For the first time since 2011, Coachella tickets haven’t sold out in almost six days after going on sale.
Last year marked the first time in years that Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival tickets sold out in days rather than hours. Passes for the upcoming 2024 event have still not sold out — nearly six days since they went on sale on January 19.
This would be the first time they’ve taken as long to sell out since 2011, according to Rolling Stone. At the time, six days marked a new record high for rate of ticket sales to the Indio, California gathering. Writing for SFGATE, however, Timothy Karoff notes that from 2014-2022, they sold out within a time period ranging from 40 minutes in 2015 to just over four hours in 2022.
What could be to blame for the waning interest? Social media commentators seem unimpressed by the Coachella 2024 lineup. Topped by Lana Del Rey, Tyler, The Creator, and Doja Cat, it arguably pales in comparison to monumental Coachella headliners of yore like Radiohead, Beyoncé, and Harry Styles. Music lovers who seek out lineups that highlight more novel, up-and-coming talent differ from the see-and-be-seen crowd to whom the festival generally appeals.
Coachella, which is organized by AEG Presents subsidiary Goldenvoice, debuted in 1999, originally as a two-day event. Over the course of its lifetime, the event has expanded to six days across two consecutive weekends, billing headliners like Daft Punk, Jay-Z, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and even a hologram of the late Tupac Shakur.
The first time Coachella sold out was in 2004, when Radiohead, The Cure and the Pixies topped the bill. It failed to sell out once more in 2008, when Roger Waters, Jack Johnson, and Prince headlined. When the festival explosion of the next several years took hold, however, Coachella was in a prime position to dominate.
Coachella 2024 will take place from April 12 – 14 and April 19 – 21 at the Empire Polo Fields in Indio, California. Tickets and additional information are available on the event website.
