Reasons Kendrick Lamar and Rihanna Refused to Be Headliners at Coachella 2025

Rihanna and Kendrick Lamar have reportedly turned down offers to perform at Coachella next year. Although the festival lineup is still under wraps, recent sources indicate that both have given a negative response to the opportunity.

According to reports from Bloomberg, Rihanna appears uninterested in the large offers or exposure being presented. Meanwhile, Kendrick declined because he is planning a stadium tour for 2025. However, both musicians have yet to confirm the reasons for their rejections.

Coachella founder Paul Tollett is working hard to make Rihanna and Kendrick the headliners next year. With their refusals, Tollett now has to find replacements that can attract public attention and ensure the festival tickets sell out.

Bloomberg's report indicates that attracting headliners is becoming increasingly difficult. Many musicians prefer solo concerts with higher profits compared to performing at festivals like Coachella, which offer payments of around 8 million to 12 million dollars for two performances over two weeks.

For example, Taylor Swift and Beyonce can earn up to 15 million dollars in one night from their solo concerts. Additionally, Coachella has been considered less relevant in recent years, with criticism that the festival is too dominated by Pop genre and influencers.

In the last two years, Coachella tickets have even failed to sell out. In 2023, the reputation of the festival was also tarnished after Frank Ocean's late performance, which lasted only one hour and he canceled his appearance in the second week.

Other festivals, such as Lollapalooza, offer conveniences in ticket booking and a similar lineup of performers, which has impacted Coachella's declining popularity. Nevertheless, the public still hopes that Coachella can present renowned musicians that capture attention.

Coachella 2025 is scheduled to take place over two weekends, on April 11-13 and April 18-20, 2025, in Indio, California.