The decision by Mighty Hoopla, a prominent music festival held in Brockwell Park, to ban all independent and freelance photographers from its upcoming events has caused concern for the UK’s freelance economy. First music festivals. What’s next?
The move, confirmed by festival representative Simon Jones, raises significant questions about media control, corporate influence, and the future of independent creative work under private equity ownership.
Brixton Buzz, a local news outlet, first reported the ban, noting that Simon Jones from Hoopla stated:
All photography is being done in-house this year, I’m afraid, so we’re not allocating any photo passes.
This shift means that unlike previous years, independent visual journalists will be shut out, preventing them from capturing and disseminating their own perspectives of the festival.
Why the change of heart over freelancers?
The Mighty Hoopla festival’s new policy comes after its part-purchase by private equity giant KKR in a €1.3bn (£1.1bn) deal. Mighty Hoopla’s parent company, Superstruct Entertainment, is ultimately controlled by KKR through a company registered in Luxembourg. Critics, according to news reports, are quick to connect this corporate restructuring with the festival’s newfound desire to “control the narrative” by exclusively employing its own photographers.
“Festivals are now big business and the days of small promoters being able to rent a London park and put on an event are in decline,” reported London Centric Media. “One of the main industry trends has been consolidation, as small promoters that run one or two festivals are bought out by global festival operators.”
Is this starting a precedent?
For the thousands of freelancers who form the backbone of the UK’s creative industries, this ban is troubling. It represents a direct loss of income and opportunity for independent photographers who rely on such events for their livelihoods and portfolios. Beyond the immediate financial impact, it arguably sets a dangerous precedent. If a major festival, now under the wing of a powerful private equity firm, can unilaterally restrict access for independent creatives, what stops other KKR-owned entities, or indeed any company seeking tighter control, from adopting similar measures across various sectors?
The implications for media freedom and diverse reporting are equally stark. Local and independent media outlets, like Brixton Buzz, often depend on freelance photographers for their event coverage, offering a grassroots perspective that larger, more corporate-aligned media might miss. By centralising image production, Mighty Hoopla effectively dictates the visual representation of its events, potentially limiting the range of stories told and the angles explored. As Brixton Buzz lamented, “It’s truly disappointing to witness a festival that touts itself as fun, open, and inclusive now behaving like controlling, corporate overlords.”
Freelance photographers such as Luke Dyson, who specialise in festival photography and have had their work commissioned by Mighty Hoopla in the past, could see this as a loss of income. However, Dyson is one of the lucky ones. When Dyson was contacted for comment, his Out of Office message said he was not able to answer emails right away on account he was working at a festival. So, there is still hope.
Bye bye, indie festival owners, hello, big business
This incident highlights a growing tension between the profit-driven motives of private equity firms and the independent nature of creative work and journalism. Private equity houses like KKR, with vast assets (estimated at $710 billion), often seek to streamline operations, maximise efficiency, and control brand messaging.
“In-house” solutions, while potentially offering cost savings or tighter brand consistency, can come at the expense of external talent, diverse viewpoints, and the organic, independent coverage that often builds genuine community engagement.
The ban also surfaces amidst existing controversies surrounding KKR’s ties to Israel, which have already led to some acts pulling out of Field Day festival appearances, according to London Centric Media. While distinct issues, both situations show the broader scrutiny faced by large corporate entities when their business practices or affiliations clash with the values and expectations of their audiences and the creative community.
Mighty Hoopla said in a statement published on its Instagram page: “As an LGBTQ+ inclusive festival, we take issues of complicity and transparency extremely seriously and without any knowledge, we have become caught up in something we unequivocally stand against.”
The statement said, “Might Hoopla became part of Superstruct in April 2023, in order not only to deliver a better quality event, but also to help secure the future of the festival.
“In October 2024, Superstruct itself had a change of ownership when its then-parent company sold their interest to a new investor, KKR – a transaction that we were not involved with and had no knowledge of until its completion.”
Media, messaging and financial control
The Mighty Hoopla’s decision not to provide press badges to freelance journalists could serve as a bellwether for a broader trend.
As more entertainment and events companies consolidate and fall under the ownership of private equity houses, the pressure to control messaging and talent “in-house” may intensify. This could lead to a shrinking pool of opportunities for freelancers, a less diverse media pool, and a more homogenised public narrative around cultural events.
So, who is covering the event?
The Independent will return as the exclusive global news partner of the Mighty Hoopla, it was reported.
Roisin O’Connor, Music Editor at The Independent, said:
I’m ecstatic that The Independent has teamed up once again with Mighty Hoopla festival, the biggest, most joyous and colourful celebration of all we love about pop music.
The UK’s freelance community and independent media must now face this no freelancers allowed approach to become the norm, challenging the very essence of independent creative expression and journalistic integrity.
Get the latest news impacting freelancers every week.
Sign up for The Freelance Informer newsletter
