A Lack of Originality: Why Several Festivals Book the Same Acts
When looking at the festival lineups for this year, the first response is likely to judge the lineup based on personal interest in the artists; while I often discuss the lineups from a booking standpoint in the podcast, I also think about the artists I like in the lineups and if it is something that interests me. Another reaction that might come up if looking at festival lineups is that a lot of major festivals have a lot of crossover between their lineups. This year, notable artists that have been booked for several major festivals include Foo Fighters, Kendrick Lamar, SZA, Odesza, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Lizzo, The Lumineers, The 1975, Alanis Morrisette, Maggie Rogers, Queens of the Stone Age, Noah Kahan, and 070 Shake. While I have never discussed this in depth on either the blog or the podcast, this is not a new trend; in fact, there is a very logical reason most do this: it is financially responsible. In general, it makes sense for a festival to target arti...