Coachella 2009: The ongoing lineup drama

It seems like this years Coachella lineup is taking forever to be announced. Last year the lineup was revealed on the 21st of January. When news came that the festival was moving up their dates this year by a week (now the 17th-19th) – many assumed the lineup announcement would come on the 21st again, or maybe even sooner. Well 5 days later and we still have no line up, and no one seems to have any concrete details as to when it will actually be announced.

San Diego radio stations reported that Monday the 26th was finally the day. Then LA based radio station KROQ updated their twitter saying that it was going to be postponed. They would later scratch that, and post that they had plans to announce the lineup today, in the morning. So morning comes, and guess what – it has indeed been delayed. KROQ’s DJ Bean left us with this:

You know it has nothing – not one thing – to do with us. coachella
called us yesterday to say their announcement wasn’t going to be
ready for this morning. we wish it were. i prOmise we will announce
it as soon as we get it.

Bean

As soon as they get it? How did we go from the line up being announced Monday, then Tuesday , to when we get it? Because as to when radio stations actually get the lineup is totally up to Golden Voice, and GV haven’t made any comments or updates as to when they actually plan to reveal the lineup. Rumor circulating is the delay is the result of them trying to get some big act or acts to agree to headline. Well, if the lineup reveals lackluster headliners, people will be wondering what poor shmuck made us wait this long.

In the end, the lineup will probably be announced very soon. But I really hope in the future, Golden Voice takes more control over their publicity. Stop leaving your supporters in the dark by leaving your announcements up to radio stations and blogs. Instead, start updating the festivals actual site, and give us a time frame as to when you plan on releasing the lineup. Or a simple “it won’t be ready for a couple days” would be nice. And no one has a problem with you taking your time. Signing that many artist, and running a festival is very complex. But all of this waiting without any official word is beyond ridiculous. Hopefully the wait will be worth it, and the lineup will be stellar – one can only hope. Keep checking back for more updates, as soon as the lineup is posted, we will also re-post it here.

– Brent Koepp