Posted on 04/15/2008 3:08:50 PM PDT by Drew68
LONDON - Organizers of one of Britain's best-known music festivals on Tuesday defended their decision to book Jay-Z as their headline act after Oasis songwriter Noel Gallagher blamed the U.S. rapper for disappointing ticket sales.
The outdoor Glastonbury festival is a cornerstone of Britain's music calendar. But this year's festival has yet to sell out, in contrast to past years when tickets were snapped up within hours.
Gallagher, whose band headlined the festival in 1995 and 2004, said rap was to blame.
"If it ain't broke, don't fix it," Gallagher said in an interview, an audio of which was posted to the British Broadcasting Corp.'s Web site Monday. "If you break it, people ain't gonna go. I'm sorry, but Jay-Z? ... No chance." He explained that the inclusion of a hip-hop act went against the festival's tradition of guitar music, adding: "I'm not having hip-hop at Glastonbury. No way. No. It's wrong."
Glastonbury Festival co-organizer Emily Eavis said the 38-year-old festival had a long history of attracting rap acts, including Cypress Hill and The Roots. She said the media stir over Gallagher's comments revealed an "innate conservatism" in some sectors of British society.
"There is also an interesting undercurrent in the suggestion that a black, U.S. hip-hop artist shouldn't be playing in front of what many perceive to be a white, middle-class audience. I'm not sure what to call it, at least not in public, but this is something that causes me some disquiet," she said in an article published Tuesday in The Independent newspaper.
Eavis said she thought Jay-Z was "absolutely the right act" for the festival.
Is this the beginning of a backlash against rap music or are there other factors at play here?
There can be no backlash big enough. Rap/Hiphop is noise pollution and in many cases, very destructive.
Worldwide who knows. But if the rest of the world stop listening to it we would still have it hear sadly.
"I didn't make a bad business decision - the non-audience are racists for not buying the tickets!" (Or maybe they're just anti-American. Would that be okay?)
Maybe it’s the typical white people’s fault.
Sounds like British fans are not very keen to get a “cap in yo’ ass.”
Gangsta rappers degrading women?
From what I have seen from many of these women’s behaviors,they are doing a damn good job of degrading THEMSELVES!
If they’re having problems selling tickets, it’s not Jay-z’s fault. The main problem is that they’ve basically ONLY got Jay-z. This year’s headliners are relative nobodies.
I wasn't exactly sure what the deal was. I'm not really familiar with Jay-Z or how popular he is. I'm more of a Les Paul/Marshall kinda guy.
I know rap still remains popular in many parts of the world (as it does here) and I'm sure there are subcultures of British youth who listen to it. Gallagher sure seems to think it is Jay-Z's fault, though.
yeah...like jayz is a somebody
Maybe it is because every year Glastonbury is like a swamp. Excuse me - a wetland.
“yeah...like jayz is a somebody”
Lol, well he’s a 38 year old rapper with a net worth of almost 700 million dollars, so I’m assuming he must be doing something right. There’s not an artist/group at the festival that he wouldn’t outsell in tickets/CDs pretty much anywhere on earth.
I found this:
Among the acts expected to play Glastonbury are the Verve, Kings of Leon, Hot Chip, Leonard Cohen and Neil Diamond.
Call me old fashioned, but Neil Diamond is the only name I recognize, but I'm not old fashioned enough to go see him.
Jay Z is just one of many bands performing there. I can’t imagine he’s the only reason tickets aren’t selling.
Look at the main line up over 3 days
Friday:
Kings of Leon
Kate Nash
Saturday
Jay Z
Crowded House
Seasick Steve
Sunday
The Verve
Neil Diamond
I see a couple of bands names I recognize on the smaller stages (Massive Attack, Pete Doherty, Ben Folds, Panic at the Disco, Amy Winehouse) but sheese, that main lineup sucks and the overall list looks weak. I blame the promoter. I think Jay Z was doing them a favor.
Plus from reading over their website, it appears the whole festival is about jamming “green” environmentalism down your throat. I’ll pass.
Who are these people (other than Neil Diamond)?
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