Neil Young pulls out of performing at Glastonbury due to BBCs “corporate control”

Neil Young has confirmed he will not be performing at Glastonbury Festival this year, as he said he believes that the event is under the BBC’s “corporate control”.

In a recent post on his website, Young, 79, who has released a remarkable 44 studio albums, said: "The Chrome Hearts and I were looking forward to playing Glastonbury, one of my all-time favourite 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.

The artist, whose first US No.1 was with Harvest in 1972, added: "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.

"Hope to see you at one of the other venues on the tour."

Young is no stranger to going against the current and speaking up against the corporate world. Although his music is now available on Spotify, in 2022 he removed his music from the platform, due to Spotify’s deal with Joe Rogan and his promotion of anti-vaccine rhetoric.

In 2023, the musician criticised Ticketmaster for their practice of raising ticket prices and adding fees.

Young is also a prominent figure in environmental spirituality and activism through his lyricism, sending political messages through songwriting. This can be seen in his 2006 album Living With War, and 2003’s Greendale.