From Charli XCX topping the bill at the brand new Lido festival, to Dua Lipa, Lana Del Rey, Blackpink and more stepping up to stadiums, not to mention biggest ever shows for the likes of Little Simz, Central Cee and others, 2025 is shaping up to be a banner year for new headliners. Here, Music Week rounds up a host of big-name executives to run the rule over a trend the industry can’t ignore…
WORDS: NIALL DOHERTY F
rom concerns about the grassroots scene to secondary ticketing, dynamic pricing and the cost of touring and more, in recent times it has often felt like the conversation around live music in the UK has weighed a little on the negative side of things. Another recurring complaint over
the years has been the dearth of fresh blood at top headline level, but 2025 is the year that particular topic is being kicked into touch. Look across festival line-ups, one-day events, stadium shows and beyond and you will witness a sea change. There are first-time headliners at Glastonbury (The 1975, Olivia Rodrigo), Download (Sleep Token, alongside festival debuts from veterans Green Day and Korn) and Reading & Leeds (Hozier, Chappell Roan). That’s not to mention mammoth statement shows for stadium newbies including Dua Lipa, Lana Del Rey, Blackpink and Catfish And The Bottlemen – Sam Fender, meanwhile, played his biggest ever
58 | Music Week
recognised as a headliner, it will be great to see that at Lido”
SAM PRINGLE, PROJECT GOLD
“Globally, Charli XCX is
headline show at London Stadium (having previously headlined his home city’s St James’ Park). Elsewhere, Charli XCX is making her UK bow as a festival headliner at new event Lido, where she also curated the bill. Sam Pringle, who alongside Twiggy Rowley won the Manager Of The Year category at the Music Week Awards for their work with Charli, says the Brat star is more than ready.
“It’s sold out, so that’s one step,” he says. “I think that globally Charli is now recognised as a headliner. Obviously, it takes time, we’re in this second phase of Brat and it is going to be great to demonstrate her as a headliner, but I don’t think we even need to do that.”
Indeed, Pringle foresees more headline slots in the future. “Culturally, there is so much cachet right now,” he says. “I think we would be able to secure a headline slot for when we come back round even without Lido, but it will be an amazing moment and celebration of the Bratosphere.”
musicweek.com
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