A leading music festival promoter has said “gut feeling” is more than important than social media likes when booking headline acts.

John Giddings, who has run the Isle of Wight Festival since it restarted in 2002, said performers need to be able to “deliver” to a crowd and not just keep their attention on a phone screen.

The 72-year-old, who represents artists ranging from Blondie to Phil Collins, told the PA news agency: “It’s gut feeling, really. I’ve learned the hard way in my years in the music business that some people might have sold a lot of records, but they’re useless when it comes to performing.

Sting performs at the Isle of Wight Festival 2008 at Seaclose Park on the Isle of Wight (Yui Mok/PA)

“You want to book acts that have a catalogue that’s going to entertain an audience

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