Coachella — we know it, we have… mixed feelings about it? A classic festival where the average music fan can coexist with the elite; in 2025, that means influencers. Acclaimed actors attend as well, of course, and the artists that perform on stage to crowds that consist of the barricade-level social media stars and the true day-one listeners who have been condemned to the back. It seems that the festival has become yet another once pure thing that the social media monster has sunk its teeth into.
Coachella debuted in October 1999, with tickets costing only $50. Today, general admissions passes start around $600, not including parking and any other extra fees. People who don’t have the luxury of a hotel room with plumbing take to “car camping” — sleeping in their cars or tents, going so far as to bring portable showers. This may seem like extreme measures just for some live music, but to music lovers like myself, sacrificing some everyday comforts to see your favorite artists live is well worth it; although, I think the ticket price is a bit ridiculous.
The original minds behind Coachella apparently used to deflect the idea of sponsorships, insisting on keeping the artistic integrity of the event intact. Now, decades later, that’s all you see. Big brands ranging from fashion to makeup to beverages will sponsor popular influencers to attend Coachella and promote their product — an excellent marketing idea that is demolishing the festival’s original purpose.
When it made its debut in the late 1990s, Coachella distinguished itself from other popular festivals by presenting multiple genres and creating an enticing, utopian experience in the California desert. While that still holds true today, there is a certain magic that seems lost to me. There obviously wouldn’t be a Coachella without the music, but today it seems the influencers and “micro-celebrities” are playing a much bigger role in it than they should. The festival has become largely about the sponsorships, taking something that was originally for the average person to enjoy and turning it into a cash-grab. Going to Coachella is now an investment, unless you have hundreds of thousands of followers to promote a product to.
An iconic and unchanged aspect of the festival that has never failed to be a hot topic of conversation in the media is fashion. Coachella fashion is a niche style that has developed over the years, somewhat in proportion to the change of performers – from Weezer and “Space-Age silver” accessories in 2001 to Charli XCX to ruffle shorts and cowboy hats and in 2025.
In 1999, the classic and iconic festival was simply about music and community, bringing people together with culture and love of the arts. In 2025, it’s about money and racing to get a better parking spot so you have room for your portable shower. While I think the integrity of the festival has dulled a bit over the years, the fashion is one thing I look forward to seeing every year along with the lineup.
