UPDATE 1/03: Neil Young has reversed his decision

Though the Glastonbury 2025 lineup is yet to be announced, don't expect to see Neil Young on the list.

Rumors have been circulating for some time that Young and his band, The Chrome Hearts, would be making an appearance at this year’s festival. Yesterday, Young both confirmed and then immediately ended, the speculation in a post on the Neil Young Archives website, stating:

"The Chrome Hearts and I were looking forward to playing Glastonbury, one of my all-time favourite outdoor gigs. We were told that BBC was now a partner in Glastonbury and wanted us to do a lot of things in a way we were not interested in. It seems Glastonbury is now under corporate control and is not the way I remember it being. Thanks for coming to see us the last time! We will not be playing Glastonbury on this tour because it is a corporate turn-off, and not for me like it used to be. Hope to see you at one of the other venues on the tour.

Young's message comes just ahead of news that Glastonbury's profits have doubled to £5.9 million in 2024, according to a report by the Evening Standard.

Last year's festival also faced criticism for overcrowding at some of the smaller stages, while this year’s event drew backlash over a new ticketing system, with tickets selling out in under 35 minutes.

While Neil Young didn’t go into detail about his issues with the BBC, his stance highlights a broader sentiment about Glastonbury’s shift towards corporate control. With the 2025 lineup still under wraps, it will be interesting to see how these changes affect the festival's future.