Today’s Big Story

Coachella Burnout?

Ticket sales are sluggish while the cost of attendance rises with each passing year … is it still worth it?

What if Coachella were just another concert? This is the question that’s being asked in music and media circles and I’m sure it’s scaring the hell out of whoever makes all those flower crowns that are all but required if you plan on attending. The Business of Fashion just reported that the famed festival is losing its cachet with music lovers “and its status as one of fashion’s top marketing opportunities.”

From its origin as a music event inspired by Europe’s turntable resurgence to a bonafide cultural phenomenon that’s spawned major moments in fashion and music, Coachella should, ostensibly, be gearing up for its glitziest production to date as it nears its 25th iteration. Originally launched in 1999, the inaugural event drew in just under 40,000 attendees paying $50 a pop to the Empire Polo Club—still the festival’s home base today. By 2006, the polo club’s capacity was maxed out with around 120,000 fans in attendance each day, securing its status as the U.S.’s largest music festival. And as it kicks off its first weekend today, tickets are still available for the second weekend (April 19-21)—a far cry from the near-instantaneous sellouts the festival experienced in years past.

Hypebeast wonders if its glory days are behind it. Among the most hotly debated potential factors for Coachella’s “decline” is the 2024 lineup. “Is it just me or is this the worst reaction Coachella has ever gotten?” one Reddit user titled a recent post. Other Redditors flooded the thread to weigh in on what many referred to as the “weak” roster, headlined by Doja Cat, Tyler, the Creator, Lana Del Rey and the reunion of Gwen Stefani’s No Doubt.

They also point out that as new festivals are launched and older names are expanded to new cities yearly, festivalgoers have more options for alternate experiences. Or maybe in our increasingly digitized, streaming-focused world, we’re just content staying home. If that’s the case, you can still enjoy Coachella.

Why sweat your ass off, running around festival grounds to try to catch two acts booked at the same time? Vulture says you can “spend your weekend with Vampire Weekend without stepping foot in the sun.” YouTube continues on as the streaming partner of Coachella, promising clear views of six stages in Indio. There’s even a multi-view option this year, which will help you avoid FOMO by letting you watch up to four stages at once. Or take the stage yourself. Fortnite is giving fans the chance to play a set—virtually, that is. Players will be able to experience the festival’s first-ever virtual stages in Fortnite Festival, and are invited to explore a slew of new themed content, including jam tracks from the festival’s performers and new themed outfits.

The Tax Deadline Looms

Also, Americans think they pay too much in taxes

If you’re a procrastinator like me, then I’ve got some bad news … we’ve got work to do this weekend. Because on Monday, our taxes need to be filed. Of course, most taxpayers can breathe easy. About two-thirds have already filed their returns. And 68% of those have already gotten refunds. The average refund so far in 2024 is $3,050—nearly 5% bigger than last year. Not bad.

Of course, it’s still too much for most Americans. The majority of those polled back in January think they pay too much in federal income taxes, and about six in 10 mistakenly believe middle-income households shoulder the highest tax burden. In fact, only about 18% of adults correctly identified the group facing the highest federal tax burden, which really are high-income Americans, reports CBS News.

In total, more than 128.7 million tax returns are expected to be filed this season, according to the IRS. But if you need more time, you can always file for an extension. That buys you another six months, until October 15. Postponing the filing deadline doesn't postpone the tax bill, though.

U.S. to Expand Gun Background Checks

The new plan will boost background checks for guns bought at shows or online

The Justice Department announced a new rule Thursday that will require anyone who sells guns to run federal background checks—a process that would cut down on what's been known as the “gun show loophole”. Due to those loopholes, around 20,000 dealers currently operate without licenses and are thus not required to conduct background checks. Officials are touting the move as “the most significant increase in American gun regulation in decades.”

According to the Washington Post, the rules—which are expected to take effect in 30 days but are almost certain to be challenged in court—codify changes outlined in the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which was signed into law by President Biden in June 2022. Gun sellers will need to register as federally licensed firearms dealers. Under this regulation, it will not matter if guns are sold on the internet, at a gun show or at a brick-and-mortar store. If you sell guns predominantly to earn a profit, you must be licensed and you must conduct criminal and mental health background checks.

Multiple polls have shown that expanding background checks has widespread public support. It’s also worth noting that around 40% of illegal gun cases in the U.S. investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives came from unlicensed firearm dealing by private persons, according to new ATF analysis released last week.

A New Sonos App Is Coming

And the relaunch could finally solve some big beefs people have had with the audio brand

Sonos will release a substantial update to its mobile app for both Android and iOS on May 7th, The Verge reports. The goal is to make product setup easier and strengthen connectivity between its many speakers. As always, the specific release date is subject to change if the company encounters any last-minute issues.

There hasn’t been a major app update since 2020, when the company launched Sonos S2 and shifted away from some of its legacy devices. Many are hoping the release will address some of the biggest and most obvious gripes plaguing the current iteration, mainly the ability to adjust the playback volume slider directly from the main system view and the ability to set and order specific playlists on the app home screen.

Gear Patrol also hopes that the update will also bring back the ability to adjust the playback volume using the iPhone’s up/down buttons. Whether this move by Sonos finally ends Reddit threads like “The Sonos app interface is killing the brand” and “Is the Sonos app as bad as reviews?” remains to be seen, but count me in the camp that’s hoping Sonos will finally polish over the biggest blemish on its generally solid usability track record.

A Weekend Pairing

‘Civil War’ + a Dark ’n Stormy Cocktail

A blunt, gut-twisting work of speculative fiction, Civil War opens with a divided United States at war with itself—literally. The dystopian thriller from A24 was written and directed by Alex Garland (28 Days Later and Ex Machina) and explores what it means for combat reporters to document humanity’s ugliest moments.

Kirsten Dunst stars as accomplished wartime photographer Lee Smith, traveling the United States with her journalist colleague Joel ( Wagner Moura) as the American government wages war against separatist "Western Forces" led by Texas and California. Meanwhile, the president is holed up in the White House; and in a spookily depopulated New York, desperate people wait for water rations amid rooftop snipers and suicide bombers. Critics are praising it, with Collider calling it “Garland’s best film yet.” Visually striking and wholly unnerving, it’s the kind of film you want to see in the theaters (and then leave behind as soon as the lights go up).

Make your own inspiration.