You know that lovely time of year when performers begin to announce their attendance at Coachella? When celebrities and influencers begin to dress in fringe, crochet, and flower crowns as though they’re getting ready for Woodstock? And your heart hurts a bit because everyone else appears to be going to Coachella but you. Coachella has essentially become its own fashion season. This was not always the case. So, who founded Coachella and how did it get started?
These are critical topics to consider if we want to comprehend the true cultural consequences of Coachella on society. Let’s take a look at how Coachella got established and what the festival’s founders had in mind. Then we’ll talk about where it is today and where it may go.
How did Coachella begin
Everything has to start somewhere, and Coachella, like many modern cultural forces, has modest origins.
Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival was founded in 1999. It was founded by Paul Tollett and Rick Van Santen, two promoters who formerly worked for Goldenvoice, the organization that stages Coachella. It was designed after European festivals and marketed as a celebration of art rather than radio success.
Coachella was founded by promoters Tollett and Van Santen. They held their event barely a few months after the absolute and utter failure that was the Woodstock festival in 1999.
Given Van Santen’s love of punk and alternative music, it’s no surprise that their inaugural lineup comprised Rage Against the Machine, Beck, and Morrissey. Goldenvoice intended for Coachella to be a display of talent rather than celebrity.
When Van Santen and Tollett founded Coachella, they intended it to be a high-quality event with pioneering and engaging acts and a diverse spectrum of genres. When the dust cleared, they were successful but far from lucrative, having sold just one-third of the tickets required. Fortunately, times have changed, and Coachella is now one of the greatest names in music events.
When was the first Coachella
Coachella is already a household brand, although it hasn’t been around as long as other well-known festivals.
The inaugural Coachella took place on October 9th and 10th, 1999 at the Empire Polo Club in California. It attracted little attention, which is why it was discontinued in 2000 before being reintroduced in 2001. It has only grown in popularity since then as a result of star guests.
The inaugural Coachella festival took place in 1999. As of the writing of this article, Coachella is 23 years old, which means it is old enough to drink and vote. But it seems like it’s been around forever because of how productive and popular it has grown.
We’ll get to Coachella’s departure from its origins later, but for now, let’s get the facts straight.
Why is it called Coachella
Even the word Coachella seems bohemian and elitist. And there is also disagreement over the significance of the word itself. However, it is evident why the Coachella event is named Coachella.
So, where does it originate? Nowadays, people tend to believe that marketing teams come up with everything. Coachella, on the other hand!
Coachella is called after the Coachella Valley in Indio, California, where it takes place. Coachella takes place at the Empire Polo Club. Because Coachella isn’t simply about music, the full name is the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. They’re also known for Robert Bose’s Balloon Chain, among other things.
How many people attend Coachella
Coachella is a tremendous appeal since it is so many things at once (music, art display, festival experience, and more). So, how many people go to Coachella each year?
Coachella tickets were sold in excess of 250,000 in 2017. According to Billboard, Goldenvoice established a new record with sales of roughly $115 million. In general, attendance has ranged between 150,000 and 200,000 people. The event was canceled in 2020 and 2021 owing to Covid-19.
Numbers for 2020 have not yet been publicly announced, and 2022 has not yet been completed, but given that tickets were sold out again, we may presume the similar figures. The number of attendees at Coachella 2022 is expected to be approximately 200,000, not including digital experiences.
Coachella will launch a new feature dubbed the Coachellaverse in 2022, which will provide ticket holders with access to internet material. There’s also a Fortnite connection with outfits inspired by festival attire, as well as a few other bonuses stated on their website.
At the moment, it seems that the majority of features are only accessible to ticket holders. Will these privileges be available for purchase to non-attendees in the future? If this is the case, it may blur the boundary in terms of their statistics, much as streaming has done for movie releases at the box office.
Coachella 1999 lineup
Let’s go back to the original Coachella lineup from 1999. Who was present?
Coachella’s 1999 weekend program includes several well-known performers. The headliner was Beck, while other performers included Morrissey, The Chemical Brothers, Tool, Moby, and Modest Mouse. Because of their punk and alternative leanings, there are many DJs and alternative performers. There is a lot more pop nowadays.
1999 Coachella Setlist
- Beck
- The Chemical Brothers
- Morrissey
- Perry Farrel
- Underworld
- Art of Noise
- Rage Against the Machine
- Tool
- Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals
- Moby
- Gus Gus
- And more!
Coachella’s website has released all previous setlists. There has been chamber pop, hardcore punk, and everything in between. Check them out and tell us which one you’d go to if you had a time machine in the comments. For us, it has to be 2008 only for Prince.
Coachella 2022 lineup
Incredible performers will perform at Coachella this year. The well ran empty in 2019 and 2020, but the artists have returned in full force. Let’s speak about who will be attending Coachella this year.
Harry Styles will be the headliner in Coachella 2022. Billie Eilish, Carly Rae Jepsen, and rappers such as Doja Cat and Megan Thee Stallion will also perform. Legendary composer Danny Elfman, Mongolian metal band The Hu, Nathy Peluso, and Swedish post-punk band Viagra Boys are among the musicians who are trending less mainstream.
To summarize, this year’s Coachella lineup has a lot to enjoy.
Is there anybody else you believe should have been included? Create your ideal festival lineup in the comments, and tell us who you’d want to see – the more obscure, the better!
Fun facts about Coachella
Here are some interesting facts about Coachella. Leave your thoughts in the comments! Did you recognize any of these?
- Holographic Tupac first appeared at Coachella in 2012.
- In 20 years, the price of a ticket has almost tripled, from $50 to over $500 this year.
- The popularity of Coachella spawned numerous more Goldenvoice events. The Stagecoach Country Music Festival is even held in the Coachella Valley.
Who started Coachella: Final thoughts
In 1999, one of the most legendary music events in the United States had modest beginnings. However, it is now a who’s who of cultural tastemakers, attended by everyone from celebrities to influencers to regular people.
The cost of visiting Coachella has risen over the years, making it too expensive for the ordinary individual to attend. Nonetheless, with such major headliners and such a significant effect, Goldenvoice would be hard-pressed to come up with a better approach to avoid attendance from spiraling out of hand.
Could there be a remedy in the works? With the addition of digital experiences to this year’s ticket holder benefits, they seem to be ready to test the waters of virtual attendance. Will virtual reality make it possible for more people to attend Coachella? Leave your thoughts in the comments.
