Around 60% of Coachella’s Ticket Buyers Are Using Payment Plans, According to a Recent Report
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In the world of music festivals, ticket prices are steadily increasing, leading many fans to explore alternative payment options to secure their spots. A recent report by Billboard reveals that at Coachella, one of the most popular music festivals in the world, approximately 60% of ticket buyers chose to utilise payment plans to purchase their tickets. With over 80,000 attendees at the festival, this payment method has become a popular choice for festival-goers looking to spread out the cost of their tickets.
Coachella’s payment plan scheme is operated in partnership with AXS, offering attendees the flexibility to reserve their tickets with a down payment as low as $49.99, and pay off the remaining balance over several months. However, an additional $41 charge is applied for using this service. Ticket prices for Coachella start at $649, a significant increase from the $429 price point in 2020. Additionally, payment plans are also available for shuttle passes and hotel accommodations for the duration of the festival.
The buy-now-pay-later program was first introduced by Coachella in 2009 with only 18% of attendees opting for this payment option. Currently, other notable festivals like Lollapalooza, Electric Daisy Carnival, and Rolling Loud are also seeing a majority of their tickets being purchased through payment plans. This trend reflects a shift in consumer behaviour towards seeking alternative payment solutions for high-cost items like festival tickets.
Social media platforms have been abuzz with reactions to the report, with mixed opinions on the use of payment plans. While some users expressed support for the interest-free payment option, others raised concerns about financial implications. There were contrasting viewpoints, with one user criticising, “Broke people will do anything to look rich,” while another defended the practice, stating, “People finance things all the time. It’s nothing new in today’s consumer landscape.”
The 2025 edition of Coachella took place over two weekends in April and boasted a stellar lineup of headliners including Lady Gaga, Post Malone, Green Day, and Travis Scott. The festival was not short of memorable moments, from surprise guest appearances to unexpected incidents like a firework sparking a palm tree on fire during Green Day’s performance. Each day was filled with excitement and anticipation as attendees immersed themselves in the music and festivities.
Overall, the increasing popularity of payment plans for festival tickets reflects the evolving preferences and financial circumstances of music fans. By offering flexible payment options, festivals like Coachella are making it more accessible for a wider audience to experience their world-class events. As the music festival landscape continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how payment trends shape the future of live events and fan experiences.