Coachella '25 Week 1: The Real Main Stage Was Branding

From Rhode’s desert glow to 818’s sun-soaked sips and Sprinter’s poolside energy — the festival’s most iconic acts weren’t just on the stage, but in the pop-ups.

Forget the headliners for a second — Coachella 2025 was a masterclass in brand performance. With A-list founders at the helm, Rhode, 818 Tequila, and Sprinter Vodka Soda turned Palm Springs into a playground of curated experiences, social media moments, and entrepreneurial elegance.

Let’s break down how these buzzy names made the desert their stage, shall we?

Rhode: Hailey Bieber’s Soft Power Play

Hailey Bieber came to Coachella not just to party — but to promote. And she did it with finesse. Her beauty brand, Rhode, dominated the weekend’s earned media value leaderboard, according to data from CreatorIQ. The brand's standout activation? A perfectly on-brand photo booth placed inside the 818 Outpost, dispensing Rhode’s viral peptide lip tints in exchange for a quick photo op.

But the real kicker? Bieber herself showed up. Wearing a sleek black backless halter dress with Toeme leather flip-flops and Saint Laurent shades, she didn’t need to shout. She was the billboard.

This was festival marketing 2.0 — soft, subtle, and nonetheless Instagrammable.

818 Tequila: Kendall’s Desert State of Mind

Right alongside Rhode, Kendall Jenner’s 818 Tequila brought the ambiance. The Outpost was a 1970s-inspired desert dream, complete with vintage camp vibes and a guest list that read like a who's-who of cool. Her 818 minis were handed out like desert gold — perfectly chilled, perfectly placed.

At the brand’s Autocamp Soirée, Kendall embodied desert minimalism in a butter-yellow Proenza Schouler midi dress, paired with The Row’s flatform sandals and slicked-back sunglasses. She didn’t just show up — she set the tone. And that tone? Understated luxury with a business backbone.

Together, Kendall and Hailey made their shared photo booth the most posted moment of the weekend — Rhode’s tints in one hand, 818 tequila in the other. Business goals disguised as festival fun.

Kendall & Hailey: Fashion Meets Founder Energy

This duo didn’t just co-host — they co-orchestrated a strategic brand moment. Their fusion of personal style and product placement was so seamless, it blurred the line between influence and entrepreneurship.

Hailey: product-first, skincare-forward, walking brand. Kendall: lifestyle-led, effortless chic, tequila in tow.

And the setup? A nostalgic photo booth in the desert where posting meant perks — beauty products, mini liquor bottles, and the ultimate festival flex. It was style. It was marketing. It was magic.

Sprinter: Kylie’s Poolside Power Move

Kylie Jenner kicked off Coachella 2025 with a bang — hosting the Sprinter x REVOLVE Pool Party in Palm Springs. It wasn’t just a party — it was a product launch disguised as a celebration.

The moment celebrated Sprinter Vodka Soda’s Palm Springs Pack, featuring sun-kissed flavors like Pink Lemonade and Mango. Jenner’s surprise appearance — classic Kylie — set social media on fire.

She didn’t need a big speech. A surprise appearance by Kylie Jenner herself, igniting social media and turning the party into a brand-defining success. and Sprinter had its viral moment.

This is how you launch a drink in 2025: influencer-packed, content-ready, and aligned with the vibe.

Why These Brands Won Coachella in our opinion?

What Rhode, 818, and Sprinter understood better than anyone else is this: Coachella is no longer just a music festival — it's a branding battleground.

The desert isn’t just dusty — it’s ripe. Ripe for earned media, ripe for content, ripe for connection. And the brands that came prepared with vision, strategy, and vibes? They didn’t just go viral. They became the moment, now let's see who will be the talk of week 2 of Coachella.