Leadership / 02.27.20
'Long May It Last': Glastonbury Miraculously Turns 50
Access Staff
Pollstar (02/24/20) Gottfried, Gideon
Britain's Glastonbury music festival has weathered five decades and hosted many famous artists since its founding by local dairy farmers Michael and Jean Eavis in 1970, and their children note there was never any guarantee that the event would last. Current festival co-organizer Emily Eavis admits that "we don't quite know how long it will go on for. In many ways it's like walking a tightrope, trying to keep everyone happy: the crew, the local community, the neighboring farmers, the council and the emergency services." Michael Eavis faced many difficulties over the years to recoup losses, defend the festival in court against alleged licensing violations, and meet other challenges. The festival owes much of its longevity to its management team over the years, in addition to committed people who create new sites and attractions for audiences. Particularly appealing is Glastonbury's freedom and sense of empowerment that all participants feel. See Tickets has been Glastonbury's exclusive ticketing partner since 2000, and CEO Rob Wilmshurst say millions of fans apply for tickets every year, and Glastonbury offers to resell tickets returned by customers who cannot attend. Wilmshurst praises the organizers' "single-minded vision to deliver an event that really does blow everything else away, their loyalty and dedication to their staff and contractors and the feeling that we are working for and within a family."
Read the full story from Pollstar.
Tags: Music , News