Music Festivals Criticized for Gender Imbalance in Line-Ups

Gender Imbalance in Music Festival Line-Ups Sparks Criticism

As music festivals across Ireland begin revealing their initial line-ups for 2025, a noticeable trend has emerged: a significant gender imbalance in bookings. Several major festivals, including Dublin’s Longitude and Belfast’s Belsonic, are facing scrutiny for their overwhelmingly male-dominated rosters.

Longitude Festival, for instance, has announced an initial line-up featuring just one female act, while Belsonic has booked only two female headliners out of seven. Forbidden Fruit, another Dublin-based festival, has confirmed electronic artist Peggy Gou as a headliner but continues to feature a predominantly male supporting cast. While these line-ups remain subject to change, the disparity highlights a broader issue of gender representation in the music industry.

Disparity in Festival Bookings

A 2024 study conducted by music research company A2D2 examined 20 major UK festivals, revealing a striking statistic: for every three male acts, only one female act was booked. This data underscores the ongoing struggle for gender balance in festival programming.

‘A Slap in the Face’ for Female Artists

Belfast-born DJ Sally C, one of the leading acts at AVA Festival, expressed her frustration with the persistent gender imbalance. Speaking to BBC News NI, she described the situation as discouraging for female and non-binary artists who work tirelessly to gain recognition in the industry.

“Seeing these male-dominated line-ups feels like a slap in the face,” she stated. “Artists are fighting for representation, but nothing will change unless promoters start prioritizing diversity.”

Sally C also emphasized how rare it still is to see women succeeding in the industry. “When I perform at festivals, people often tell me how refreshing it is to see a woman ‘killing it’ on stage, as if it’s something unusual. That’s exactly why representation is crucial.”

The Role of Industry Decision-Makers

According to Sally C, festival organizers and promoters often show little concern for gender diversity. “Many male bookers and big promoters seem content with the status quo. Some may feel intimidated by women and minorities, seeing them as ‘taking something away,’ but that’s not the case—there’s room for everyone.”

Despite the ongoing imbalance, some progress has been made. A report released in 2024 noted that the percentage of female performers at UK festivals increased from 9.2% in 2012 to 29.8% by 2022-2023. Non-binary artists accounted for 2.5% of all acts, while mixed-gender bands comprised 6.9%. However, male artists still made up the overwhelming majority at 58.4%, with larger festivals tending to have even lower female representation.

Festivals with Greater Female Representation

Publicly funded festivals and those led by female artistic directors are more likely to feature diverse line-ups. One such event is Belfast’s AVA Festival, founded by Sarah McBriar, one of the few female promoters in the UK and Ireland. McBriar prioritizes gender balance in bookings, with nearly half of AVA’s 2025 line-up featuring female artists.

“Diversity in festival programming fosters creativity and reflects culture,” McBriar explained. “Audiences want to experience a mix of perspectives and sounds, not just a single demographic dominating the stage.”

Creating Inclusive Spaces

For McBriar, inclusivity extends beyond artist line-ups. “Representation is crucial. If you’re female, non-binary, or from the LGBTQ+ community, you need to see people like yourself in positions of success. That’s how you envision your own path in the industry.”

She further stressed that festivals have a responsibility to advance cultural progress. “In Ireland and the UK, we need to push for a more inclusive and inspiring music scene. Festivals should not only entertain but also challenge norms and promote positive change.”

Looking Forward

As pressure mounts on festival organizers to address gender disparity, it remains to be seen whether major festivals will take meaningful action. While events like AVA are setting a standard for inclusivity, many larger festivals continue to lag behind.

The music industry is at a crossroads—will it embrace change, or will it continue to uphold outdated structures? For artists like Sally C and promoters like Sarah McBriar, the fight for equal representation is far from over.

 

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