noun Music Slang

Headliner

/ˈhɛdˌlaɪnər/ · noun · informal

The main act of a festival or show — the biggest name, usually closing the night.

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Definitions

1

In EDM specifically, the closing DJ on the mainstage who gets the prime time and the biggest production.

“The headliner brought lasers, pyro, the whole thing.”
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2

Loosely, anyone or anything that's clearly the main attraction.

“Forget the food trucks, the silent disco was the real headliner.”
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3

The top-billed artist on a lineup, the one most people bought tickets to see, typically playing the latest and longest slot.

“Who's the Saturday headliner this year?”
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Headliner In A Sentence

Lineup dropped and the headliner is insane, I'm buying tickets tonight.
We skipped the openers and just came for the headliner.
He's gone from undercard to headliner in three years.

Origin & Usage

From traditional show business, where the top act's name went in the largest type at the top ('the headline') of a bill. Carried straight into festival and DJ culture.

People Also Ask

What does headliner mean at a festival?

It's the main, top-billed act — the biggest name on the poster, usually playing the closing set.

Is the headliner always last?

Almost always on a given stage, yes; the headliner gets the prime late slot and the biggest production.

What's the difference between a headliner and a co-headliner?

A co-headliner shares top billing with another act of similar size, rather than one artist standing alone at the top.

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