to past creative disagreements between Neil Young and the festival’s partnership with BBC.
• Who are the other headliners for Glastonbury 2025?
  The 1975 and Olivia Rodrigo are the other two Pyramid Stage headliners confirmed for this year.
• Will Neil Young’s set be available to stream anywhere else?
  As of now, no alternative broadcasts or streams for Neil Young’s set have been announced.
• Has Neil Young played Glastonbury before?
  Yes, he headlined the Pyramid Stage in 2009 and was scheduled to perform in 1997 before withdrawing due to injury.
• When is Glastonbury 2025 taking place?
  The festival runs over the weekend of June 27–30, 2025.

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