Coachella faces challenges as Kendrick Lamar and Rihanna decline 2025 headliner roles

Coachella is grappling with a tough stretch as Kendrick Lamar and Rihanna decline headliner roles.

Coachella, one of North America’s premier music festivals, is facing difficulties securing A-list headliners for 2025. According to several sources, Kendrick Lamar and Rihanna both passed on headlining the event despite efforts by Paul Tollett, Coachella’s founder, to secure them for the festival's comeback after a challenging few years. Lamar, who last headlined Coachella in 2017, is scheduled to perform at the Super Bowl in 2025, while Rihanna, who leads a growing business empire, reportedly doesn’t need the exposure.

The festival, which has experienced a decline in recent years due to the pandemic and unsatisfactory ticket sales, is under pressure to book unique performers to maintain its reputation. Coachella’s draw has historically been offering performances not seen elsewhere, but with artists now able to earn more on their own tours, securing talent has become increasingly difficult. A spokesperson for Goldenvoice, the festival’s promoter, declined to comment.

In 2023, Coachella’s booking of Frank Ocean ended in disappointment when the artist’s set started late and was cut short, drawing criticism from fans. The festival’s reputation took a hit as some musicians blamed organizers for mishandling the performance. With six months to go before Coachella 2025, Tollett continues to work with agents and managers to finalize a lineup that will restore the festival’s former glory.