Canadian DJ and producer BAMBII has publicly criticized Coachella for offering artists “exposure” instead of proper compensation — and for technical issues that left her feeling “embarrassed and misrepresented.”
BAMBII, a rising name in the electronic music scene, performed on the Do LaB stage at Coachella during the festival’s first weekend on Friday, April 11. Sharing the lineup with fellow artists like Jyoty, Layla Benitez, ATRIP, and DJ Pee Wee (Anderson .Paak), BAMBII encountered serious technical malfunctions during her set.
Sound System Issues Undermined Her Set
After her performance, BAMBII took to Instagram Stories to express frustration over a malfunctioning sound system that she says made her look unprofessional in front of a massive crowd.
“I wasn’t being paid, flew myself out, and spent thousands of my own money to invest in an opportunity,” she wrote. “At a bare minimum, the least a festival as reputable as Coachella could provide artists they aren’t paying is a working sound system.”
According to BAMBII, she was warned ahead of her performance by another artist that the sound system had been “chipping out” throughout the day. The equipment she used was reportedly “completely malfunctioning.”
“Exposure” Is Not Payment
BAMBII criticized Coachella’s reliance on “exposure” as a form of payment, a practice she believes is both exploitative and disproportionately targeted toward female and BIPOC artists.
“There’s a comfort with letting artists play below industry standard because we were primarily seen as up-and-coming female artists,” she explained.
She went on to question the long-standing industry norm of unpaid festival performances:
“From the outside, playing Coachella seems like a privilege. But when you aren’t being paid and even basic standards aren’t met, it becomes extractive.”
Speaking Out Despite Pressure
BAMBII admitted that she hesitated to speak out, fearing she would be labeled as “angry or jaded.” However, she felt silence would only perpetuate harmful norms in the music industry.
“Responding with no critique and just a ‘thank you Coachella’ post isn’t honest,” she stated. “It normalizes these unfair exchanges and how these spaces exploit our aspirations of being on their platforms.”
Challenging the Industry Status Quo
Her candid response has resonated with fans and fellow artists, sparking broader conversations about artist compensation, festival standards, and systemic inequality in the music industry.