Overview
- Justin Bieber performed a stripped-down, karaoke-style set using a MacBook and YouTube, sang only parts of his older hits, and lost his connection during “Sorry.”
- Clips of his minimalist set spread fast online and drew mixed reactions, while Sabrina Carpenter’s tightly choreographed, big-budget show drew less viral attention.
- Reporters describe Coachella as a content machine where brands stage activations, influencers chase backdrops, and politics are largely absent this year.
- Tickets cost about $650 with luxury packages well above $10,000, and reports say Bieber was paid around $10 million, though outlets also note his past catalog sale did not bar live performances.
- The festival’s path from indie counterculture to a polished social-media platform shapes expectations, with analyses noting male stars can lean casual as women face pressure to deliver full spectacle.