Coachella hits a record high of female headliners in 2018

Earlier this week, Coachella kicked off the new year with the release of its ever anticipated lineup for 2018. It revealed headliners Eminem, The Weeknd and Beyoncé (already previously announced after dropping out in 2017 due to her pregnancy), along with Jamiroquai, David Byrne, ODESZA, Jean-Michel Jarre, Chromeo, Chic (with Nile Rodgers) and many more.

Despite already being previously announced after dropping out of her headlining slot in 2017 due to her pregnancy, the official Beyoncé at Coachella announcement still was a buzzing topic for many upon the lineup drop. Though Lady Gaga ended up replacing her in 2017 and taking the title as the first female headliner to perform at the festival since Björk in 2007, Beyoncé's upcoming show will make her the very first woman of color to ever headline the major festival.

The conversation about women and their role in music and entertainment remained at the top of everyone's minds throughout the past year (especially in dance music), and Coachella's lineup seems to reflect the slow, but progressive changing tide. As Pass the Aux points out, of its 165 artists announced, 55 acts include women, meaning that the lineup includes a promising 33 per cent of female representatives. It's the highest inclusion of women in the festival's history, and is a dramatic leap from last year's 25 per cent.

Additionally, women are finding more prominent placements on the lineup with 21 of the 67 acts in the top three lines of each day's lineup.

Finally, for DJs, Alison Wonderland and REZZ have nabbed the shared title of the highest billed position for a female DJ to have ever claimed (both are found on the fourth line on Friday). Alison Wonderland - along with Anna Lunoe - were also the first solo female artists to ever play EDC Las Vegas' coveted main stage in 2016.

Revisit the Coachella 2018 lineup here.