The Rise of Music Residencies at Casinos: Why Vegas is the New World Tour
The Rise of Music Residencies at Casinos: Why Vegas is the New World Tour
Photo by Julian Paefgen on Unsplash
Getting a residency at a Las Vegas casino used to signal an artist’s swansong. One last stop for a final payday before retirement. Older or forgotten stars would play their most beloved songs in a ‘lather, rinse, repeat’ format, entertaining tourists who are taking a break from the tables and enjoying the buffets rather than the performance.
However, times have changed, and now some of the biggest names in music are all vying to claim a coveted spot performing on the Strip.
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From Celine to Bruno: How the Stigma Disappeared
Celine Dion was the first music star to break the Las Vegas residency mould. Her ‘A New Day’ residency started in 2003 when she was just 35 and still close to the peak of her popularity. Dion’s residency lasted four years, during which she performed 717 shows, earning over $385 million. Dion then followed this up with a second residency that ran from 2011 to 2019. Across both periods she sold over 4.5 million tickets.
The residency was a great test for the music industry and a resounding success. The music world took notice of what Dion achieved, and suddenly, everybody wanted to know what they had to do to get a residency.
Since then, Las Vegas has become something of an endless musical festival, featuring some of the most prominent names in music. Adele, Bruno Mars, Lady Gaga, and Katy Perry are among the singers many consider to be in their prime who have already completed Las Vegas residencies. There is even talk of a 2027 residency (at Sphere) for rock giants Metallica.
What’s in It for the Artists
Few places are as openly driven by money as Las Vegas. For musicians, the appeal of a residency largely depends on the amount they stand to earn. Elton John reportedly earned $131 million from his ‘Million Dollar Piano’ Caesars Palace residency during his seven-year stay. U2 played a 40-date run at Sphere in 2023 and 2024, grossing $244.5 million.
For artists at the top of their game, a Las Vegas residency offers them the same, if not higher, income than they would generate from going on tour—not to mention they would not have the travel concerns or the general increased fatigue that comes with touring. It’s not just the artists who benefit from a fixed location. For their crew, a residency eliminates the constant teardown and travel of touring, allowing them to focus on refining the production each night.
Since opening in 2023, Sphere has become the premier live-music venue in Las Vegas, reporting over $780 million in revenue in 2025. Beyond ticket sales, a big-name residency can significantly boost surrounding Strip casinos, hotels, and local businesses.
The Economic Engine Behind the Curtain
There is little room for sentimentality when booking artists for a casino residency in Las Vegas. Places are offered based on what the artist brings into the local economy. Casinos understand that securing the right star to sign an exclusive residency deal can have a tremendous impact on casino profits.
A popular name will see people fly in for a show, most likely book a room at the on-site hotel, and spend their time before and after the show on the casino floor. In short, when people make the trip to Vegas to see one of their favourite artists, the entire resort and surrounding businesses benefit.
According to Casinos.com, which covers newly launched online casinos in the UK, America, and many other countries worldwide, Las Vegas—and particularly Sphere—is revolutionizing the music industry by offering a cutting-edge experience that few venues can match. As a result, audience expectations are growing and the music industry is working harder than ever to deliver bigger, better experiences.
What It Means for Fans
For music fans, Las Vegas’ residency model is both a blessing and a challenge. A show in Vegas is a remarkable experience. While Sphere represents the pinnacle of live entertainment, smaller venues such as the Venetian Theatre or the Colosseum at Caesars Palace offer a much more intimate experience. Even at Sphere, watching an artist perform for around 15,000 fans is a much different experience than an 80,000-capacity arena show.
However, there is a growing trend among artists of favouring residencies over touring, which adds an extra layer of complexity for many fans: Las Vegas is not on the doorstep. The current geopolitical climate is also a factor that people are carefully considering before visiting the US. Many non-US fans will never get to see their favourite singer if they stick with a Las Vegas residency program.
For long-term music fans, the decision is difficult. The show quality is second to none, but the cost of travel and tickets is far greater.
The Format Is Here to Stay
The residency format is here to stay and is slowly expanding beyond the Nevada state line. Bruce Springsteen earned $113 million from a Broadway residency. At the same time, Adele had a very successful spell in Munich, showing that Europe can also attract top stars through residency-style programs.
For many artists, too, the idea of staying in one place for a longer period and having fans come to them is an enticing change. Furthermore, it is working on all fronts. Music fans are now planning entire holidays around a single concert, further boosting the financial success of residencies.
When Celine Dion stepped out on stage at Caesars Palace in 2003, she kick-started a revolution that promised to redefine live music—and it obviously delivered.
Chief editor of Side-Line – which basically means I spend my days wading through a relentless flood of press releases from labels, artists, DJs, and zealous correspondents. My job? Strip out the promo nonsense, verify what’s actually real, and decide which stories make the cut and which get tossed into the digital void. Outside the news filter bubble, I’m all in for quality sushi and helping raise funds for Ukraine’s ongoing fight against the modern-day axis of evil.
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