News

Coachella 2009 Surprises All by Actually Working

5:57 p.m. · April 21, 2009 · by Nick Earhart

This year’s Coachella fest served as something of a barometer for the music industry’s commercial viability in a recession economy: Should it succeed, then, hooray, we’ve got at least another year of major label releases and big money corporate tie-ins ahead of us. It was kind of like Groundhog Day with something at stake.

And the results are in: success! This tenth installment of the eclectic megaconcert yielded its second highest turnout to date, drawing 160,000 sweaty fans to Indio, California’s Empire Polo Field. If you’re among the 5.84 billion of us that didn’t make it, the Internet is abuzz with video and commentary chronicling the whole thing.

All of this bodes well for Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza and the rest of the stops along the summer festival circuit. And smaller scale promoters -- those in charge of, say, Pitchfork Fest -- are probably feeling the trickle-down optimism, too. Industry types and those seeking relief from the agonizing thrust of corporate meltdown rejoice. [LA Times]