Has Coachella Fallen Off?

[@fldombro]

I remember compulsively checking Perez Hilton in University between 2012 and 2015 for all of Vanessa Hudgens’ outfits at Coachella. Even in the early 2010s, fashion and performative boho culture were already so prominent at the festival. I’m 31 now so I don’t recognize 95% of the celebrities attending but the evolution of Coachella into a highly commercial, influencer-centric event doesn’t surprise me. The ingredients were already all there 10+ years ago!

[@lucymoon]

Vanessa carried Coachella style!!

[@wearesurvivorsx]

@@lucymoon yes agree

[@madisongray7670]

This isn’t a topic I’d normal care to watch a video on, but I am loving your longer video essays and the research and analysis that you put into them. Keep it up!

[@lucymoon]

Thank you so much! I'm so glad you're enjoying them 💜

[@tatumtatum]

this year was my fifth coachella and i think it might be my final one. this year in particular, everything felt so incredibly expensive -- two slices of pizza were 50 quid lol. and shuttle pass + parking prices rose too. i went weekend one and it was basically an influencer party + a LOT of waiting in lines (shuttles there and back, merch, etc.) also, the whole frank ocean situation was really disappointing -- i was waiting in the crowd for a few hours and had to move to the very back bc i passed out from heatstroke. maybe this year was just too hot and expensive for me personally, but it overall just didn't feel like i was getting my money's worth. i did get to see a few of my favs who i might've not otherwise had the chance to see (labrinth, jai paul, charli xcx, bjork), but not quite sure if the $$$ equates to the experience anymore

[@MFYouTube683]

$50 for 2 slices of pizza? Sorry but even as a 30+ person with a comfortable life and a generous budget for leisure time expenses , that is just obscene to me and I wouldn’t ever drag myself to this for the money you need to spend.

[@SophiaTheresaMusic]

love the research!!! I think Coachella does need to reinvent itself to reeeally stay relevant. Though I do wonder if its just going to be one of those things where you will eventually not care if its happening or not, because it sure feels like also artists are caring less (maybe also thats just my bubble) Coachella used to be on top of my timelines through creators etc weeeeeks before it started. It seems now my filter bubble has completely ruled it out from all plattforms..

[@ohwelljamie]

I feel like it’s just a festival for phones. Every performance I’ve watched all I can see are phones. I know it’s normal nowadays for people to be filming things on their phones regardless of the concert or festival there attending but I couldn’t help but notice the amount of people filming during so many performances this year 😳 Classic “was I really there if I didn’t put it on my story” vibes

[@AlexisBelon]

Jamie! Would you mind taking a peek at my vlogs to see if you like them?

[@babsalabs3984]

I went to Glastonbury last year, I took 3 photos. My friends asked to see photos of my experience but I completely forgot to take any! My phone was in my backpack most of the time and I wasn't aware of the time. I was just shocked when I came back that people was asking for photos and wasn't interested in hearing about my experiences

[@CDavis937]

😂😂😢😢 sometimes I realize it also depends if your good storyteller

[@nicolasubi]

To the average person, Coachella may have fallen off from the media but no one ever gets it until they go. You have to go just for the music to have an enjoyable time, and if influencers fall off from it, then more room for us!!

[@RatchetHCO]

This loll. A lot of the comments here are omg I hate influencers taking photos during sets. And the answer is move about 5 steps away from them and watch the set 😂

[@ed8329]

Exactly. The quality of the sound coming from the stages, the production budget, art visuals, the enthusiasm of the performers, is all on a level all its own. I would love if they hype calmed down a bit, more room!

[@nicolasubi]

@@RatchetHCO and if anything I feel like I rarely run into influencers 😂 there’s just so much to do & see that you’re in your own world

[@nicolasubi]

@@ed8329 the EVERYTHING, they really go all out for this fest it’s something special

[@ed8329]

@@nicolasubi it's fun as hell. I've been to dozens of festivals, and Coachella is one of the best. The production value is just insane. Some iconic moments in music history have happened there because they always push the envelope.

[@soul89g]

As an attendee this year who is a normal college student from Kansas City that attends USC and worked to save money for it, I think the conception that all attendees are influencers that don’t care is so false. Most attendees at least in Weekend 2 seriously appeared like regular people having a good time. I think people from the outside have a serious misconception about Coachella’s demographics

[@ALEXISGVRCIA]

Weekend 2 > Weekend 1

[@stingray1irwin0]

@@ALEXISGVRCIA the crowds were actually way way better first weekend this year (I've been to both every year)

[@tessahodge2322]

I went to Coachella in 2009, so just before it started turning into what it is now. I remember spending days going back and forth with myself about whether or not I should go because money was tight and even back then it was pricey. I finally bit the bullet and purchased a ticket and I think that right there speaks to the change! The fact that I waited DAYS to buy my ticket and was still able to (and it wasn’t a resale!) says a lot. Overall I’d say it was cool, I’m glad I went because I got to see Paul McCartney who I’d never have been able to see play otherwise, but it was hot, dusty, you have to walk what feels like miles from the parking lot to the venue, the food is way overpriced, and yes, you can only drink in a closed off area. Which that part sucked for me because I went with my brother and his friends who were over 21, and I was 1 month shy of my 21st birthday. So I got to stand on opposite sides of a fence from them a good portion of the day. Overall I’d say cool experience, but I’ve never gone again and probably never would.

[@erinnorris]

i remember watching the livestream in my college dorm in 2013 and wishing so badly that I could be there. It seemed like THE festival. And clearly they still have significant influence, enough to draw artists like jai paul and frank ocean who haven't performed in years. But I sort of feel like coachella has gotten so big and sprawling that it's outgrown itself - i'd much rather be at a moderately sized or small festival where I don't feel like I'd have to fight to see the people I want to see (or get my view blocked by a zillion phones/cameras), especially given how expensive it is to see a fest.

[@HannahKalis]

did coachella for the first time last week. i’ve done every big US festival now.. coachella is way better than all of them. the people are NORMAL many in t-shirts and sneakers. The lineup was amazing and people who didn’t like it may find that they should go to festivals like lollapalooza. I saw so many artists i would never have the chance to see anywhere else. The sound quality was way better than any other fest, there was a stage that was manufactured to be the best sounding production in the world (despacio). The drones, lasers, and lights added a visual effect that allowed acts like tale of us and eric prydz to perform. 11/10 experience for me!

[@alirose-qi4gz]

the attendance for this year was very low, first time since 2010 the tickets didnt sell out, but I think its because the names were a little weak compared to the years prior, like last year had headliners Harry Styles, Billie Eilish, and The Weeknd (originally Kanye), apparently Rihanna was supposed to be the headliner for Saturday but her pregnancy meant no way obvs, which makes sense, but blackpink arent big enough to headline so no surprise with lower sales

[@ChristhianFerenc]

I went to Coachella in 2006 and was for the young people of that time. no popular mainstream bands, alternative, rock and more other genres than pop, no influencers, no social media it was all about the music because young people of that time was after that. it not only grew along with the technology but also with the audiences it adapts to what the young people want to see now that it is Just what you mention what it has become.

[@mrfredbasset]

I've been twice. Once when Coachella first started and once recently. I went for the music and that whole atmosphere, stayed over in a tent and everything lol. And honestly, these influencers have ruined it for the music enjoyers. And unfortunately, they are the ones giving the publicity, so the companies and brands cater to them. I won't be going again no matter who they have to perform.

[@simonefernandez6990]

This totally makes sense, I think a lot of people used to see that influencers flock to Coachella and wanted to be there too, but now the term "influencer" has such a negative connotation, nobody wants to be there

[@milikoshki]

Stuff like the "revolvefest" or whatever just makes me so glad my job isn't selling my life as "content" to advertisers... the footage of all the people at that festival hurts. We all know the second hand embarrassment when you see what it actually looks like when someone is writhing their arms in the sky or pretending to not see the camera with their spine and legs at very specific and unnatural angles for an ig video from a third person perspective... when you see multiple people doing it in the same shot wearing the same clothes it's way too much cringe to handle!!! 😵

[@nezbut7]

this was so interesting! i had no clue it started as an alternative festival, but so many do i guess. it feels so synonymous with the mainstream now. your point about what it REALLY feels like to be at coachella is never shown is also so interesting to think about. I definitely watched many a vlog in the 2010s about coachella and i never could determine what a normal attendee would be doing there. it felt like this year there was much less excitement/hype about it, so maybe it is on the way out. i hope more new/small/fun festivals come out of it! less homogeneity!!!!

[@Emmsley14]

Your video essays like this are quickly becoming a favorite of mine. You are so well spoken and I always learn something new!

[@Ms888Red888]

I went to dozens of festivals evert year from 1998 to 2019, and have definitely gravitated from warped tour, lolllapaloza, and edgefest (hello fellow southern Ontario Canadians 👋) to smaller and folkier festivals- now a days I feel like if people are wearing shoes and holding phones instead of dancing while eating an Indian taco, then it’s not for me! I feel forever grateful to have been a teenager goi g to festivals when you had to use chewed up gum to stick notes written on used fry container to an old tree stump so your friends would know where to find you after they were done watching Korn on the third stage….

[@weadeemombo8474]

omg I WISH I could've gone to edgefest, definitely before my time but it looks great. Looking forward to New Friends Fest this year :D

[@Shay416]

We truly enjoyed the last golden age eh...

[@banandababa]

I found this genuinely so interesting despite my lack of interest in music festivals. Love the video essays!

[@davidlance5310]

It should’ve ages ago, its reputation somehow gives other festivals’ lack of commitment to recycling & protecting LGBT+ rights a run for its money

[@camerontuck108]

They run a program where you can exchange 10 bottles and cans for a bottle of water (which is easy to scavenge) and they set up water bottle refill stations sometime in the 2010s. It’s a big part of the local economy in not just Indio, but the entire Coachella Valley. I think the influencerification of it needs to die off and it should return to its roots. I hope that happens as this year hasn’t even sold out weekend 2 despite it being less than a week away. The size that the festival grew into is completely unsustainable and they should’ve brought back single-day passes for weekend 2 this year.

[@camerontuck108]

Also there are countless companies that we give money to that are anti-LGBT and no one seems to make a fuss about that. AEG is one of the largest entertainment promoters in the world and a boycott of them by artists, entertainers, and sports teams would be more effective catalyst for change. I’m LGBT btw.

[@CDavis937]

???

[@CDavis937]

​@@camerontuck108 many doooo.......are you anti lgbtq this somehow to defend and argue against

[@CDavis937]

​@@camerontuck108 yeah you saying you're queer which is how you say it.....one tells me your either lying or ashamed or pathetic and sad......ALL SOUNDS horrible......and a proud token

[@orakachee]

Jai Paul was the only artist that made me care about this year’s Coachella as well and I did even watch the replay of his performance, which I enjoyed. The fact that the livestreams are accessible pretty much worldwide through KZbin (unlike Glasto for example) probably also helped to promote the festival

[@thatgirlbrinna7927]

I honestly feel this is the best year! We had black and pocs as the main performers. And it was the most inclusive I have ever seen!

[@lindseydrew9812]

To me it’s always a shame seeing the line up of amazing performers (especially this year) like Frank Ocean, Flo Milli, Rosalia, Charli XCX, Labrinth, etc when most of the people are there to network and don’t even bother paying attention to the performers. I would totally shell out all my money to see these people, but not when it’s a glorified influencer event.

[@dankins777]

I feel like this is kind of a weird idea people have about the festival though. I went this year and the crowd was losing it for all of these acts. Sure there are some influencers who go just for self-promotion but 99% of the people there are for the music, it’s too expensive and exhausting to do 3 days of a festival if you aren’t dedicated to seeing the acts

[@RatchetHCO]

I don’t get it…what aspect of the these influencers glorying their lives at Coachella effects you seeing them? Lmfao. Those artist get insane production budgets to do their best shows. Stop focusing on other people and enjoy the music

[@nicolasubi]

trust though if you do go, you’ll rarely see influencers 😂 especially if you go weekend 2. There’s so much to do, so much space it’d be insane if all you saw were influencers.

[@cherrryia]

omg! lucy moon no way! my sister and i used to watch you all the time back in 2015-18 and i was just thinking about ur videos yesterday. im so happy to see that ur still making videos and they're even better now !

[@StateofKait]

People who are calling it an influencer festival have never been there. It’s like 2% influencers and 250,000 normal people in normal outfits having the time of their lives. How can you judge something you’ve never experienced?

[@dankins777]

Right? Classic example of people taking what they see on social media and assuming that’s what everyone is doing. Most people show up, maybe snap a photo or two, and then enjoy 3 days of awesome music.

[@StateofKait]

@@dankins777 I'm so sick of the Coachella hate from people who've never been

[@tc7170]

I've been over it since it stopped being an indie/alternative festival, which are SO rare to come by.

[@Emanuela_98]

Your video essays are the best

[@rn__rina]

to a certain extent, i think coachella doesn't resonate with gen z who is the prime target market for festivals. it just gives off big cheugy vibes and gen z hates that lol. on the other side, most millenials are typically in another stage of life where their financial priority lies elsewhere. it needs a rebrand to attract new sets of audience

[@lxxx__]

lol would agree with the cheugy vibes part. also tbh just feels kind of soulless

[@maijadawn401]

love doculucy

[@lucymoon]

Hahaha 💗

[@Maevemcelwain]

These videos are the only thing i still watch on yt, love them ❤

[@melanievazqu3z]

I worked at Coachella and stagecoach in 2022 and it was one of the worst working experiences of my life. It would be interesting for you to do a video explaining how much vendors have to pay in deposits, how much they take from vendors (50%) and how they heavily regulate sales of things like water, which you have to purchase from the venue to resell. Don’t support these festivals that gouge their employees and impose heavy regulations so you don’t have access to basic things.

[@Joey-gv1fd]

As someone who has been going since 2004 this is a great video with lots of interesting facts, well researched!

[@late-start-vlogs]

I hate to be a well actually kind of person, but there was Warped tour before Coachella. It was a cross country series of tours each summer. it ended in 2019. But other than that tiny fact, I really enjoyed your video essay.

[@booksandbroadway]

Oh Lucy, loved your self-correction to call it a highway, but in California we actually call them freeways! Great video as always :)

[@untitled1464]

i grew up my entire life throughout southern California and would do summer road-trips to Indio and Coachella Valley growing up. my older sisters went to Coachella in the early 2000s when it was more of an indie rock festival, and more affordable. back then they mentioned that you were able to drive to Coachella and show up without a ticket and still get in the festival. i went to college in the late 2010s and i never went to Coachella because I couldn’t afford the ticket prices, plus I had known that area very well and would not survive the desert weather with my health issues. Coachella is definitely overhyped in my opinion so I don’t feel a need to go, but I wonder if one day it will lose its marketing appeal for good.

[@katfoster845]

It's weird how different the festival culture is in the UK and US. I've long been on the fringes of the folk scene for years. There are so many pretty cheap folk festivals. Even Cambridge folk festival is pretty affordable. Everyone camps, you wear wellies and it isn't performative.

[@treelamp2258]

Coachella looks like networking for influencers and new artists

[@k1992006]

Really enjoyed this video!! Love that you keep changing it up and educating us 💛

[@naomm8832]

i mean it is THE influencer festival but i don`t think coachella has fallen off from a musical quality. there are still a lot of good acts and sets, mostly away from the main stages. The Drama, the gossip and coachella as basically the festival influencer maybe has fallen off, the high times were 2012-2016. It has become such a clout thing that influencers just go there to take a photo before the gates and leave. but still as a music festival which coachella is and always will be, i don`t think it has fallen off in any way.

[@myjunkdrawer8014]

Personally I think Coachella would work better as a bunch of different smaller events littered throughout the summer.

[@amytobias4]

so glad you mentioned jai!!

[@booksarebrainfood1708]

This is the kind of social history I’d love to study

[@alirose-qi4gz]

the sales for the 2023 Coachella was the lowest its been for yearsssss, I just think the headline this year was weak compared to the festival falling off, like last year had huge attendance, I just think the headliners this year who get the biggest stage blackpink wasnt big enough to sell out, rihanna was supposed to headline in their place which makes sense, but they cant sell alot of regular stadium, Im not even shocked they didnt sell out considering I have friends who work in back staff of concert halls

[@edwardduarte7393]

The line ups are insane. Massive Attack to Madonna. I saw Arcade Fire, Depeche Mode and Daft Punk in the same night. I understand the draw. It's really chill/no fights. The Polo Grounds is so soft you can walk around barefoot.

[@simonefernandez6990]

I didn't know Coachella before beyonce, and then once her performance was over, I never really heard about it again

[@Shay416]

Haha BeyChella was THE moment during that time.

[@MannyMM]

Coachella is pretty much a rave now... weekend 1 is just people that got to say they went but weekend 2 is a massive party.

[@JudyCZ]

Love the video. And I don't even care about Coachella! 😁 Just desperately missing proper subtitles! 🙏🏻

[@leenanorms]

This was so fab and interesting xxx

[@lucymoon]

Thank you my fave 💗

[@VlinderLynn]

@@lucymoon sorry to say this, but some info was a bit off. I mean Moby was a huge dj already and several world wide hits like Go, Move, Feeling so real , James Bond theme and honey. Also DJ shadow was not an undiscoverd talent by 1999. Ninja tune was founded in 1990 by Coldcut. But loved you're video essay nonetheless.

[@mojitomadness9974]

I really love your new kind of content Lucy!

[@xacherrex]

Loved this type of content and hope to see more!

[@lisiledbetter8220]

yesss to festival deep dives! 🎉

[@RobinPalmerTV]

I’m lucky to have gone before the birth of Insta and such. It was a cool, credible festival back then. It’s unlikely I’d go back unless they ban phones/cameras for punters.

[@clairedennis9483]

i love your video essays!

[@dankins777]

As an attendee for multiple years I truly hope Coachella falls off the cultural radar so people that have never been to Coachella can stop passing judgement on the festival lol. I don’t mean you, but the people that act like it’s a plague on society bc some influencers show up. It’s a very fun experience with great music and I don’t know why people get so mad about it.

[@nicolasubi]

Lmao for real! They won’t ever get it til they go

[@claireyfairey07]

I LOVE Jai Paul 🤩🤩

[@harks_kr276]

I know Coachella has it's hang ups but they had the first ever Punjabi Sikh artist perform this year , the first at a huge American festival like that so I'm thankful for Coachella for the representation ngl 🥹

[@Bandanathebanana]

Loving your video essays!!! :)

[@aaliyahhhhhhh335]

People still go to Coachella ?? I thought it died off in 2018

[@AlexisBelon]

Aaliyah! Would you mind taking a peek at my vlogs to see if you like them?

[@maurawill51]

Well done, Lucy!!!

[@WaitingForTheHook]

Did you just say Moby was an up and comer in... 1999? lmao

[@redherringoffshoot2341]

the fact that Coachella when from smth that was Warptour before Warptour, to being smth for trendy douchebags and anyone who’s unironically NPC-tier since the start of the 2010s, just makes it more amusing to know that things haven’t been going well

[@rosegoesdowntoearth]

Loved this video! So interesting.

[@thebubby67833]

You don't get guest invites to reading, leads, or Glasto

[@Shakusky444]

Is that’s why they allowed people to drink outside of the beer gardens this year?

[@RatchetHCO]

People need to stop giving so much shit about how influencers aren’t paying attention to the music and taking too many photos, what’re you paying attention to? 😂. No other festival besides maybe Tomorrowland has its lvl of production/ logistics. So Coachella is always a standout. Not to mention this line up shows that they’re trying to actually appeal to a broader audience ( particularly older Chella heads) than the Top 40s only line ups they’ve pushed since 2016.

[@MissNoechen]

Thank you for the interesting video! In the future, could please consider not putting photos if someone with swastikas drawn on his face in your videos? ( 20:17 ) It has a certain vibe that I think you're not going for

[@lucymoon]

As far as I’m aware, in this context it’s the symbol of good luck, peace and prosperity in Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism - Jai is south Asian so I assumed he used it with this in mind. Apologies if this took you by surprise!

[@WestCoastCultured]

Yes it has, the crowd is trash, culture is dead. Still had a great time weekend 2.

[@JDA89]

Camp Flognaw is waaaay better of a festival

[@Benlovescheese]

Not after Fred again four tet and skillex. But next year defo… they ain’t topping that headliner ever.

[@hola_rossinyol]

It hasn't been ON for a longgggg time. Used to be cool, but years back - now it's eseentially, Fyre festival. Even Burning Man has lost it's cool as it's full of Silicon Valley tech bros 🤮

[@ifeesam]

From an influencer perspective yes but for Coachella the brand no. This is a chance for them to rebrand and make it about the music again damn it. Stop trying to make tik tok real life because it’s not.

[@KickingZebra]

it lost it's reason for being. the actual reason it even began is gone and has been taken over by the exact thing it despised - capitalism and money society. why are these brands like the Kardashian and Instagram businesses selling products and doing business at the festival at all when this is supposed to be exactly what it is not for?

[@stelladaube8437]

Jai Paul ❤

[@kinderlich]

Notice all the rude people are Estj? Cuz they are. All those girls at the beach that drive in take a selfie for Instagram and drive out...those guys are all Estj :(. Your friends with them too...sooo delicate topic.

[@kinderlich]

...I was dreamily thinking about you yesterday...it's a project where you take still shots out of your videos over the last year and assemble it as a 'Moonuary' tee shirt (collage like). Maybe ask your Sis if she can assemble it quick. Because it would be fun. ...U have really good taste... like the the tee shirt quality will be perfect. Byes (it's kind of dreamy I know :( ).

[@TheMrdominator1997]

It must be good saffron barker goes every year…….

[@krp8154]

"cocheller"

[@ClaireMonica-Art]

Being a ‘Conservative’ is not Controversial 😂

[@MFYouTube683]

Sorry but can we stop thinking in absolutes? I’m a gay man and I couldn’t give less of a sh*t who people donate their money to, what their opinions are and wether we agree. I don’t care if someone disagrees with my love-life as long as they don’t fund politicians and legislation that wants to impose this opinion on me. Live and let live - right? We need to stop making everything about everything. And honestly, you can be an open-minded and liberal individual and not be ok with the current 🏳️‍🌈-representation, the way issuesa are debated and the way people are treated by us for asking justified cautionary questions about some emerging parts of the rainbow movement

[@stingray1irwin0]

Anybody who thinks it's "gotten worse" is someone who doesn't go, plain and simple. It keeps getting better, and it's influencer culture that's starting to peak and fade

[@mnd124]

Who cares.

[@ryan_8394]

Just another WOKE creator trying to cancel Coachella, I bet you've never even been to one!

[@MissNoechen]

In which parts of the video has she been trying to cancel Coachella?

[@ryan_8394]

@@MissNoechen You didn’t saw the entire video

[@MissNoechen]

@@ryan_8394 I have, and she is explicitly saying that Coachella doesn't have to end. Which part of the video did you interpret to mean that?