The United Kingdom's music festival scene presents significant survival challenges due to a high volume of events, according to Peter Gabriel, founder of the World of Music, Arts and Dance Festival (WOMAD).
Gabriel, also known as the former frontman of Genesis, noted that the competitive landscape makes operating a festival in the UK particularly demanding. "I think in the festival business in the UK... we've a lot more festivals than any country, I think per head of population, so it is tougher to survive," he told the BBC.
WOMAD, which began in Somerset in 1982 and this year took place at Neston Park in Wiltshire, draws global acts. Gabriel acknowledged that while the festival has dedicated supporters, controlling the budget remains a constant challenge. He described putting on WOMAD as always being a "gamble."