The Sound of Disappointment
Scotland's biggest music festival, TRNSMT, once again finds itself at the center of controversy as organizers fail to book any female headliners for its 2026 lineup. TRNSMT, which has been running since 2017, has only seen one female join a headline act—Pulp's keyboardist, Candida Doyle, in 2023. This year's announcement featured Richard Ashcroft, Kasabian, and Lewis Capaldi as the main draws, ignoring the growing call for gender diversity on stage.
A Pipeline Problem
This situation illuminates a much larger issue regarding diversity in music festivals. With international acts like Taylor Swift and Charli XCX dominating the charts and selling out arenas, one would expect a festival of TRNSMT's stature to reflect this cultural shift. Music journalist Lisa-Marie Ferla highlights the frustrating notion of a 'pipeline problem,' suggesting that festival organizers sometimes find themselves burdened by a lack of available female talent. Yet, the evidence suggests otherwise—female artists are thriving; they just aren't being booked.
"The musicians dominating the cultural conversation are all women, and other festivals manage to make it work," Ferla states, pointing to the uninspired selections for TRNSMT's top slots.
Tokenism versus True Representation
Tamara Schlesinger, CEO of the Hen Hoose music collective, expressed her disappointment while calling for genuine structural change rather than placeholder initiatives. Although DF Concerts has introduced items like the Girls, Girls, Girls competition—a means to spotlight emerging female artists—the lack of female headliners continues to come across as tokenistic.
The sentiment is echoed by grassroots organizations like Girls Rock Glasgow, which argue real change necessitates more than just a dedicated stage for women; it requires systemic support for young female artists ready for bigger platforms.
Lip Service or Lasting Change?
While DF Concerts has refused to comment on the criticism, it's hard to ignore the motley crew of male acts that seem to consistently dominate TRNSMT's top billing. I can't help but wonder: How long will it take for such a prestigious festival to engage with the multitude of talented women and non-binary artists available today?
A Call for Equity in the Music Industry
As discussions continue, the marketing of initiative pledges like the Keychange 50:50 pledge becomes paramount. This initiative aims to rectify the gender imbalance in the music industry, urging organizations to strive for equal representation in lineups.
While suggestions of gender equity sound nice on paper, they often fall victim to 'box-ticking exercises.' For TRNSMT, establishing a pledge is not merely about signing a piece of paper; it is about committing to a fundamental reshaping of the music ecosystem.
Final Thoughts
Until TRNSMT and similar festivals take a bold stand in favor of meaningful equality, we can expect to dissect lineups that fail to reflect the real world. Our cultural landscape is diverse and rich; it deserves a festival scene that mirrors that vibrancy.
Source reference: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cp8e58m78v7o
