Coachella: Music Festival or Showroom for TikTok Fame?

by: Lala Blumenfeld

This year, Coachella wasn’t just about the headliners or the outfits, it was about whether the world’s most iconic music festival has finally lost its spark. With soggy “luxury tents”, sky-high ticket prices, and fans outnumbered by “VIP” influencers no one seems to recognize, Coachella 2025 exposed a growing divide between its rebellious roots and its current celebrity-fueled spectacle.

Every April, over 250,000 people pack their bags, grab their flashiest outfits, and head for the California desert, all eager to post, party, and pose under the Indio sun. But behind the glitter, Instagram stories, and skimpy outfits lies a deep history buried in some serious controversy. 

Back in 1999, Coachella was a completely different experience. The festival’s early days were humble. Tickets for the very first Coachella cost just $50 a day, and the vibe was anti-establishment, with a scrappy and edgy scene. Most notably, there were no influencers, just music. The idea took root after Pearl Jam boycotted Ticketmaster and played a low-key show at the Empire Polo Club—a move that inspired the launch of a new kind of festival. Although it was just Coachella’s debut year, it still brought in big names like Rage Against the Machine and Beck. However, despite the star power, the debut left the event nearly $800,000 in debt. 

It wasn’t until 2004, when Radiohead headlined, that Coachella sold out for the very first time. From there, the momentum grew, and so did the prices, scale, and spectacle. A second weekend was added in 2012, mirroring the first. Iconic moments, such as the Tupac hologram in 2012 and 2018’s “Beychella,” when Beyoncé became the first Black woman to headline the festival, became huge highlights and cemented Coachella’s iconic legacy.

But with fame came friction. 

Longtime fans have grown increasingly frustrated and disillusioned. What once felt like an open, inclusive celebration of music now seems like an exclusive playground for the rich and (kind of) famous. VIP packages and “Safari” luxury tents can run from $10,000 to $15,000—yet photos from 2025 showed muddy, leaking setups that looked more like budget camping than desert glam.

The festival’s controversies don’t end with ticket prices, as an increasing number of critics have raised concerns about Coachella’s environmental footprint, overcrowding, and security issues. In 2013 alone, nearly 90 people were arrested, according to an NBC Los Angeles report. Over the years, the event has produced its fair share of bizarre moments—from Rascal Flatts announcing Osama Bin Laden’s death on stage in 2011 to Tyler, the Creator getting booted as a guest after cursing out security and launching a water gun attack.

Still, the music plays on.

Coachella 2025 continued to prove its ability to draw in major talent. This year’s powerhouse lineup featured Lady Gaga, Travis Scott, Green Day, Post Malone, Missy Elliott, Megan Thee Stallion, Charli XCX, and many more. Scott even designed parts of the festival’s desert landscape, fusing performance with production. There were throwbacks (Jimmy Eat World, T-Pain), rising stars (beabadoobee, Yeat), and surprises around every corner. The art was bold, the fashion was something… and the party didn’t stop once for two weekends straight – even in a desert city of Indio, California, with a population of approximately 40,000. 

Yet for many, the big question remains: What is Coachella now?

Is it still a festival for music lovers, or has it become a branded, influencer-driven showroom for TikTok fame? Opinions differ. For some, the magic is in the madness, and the chaos is part of the charm. For others, it's proof that the spirit of Coachella has been bought, bottled, and sold to the highest bidder. 

In the end, Coachella 2025 delivered what it always promises: a chaotic, colorful collision of music, art, fashion, and surprises. Whether it’s a dream weekend or a desert muddy mess depends on who you ask– but one thing remains constant and clear: Coachella isn’t just some music festival.