Goldenvoice’s Paul Tollett talks Coachella 2025

Goldenvoice president Paul Tollett has responded to claims that “influencer culture” has ruined Coachella, while giving his take on next year’s lineup.

The festival (cap 125,000) will return to the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California, for its 24th instalment between 11-13 and 18-20 April. Lady Gaga, Green Day, Post Malone and Travis Scott will headline.

The US flagship has been subject to increasing criticism over its direction in recent times, with a Time article investigating whether the event had descended into the “Influencer Olympics”, given its popularity with online content creators.

In a rare interview with the Desert Sun, Tollett brushed off the commentary, insisting his focus is on the music.

“If someone has a hard time because there’s an influencer next to them, what about the rest of their day? People take photos everywhere,” says Tollett. “Throughout the years, there’s been different types of people here. ‘Oh, the show’s ruined because there’s too many hipsters.’ But it’s not that, because the show is the show, and some of the performances are the best performances of all time.

“We used to say ‘Wear your cleanest dirty shirt’ and now a lot of people dress up and who should say they can’t? Do you want to have fun during the weekend? Sounds great, that’s entertainment, and it’s exciting. I concentrate on stages, booking, and making sure the performances come off solid.”

Other acts lined up for Coachella 2025 include Missy Elliott, Charli XCX, Megan Thee Stallion, solo performances from Blackpink‘s Lisa and Jennie, Sam Fender, Benson Boone, Misfits, Zedd, The Prodigy, FKA Twigs, Basement Jaxx, Beabadoobee, Clairo, Enhypen and Chase & Status. Tollett says the bill has been well received.

“I’m getting nothing but positive responses this year”

“I’m getting nothing but positive responses this year,” he adds. “Someone wrote to me and said ‘Green Day, Misfits, Circle Jerks, Amyl and the Sniffers — I feel targeted!’

“Our thought is if you’ve been paying attention in the Southern California music scene, this show is for you. And if you’re brand new to the scene, it’s also for you. Green Day is still selling out stadiums and sold out SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. The Misfits also headlined [Goldenvoice’s] the 40,000-capacity No Values festival.”

Tollett also explains why the 2025 lineup was announced in November – two months ahead of its traditional January unveiling.

“We got done a little early on [with] some of the big ones, and the problem is we can’t keep a secret,” he says. “Eventually, the word starts seeping out. You tell five to six or 10 people, two or three days go by and you start hearing about it and think ‘We better just get it out there and drop it now, otherwise the whole lineup is going to be out there.’ And I don’t like it when the lineup is released piecemeal. There’s entertainment value in seeing the [full] lineup poster.”

California-based AEG Presents subsidiary Goldenvoice announced last week that its SVP Susan Rosenbluth was retiring from the music industry. Rosenbluth’s career spans six decades, which have seen her work with artists such as Elton John, Talking Heads, BTS, Keith Urban, Blackpink, Ateez and Van Morrison.

“Susan is a legend – that goes without saying,” said Tollett. “But she also charted a new course for Goldenvoice musically and made us better for it. We wish her only the best in this next chapter of her life. She will be missed by all of us.”

The company has also promoted San Diego-based talent buyer Lea Swanson to VP of talent. Swanson will serve as sole talent buyer for the Mountain Winery, as well as contributing talent buyer for multiple venues in Los Angeles.

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