Coachella is known for offering fans access to some of the biggest names in music. A-list stars such as Beyoncé, Coldplay, Lady Gaga, Lana Del Rey, and more have had iconic performances at the festival, but underneath the bold-font headliners is a more diversified lineup of established acts and up-and-coming artists buzzing with excitement. As The Guardian said, the range and representation at Coachella offered both high-profile and genre-pushing artists across its many stages.
The name of the game should be intentional festival booking. When scouting for talent, think of it as an artistic endeavor. You're creating a storyline for fans to delve into. Acts from every walk of life, level of fame, and genre. Someone to build the crowd up, someone to keep them engaged when it’s 100+ degrees out, and someone to bring it all home when it’s 11 p.m. and everyone’s thinking about where to meet the Uber. A multi-staged event has the opportunity for you to create a perfectly intertwined crossover storyline, where fans can pick their preferred choice or make a mad dash from stage to stage to see as many acts as possible.
While some festivals focus on just one genre, you’ll want to diversify the portfolio of your lineup. Include a mix of rap, pop, country, EDM, R&B, blues, jazz, folk, and more. The goal is to get people in the door, and you want to make sure there's something for everyone so your music festival can truly thrive.
If you're working with a smaller budget, you’ll want to balance local talent with some larger regional acts. You never know who will be the next big thing. Artists like The Weeknd and SZA used to perform for crowds of 100 people – for the price of a hamburger. Booking emerging artists alongside established performers creates discovery moments that festival-goers remember.
Another aspect to consider beyond genre and eras of music is the diversity of orientation. Pitchfork has led the way by including more LGBT performers in their festival lineup. The 2024 Chicago edition featured a number of queer performers including Yaeji, Doss, 100 gecs, MUNA, and Brittany Howard, alongside on-site LGBT organizations and queer-friendly vendors. Beyond their main festival, Pitchfork also partnered with Them for “Night Out,” a Pride Month concert series that celebrated queer artistry in a dedicated space.
Degy has also led the way through our involvement with LGBTQ+ performers such as Kate Sisk, Sam Morrison, Danny Franzese (Mean Girls), Chibbi, & Lakin.
A great festival lineup isn’t just about who’s playing, it’s about how it all fits together. With smart pacing, genre balance, and intentional curation, festivals of any size can deliver a weekend that feels unforgettable from start to finish. This level of thoughtful festival planning on your part keeps the experience engaging beyond just the headliners, making room for discovery, diversity, and deeper connection. It’s not just a schedule; it’s your story unfolding on stage.
At Degy Entertainment, we specialize in festival talent booking and music festival curation for events of all sizes. Whether you’re planning a major multi-day festival or an intimate local music event, our extensive roster includes headliners, emerging artists, and diverse performers across every genre.
Contact our festival booking team to start building a lineup that will make your event unforgettable.
A successful festival lineup balances headliners with emerging artists, diversifies across genres, considers pacing throughout the day, and reflects audience demographics. Strategic festival curation creates discovery moments while delivering marquee names that drive ticket sales.
Book festival headliners 6-12 months in advance for best availability, especially for summer festivals when demand is highest. Supporting acts and emerging artists can often be booked 3-6 months out. Early festival booking also allows more time for promotion and ticket sales.
Diversify your festival lineup by including multiple genres (rock, hip-hop, EDM, country, indie, etc.), balancing veteran performers with emerging artists, representing different demographics including LGBTQ+ artists, and booking acts at various career stages from local talent to headliners.
Festival booking costs vary dramatically based on artist popularity, festival size, and location. Headliners can range from tens of thousands to millions of dollars, while emerging and local artists may cost a few thousand. A balanced approach mixing tier levels helps optimize festival budgets.
Multi-stage festival planning involves strategic scheduling to minimize conflicts between popular acts, creating natural crowd flow between stages, balancing genres across simultaneous time slots, and pacing energy levels throughout the day to maintain engagement.
A diverse festival lineup represents multiple genres, features artists of different backgrounds and identities including LGBTQ+ performers, balances gender representation, includes international and local acts, and considers accessibility for attendees with disabilities.
Small festival organizers should balance their desire for a marquee name with budget realities. Often, booking strong regional headliners plus promising emerging artists creates better overall value and discovery opportunities than overspending on one major act.
Discover emerging festival talent through music blogs, streaming platform playlists, local venue shows, music industry showcases, social media trends, and working with experienced festival booking agents who track rising artists before they break mainstream.
Festival curation is the strategic art of selecting and scheduling performers to create a cohesive experience. It involves balancing genres, pacing energy throughout the day, creating discovery opportunities, and telling a story through your artist selection that resonates with your target audience.