Coachella isn’t that fun when you don’t have the money for it
By JHANA RHODES—jsrho@ucdavis.edu
Coachella 2025 has officially wrapped after two weeks of iconic performances featuring some of the most talented artists in the world. Lisa and Jennie from Blackpink, Lady Gaga, Megan Thee Stallion, Charli XCX and Green Day were some of the many talented artists that performed at Coachella this year. Amidst the absurdly overpriced refreshments, dust devils and a surprise guest appearance from Bernie Sanders, what really made this year’s festival truly unforgettable were the glaring disparities in social and economic dynamics amongst the VIPs and everyone else.
The rift was clear: While the wealthy, celebrities and influencers ate $1,000 dinners at Nobu and enjoyed the privileges of non-existent wait times, the rest of us common folk spent what felt like an eternity in lines for everything from entry to the campsites to the showers and even to the stinky porta-potties. This great divide in the Coachella experience shows us that the status symbol the music festival claims to be remains unattainable for many. In fact, it shows us that universal access to hedonistic pleasure is, unfortunately, a myth.
Hedonism is a philosophical concept that defines the pursuit of pleasure as the most important goal in life. In other words, this means seeking out experiences (physical or mental) that you enjoy while avoiding what causes worry or pain. Because we are talking about Coachella, this could mean seeking out a wide range of experiences, such as paying for a $649 general admission (GA) ticket to experience sensory pleasures such as good music and delicious and diverse food options, to more emotional pleasures like seeking social connections, excitement or joy. Since 1999, Coachella has had various vibrant art installations, interactive activities and musical performances. It has marketed itself as the golden standard for a good period of time.
Coachella’s promise of hedonistic pleasure is quickly debunked when you realize that to truly enjoy your experience, you need to be rich, a celebrity or an influencer. If you’re not any of those, you better hope to be on a first-name basis with one of the artists. While a few of the privileged attendees stay in palm spring villas and are invited to various air-conditioned brand events and star-studded pre-parties, the remaining 60% of ticket holders who purchased a GA ticket by using a payment plan (nothing wrong with that!), were sleeping in makeshift tents, packed in like sardines in a crowded GA standing area.
Of course, anyone looking for a little more luxury can purchase a VIP festival pass for the small price of $1,399. And, if you don’t want to wait over four hours in traffic to enter the campgrounds, you can always stay in an Airbnb or hotel, with prices ranging upwards of $300 (depending on the accommodation). And don’t even get me started on how much you have to pay when you get hungry.
With all of the astronomically inflated costs, it’s become apparent that attendees on a budget are forced to pick which experiences they value more: food, shelter or music. The more money and influence you have, the better your experience will be at Coachella, whether it’s access to exclusive opportunities, improved amenities or a better viewing experience. In cases like this, money really does buy happiness.
Coachella’s cultural prominence comes from its star-studded line-up, abundant celebrity attendance and its virality on social media. However, this air of exclusivity only adds to the economic exclusion we see year after year at Coachella. While Coachella is a great festival to experience at least once, if you don’t have the money for it, you’ll have a different experience than those in the VIP sections.
Written by: Jhana Rhodes— jsrho@ucdavis.edu
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