For almost thirty years, Coachella—one of the most recognizable music festivals in the world—has delivered some of the most iconic moments in live music.
But behind the visually stunning scenes lies a troubling new reality: most attendees can now only afford the experience through monthly installment plans.
In a report made by Forbes, 60% of the attendees who purchased general admission tickets for the said music festival used financing with “Buy Now, Pay Later” payment plans.
Although Coachella has always been expensive, the cost has increased recently.
In 2025, general admission passes started at $599 (approximately Php 33,800), excluding additional costs for necessities like food, accommodation, and transportation—all of which have seen price increases due to inflation.
Monthly payment plans made it possible for potential attendees to reserve seats with a down payment as little as $49.99 (approximately Php 2,800) in order to lessen the financial load.
Instead of having to deal with the impending interest rate on their credit card, the only cost for using this service is a flat $41 (approximately Php 2,300).
When the program first started in 2009, its goal was to increase Coachella’s accessibility for a larger audience. The questionable record-breaking number of payment plans this year, however, is indicative of larger economic and cultural trends about the rising expense of music festivals.
Short-term lending services such as Buy Now, Pay Later (BPNL) offer immediate financial relief, but they can also stretch budgets, promote reckless spending, and compound debt.
Most BNPL commitments, in contrast to typical credit card debt, are not reported to credit bureaus, resulting in “phantom debt” that is not visible in normal credit assessments.
Since BNPL balances are not taken into account when calculating credit scores or debt-to-income ratios, consumers may be in a more precarious financial situation than their credit reports indicate.
Although not all consumers are maxed out, rising debt and inflation signal growing financial vulnerability. If the use of BNPL services continues to increase, regulators may step in to require more transparent disclosures.
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