u/nachofduty

​I’ve been looking back at Coachella’s history and something doesn't quite add up regarding how they book their headliners, specifically when it comes to the "Big Three" of Britpop/Madchester.

• ​Oasis (2002): They headlined the main stage, yet by 2002, their cultural relevance in the US had cooled significantly compared to the Morning Glory era.
• ​The Stone Roses (2013)
• ​Blur (2024/2025): We all saw the clips of Damon Albarn trying to get the crowd to sing along to "Girls & Boys" this past year to a sea of silence.

​Don't get me wrong—I love these bands. In the UK and Europe, they are stadium-fillers and literal gods. But in the US, they’ve often been relegated to "one-hit-wonder" status by the general public (even if that's objectively wrong).

​Why does Coachella keep betting on these acts for top billing? Is it because the festival founders (Paul Tollett/Goldenvoice) are just massive fans? Is it an attempt to keep the "prestige" of the festival alive even if the ticket-buying Gen Z crowd doesn't know the lyrics?