Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
International Business Times UK
International Business Times UK
Entertainment
Briane Nebria

Justin Bieber 2026 Coachella Performance Explained: Why Star Played Old YouTube Videos Instead Of Singing Live

Justin Bieber (Credit: Instagram/Justin Bieber @lilbieber)

Justin Bieber stunned fans at Coachella 2026 in California at the weekend when, instead of performing his biggest hits live, he sat behind a MacBook and played old YouTube videos of himself singing tracks such as 'Baby,' 'Favourite Girl,' 'Beauty and a Beat' and 'Never Say Never' despite reportedly being paid $10 million for the set.

Bieber sold his entire music catalogue in December 2022, handing over the rights to every song released before 31 September 2021 to Hipgnosis Songs Capital in a deal worth around $200 million (£162 million). That sale included publishing copyrights to his 290-song back catalogue and his share in the original master recordings. At the time, it looked like a straightforward mega-payout. At Coachella, it suddenly looked like a creative constraint.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.