Elton John bid farewell to his UK fans with a grand spectacle at Glastonbury's Pyramid Stage on Sunday night, drawing one of the festival's biggest-ever crowds.
The 2023 Glastonbury Festival culminated with a bang as Elton John performed his last-ever UK gig on June 25. Although you might assume being the headline act of such a world-renowned festival would translate to a hefty paycheck, that's not always the case.
Elton's iconic performance was preceded by headliners Arctic Monkeys on Friday and Guns N' Roses on Saturday.
Simultaneously, the festival pulsed with performances by hundreds of other distinguished acts like Lana Del Ray, Queens of the Stone Age, Manic Street Preachers, and the Foo Fighters - who surprised the audience under their pseudonym, The Churnups.
Glastonbury Festival is globally recognized for showcasing the biggest artists from around the world, ranging from legends to emerging talents. Attendees enjoyed electrifying performances, with Elton John delivering a two-hour spectacle.
Previous years have seen the likes of David Bowie, Beyoncé, and Adele gracing the festival, as reported by the Mirror.
The 'Rocket Man' took to the stage, treating fans to a medley of hits from his extensive music catalog. As Elton delivered his heart-stirring performance before thousands at the iconic British festival and millions streaming worldwide, conversations began to stir about his earnings from this performance.
According to WalesOnline, Glastonbury performers typically earn about 10 percent less than at other festivals as the event prioritizes yearly charity donations amounting to millions of pounds - dispelling rumors that John had earned a £1 million pay-day.
Festival co-organizer Emily Eavis explained in a 2017 interview with BBC Radio 6: "We're not in a situation where we're able to just give people enormous amounts of money" - thereby expressing gratitude towards bands who perform at the festival, often out of passion.
Michael Eavis, festival founder and Emily's father, revealed that he paid about £200,000 for past headline sets by Coldplay and Paul McCartney. He added: "I paid £200,000 for Paul McCartney and for Coldplay, and although it sounds a lot, they could have charged me far more."
Further, Bestival organizer Rob Da Bank highlighted in a conversation with Somerset Live that Glastonbury's budget for each headliner is capped at less than £500,000, a rather modest amount for such grand performers like Elton John.
While the specifics about Elton's final performance fee remain undisclosed, music consultant Lyle Bignon, who specializes in live music venues and festivals, suggested to the Metro that performers of Elton's stature could command north of half a million pounds, saying: "The likes of Elton John and Guns N' Roses, who have decades of global fame behind them, can likely command higher prices running into the £250,000+ range."
In conclusion, it seems that Elton's glorious Glastonbury swan song not only delighted fans but also earned him a substantial sum, marking a memorable finale for his UK journey.
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