Dr. Timothy “TJ” Leonard holds an EdD in instructional leadership from the Western Connecticut State University in Danbury, CT, and an MA in teaching and learning from Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, CT. He has been an educator for over two decades and currently serves as an assistant professor of academic literacy and linguistics at the Borough of Manhattan Community College in New York City. Outside of his career as an educator, Dr. Timothy Leonard is an avid music fan and works with Woodbury Brewing Company in Woodbury, CT, to plan and promote music events.
Many music events are organized around the world each year, but some stand out because of the large crowds they attract, the A-list artists that perform there, and the buzz they create online. Coachella is one such event. Since it began in 1999, this music event, held over two weekends at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California, has been attended by thousands of music fans each year. It has also hosted some of the most famous musicians, which has led to it being recognized as the world’s most popular music festival.
In 2022, the event was held from April 15 to 24 and attracted an estimated 750,000 people from all over the world. The musicians who performed included Snoop Dogg, Harry Styles, Shania Twain, Justin Bieber, Swedish House Mafia, The Weeknd, and Lil Baby. Past performers at Coachella include Madonna, Prince, Paul McCartney, Beyoncé, Drake, AC/DC, and Guns N’ Roses.
To demonstrate how popular Coachella is, tickets for the 2022 event sold out immediately when they went on sale months before the event, and those who bought them did so without knowing who was scheduled to perform. Online, Coachella is the most Instagrammed music festival, with over 4 million hashtags at past events. It is also one of the most profitable music events in the world, generating millions of dollars in revenue for its organizers each year.
