Could Billie Eilish or Beyonce headline the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival? Here are the odds, according to OLBG.com and The Desert Sun.
Brian BlueskyePalm Springs Desert Sun
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Speculators are already making predictions for next year's Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival — and some say you should always listen to a bookie when it comes to the odds.
We, on the other hand, have our own opinions.
Earlier this month, the online betting guide OLBG.com compiled a list of six potential headliners for 2025. Many of the predicted artists are highly plausible and exciting. However, the final lineup will remain a mystery until Goldenvoice announces it (which historically happens in January).
Here's what we think about OLBG's predictions.
Billie Eilish
According to the bookies, this one seems to be in the cards. Eilish's possible second headlining performance tops the list at 16.7%.
But the odds are questionable. Eilish announced her upcoming world tour in April before the release of her third album, "Hit Me Hard and Soft," in May. She's scheduled to perform Dec. 15-17 at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, which makes her ineligible to perform at the festival due to Goldenvoice's radius clause that prevents artists from performing between Dec. 15 and May 1 anywhere in North America.
There's a glimmer of hope of Eilish headlining in 2025 because of a break during the European leg of the tour at the same time as the festivals. But this doesn't always mean an artist will play Coachella. In 2024, there was a possibility Taylor Swift would headline the festival during the two months off she had during "The Eras Tour." The singer didn't perform, but was spotted with boyfriend Travis Kelce watching sets by Bleachers, Ice Spice and Dom Dolla.
Eilish's first career milestone was performing a highly anticipated set at Coachella's Outdoor Theatre in 2019. When she returned in 2022 to headline on the Coachella Stage, she lived up to her status, and her dark and uplifting songs resonatedwith the crowd.
In April, she made several guest appearances during the festival, including one during headliner Lana del Rey's set and a surprise solo performance of three of her songs at the Do Lab.
Bad Bunny
In 2023, Bad Bunny became the first Latino solo artist to headline. Post Malone, Jhayco, Ñengo Flow and Jowell & Randy appeared during his Weekend 1 set. For Weekend 2, he surprised the crowd with Grupo Frontera and JoséFeliciano. Both sets were a celebration of Mexican and Puerto Rican culture.
Would the "King of Latin Trap" appear again two years after headlining the 2023 festival? He's behind Eilish at 14.3%, but there are a couple of reasons why Bad Bunny likely won't headline in 2025. His most recent album, "Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va a Pasar Mañana," was released last October, and he's been on a world tour since February that will end with a June concert in his hometown of San Juan, Puerto Rico.
There haven't been any rumors of him recording new material since 2023, but the singer and producer put out the albums "YHLQMDLG" and "El Último Tour Del Mundo" in 2020 and "Un Verano Sin Ti" in 2022. If Bad Bunny has something new to promote in 2025, he could headline the festival.
Doja Cat
In April, Doja Cat became the first female rapper to headline Coachella. The arty and sometimes erotic performances during both weekends were crowd-pleasing, and the singer and rapper shined from start to finish.
Even though Doja Cat is third on the list at 14.3%, it would be unprecedented for the festival to book her as a headliner two years in a row. After releasing her fourth album, "Scarlet," and touring the U.S. in 2023, the last scheduled concert of her world tour is in July at the Wireless Festival in London.
Beyonce
Queen B is fourth on the list at 11.1%, but after the release of her lauded country crossover album, "Cowboy Carter," in March, Beyoncé could definitely headline Coachella or the Stagecoach country music festival in 2025. Even though she hasn't announced any tour dates yet, a plane flew around both festivals in April with a "Cowboy Carter" banner, which could be interpreted as promoting the album or hinting at what's to come.
It feels like no headliner has topped her Coachella headlining performance in 2018, and fans have expressed hopes of her coming back ever since.
If we don't hear any tour announcements from Beyoncé before the Stagecoach lineup (historically in the fall) or the Coachella lineup (typically in January) are released, it wouldn't be surprising to see her name as a headliner at either festival, or maybe even both.
The XX
The XX is the most compelling pick on the list at 11.1%. Ever since the British indie band released its self-titled debut album in 2009, only two more followed, and it felt like The XX faded from memory after "I See You" in 2017. The band never officially announced a hiatus or break-up, but Jamie xx has enjoyed a successful solo career. Oliver Sim and Romy Madley Croft have also released recent solo albums.
But Croft told NME in January that The XX have been back in the studio recording a new album. In February, the band shared a playlist that included a brief sample of new music. Reddit users discovered some possible details about the upcoming release in March on the music app Shazam and posted screenshots that revealed "I See You" as a possible album title.
The XX last performed at Coachella in 2017 and Jamie xx played a DJ set this year on the new Quasar stage.
SZA
SZA is also at 11.1%. In 2022, the singer and rapper released "SOS" and received critical acclaim and several accolades, and fans have been excited for her upcoming album "Lana" since it was announced in 2023. She performed at the festival in 2016 and 2018, and was rumored to headline in 2023. Following the success of "SOS" and the anticipation for "Lana," 2025 could finally be the year.
Desert Sun reporter Brian Blueskye covers artsand entertainment. Hecan be reached at brian.blueskye@desertsun.com or on Twitter at @bblueskye.
