English
Français
Deutsch
Italiano
Русский
Español
As Glastonbury hype dies down following last week’s festival, it has been revealed what each headliner made for their performances, with one in particular leaving fans gobsmacked.
Charli XCX was paid an eye-watering £900,000, with the 32-year-old singer seemingly breaking Glastonbury records with the huge pay cheque, which will undoubtedly have infuriated some who weren’t impressed by her set.
The Party 4 U singer headlined The Other Stage, and was so in demand with festival-goers that her crowd reached full capacity and security had to close entry to her performance.
The staggering payment by Glastonbury bosses is surprising because the majority of performers are usually paid little in comparison, with some simply given free tickets to enjoy the festival.
Charli XCX received £900,000 for her Glastonbury set
Getty
Sir Rod Stewart, 80, performed in the Legends Slot on the same weekend and received £180,000 for the gig.
It’s understood that previous headliners such as Sir Paul McCartney and Coldplay were each paid £200,000 for performing at the Pyramid Stage.
Sir Elton John was paid the highest amount to date prior to Charli XCX, with the Rocket Man hitmaker understood to have received £250,000 in 2023.
Regular concert-goers were stunned to find out how much the singer was paid this year, especially given that Glastonbury organisers have stated in the past they’d never go above £500,000 for a headline act.
Charli XCX came under fire for her use of autotune at Glastonbury
Getty
While some have argued Charli’s energetic set was impressive and deserving of the huge payment, others have blasted her performance.
The singer was slammed for using too much autotune during her set, with many taking to social media to question the show.
One X user complained: “Wow how bad was @charli_xcx at Glastonbury?? Miming to autotune shouldn’t be allowed at festivals! #GlastonburyFestival.”
“This Glastonbury set by Charli XCX is one of the worst things I’ve ever seen in my life. Barely singing, autotune in the rare moments she does sing a bit and horrendous dancing. Be fuming if you spent ages getting into that crowd only to see that,” another criticised.
Someone else simply penned: “Autotune ft. Charli xcx #Glastonbury2025 #glastonbury.”
Responding to the singer’s own post about the complaints, another responded: “‘Art’? Good god. People didn’t hate your performance because it was too challenging.
“It pushed no envelopes, it offended people’s intelligence & it bemused people who were expecting something cutting edge, exciting & original. Autotune, leather underpants & monotonous beats ain’t.”
However, many others jumped to her defence, with one adding: “Glastonbury attendees are hating on Charli XCX because she used autotune for her set. Christ all mighty… They attended a HYPERPOP/Electro set and are hating the artist for using autotune!? Most artists in this genre don’t even sing, they DJ! Clueless boomers.”
Charli XCX addressed the backlash to get Glastonbury set on social media
Getty
“Charli XCX isn’t good ‘music’ by the conventional sense. A reliance on autotune and no actual instruments on stage.
“However, putting that old-man attitude aside, she is a phenomenal performer with incredible energy. Something that a Saturday headliner needs. #Glastonbury,” another argued.
Taking to X herself, Charli wrote: “Really enjoying these boomer vibe comments on my Glastonbury performance.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
Charli XCX took to X herself to address backlash to her Glastonbury performance
X
“It’s super fascinating to me. Like the idea that singing with deliberate autotune makes you a fraud or that not having a traditional band suddenly means you must not be a ‘real artist’ is like, the most boring take ever.
“Yawn sorry just fell asleep. But to be honest… I enjoy the discourse.
“The best art is divisive and confrontational and often evolves into a truly interesting culture rather than being like kind of ok, easily understood and sort of forgettable.” (sic)