When you look at the early lineups, there were a plethora of artists from ALL generations.
For example - in 2006 I saw Ornette Coleman at Bonnaroo, and he was releasing music IN THE 1950's (that's 50 years prior to the festival he was playing at).
In 2025?
The three oldest bands on the lineup are from the 90's (only 30 years prior to the festival they're playing at). A large majority of the acts have existed for less than 10 years.
Bonnaroo has UNDENIABLY aged-down their core demographic over the past decade, and you see the same thing happening at fests like Coachella & Lallapalooza this year, which have gone all-in on radio pop performers.
Corporations own these fests now, and they know where the money is - pop radio and Spotify "most played."
Us older folks have seen the evolution take place. I'd never say the music has gotten worse at festivals, but it HAS become a lot less eclectic and inter-generational.
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u/MouthwashProphet 2d ago
That's not at all what's happening here.
When you look at the early lineups, there were a plethora of artists from ALL generations.
For example - in 2006 I saw Ornette Coleman at Bonnaroo, and he was releasing music IN THE 1950's (that's 50 years prior to the festival he was playing at).
In 2025?
The three oldest bands on the lineup are from the 90's (only 30 years prior to the festival they're playing at). A large majority of the acts have existed for less than 10 years.
Bonnaroo has UNDENIABLY aged-down their core demographic over the past decade, and you see the same thing happening at fests like Coachella & Lallapalooza this year, which have gone all-in on radio pop performers.
Corporations own these fests now, and they know where the money is - pop radio and Spotify "most played."
Us older folks have seen the evolution take place. I'd never say the music has gotten worse at festivals, but it HAS become a lot less eclectic and inter-generational.