MISS SHOULD HAVE BEEN HEADLINER

By analyzing commercial success, consumer behavior, and the widespread popularity of pop artists, I observed a clear gap between audience demand for diverse artists and the equality of stage programming at Coachella Music Festival. In 2024, female artists claimed eight of the top ten most-streamed albums on Spotify. Yet, in 2025, only one out of three Coachella headliners was a woman, and just six of the fifteen main stage acts were all-women acts. Years featuring lineups with strong female representation saw higher ticket sales, while years lacking diversity experienced noticeable drops in attendance. My research dives into the financial benefits of diverse lineups in the music festival industry.