Aconcert residency,[1][2][3][4][5] or simplyresidency, is a series ofconcerts, similar to aconcert tour, but performed at only one location.[6][7]Pollstar defines a residency as a series of 10 or more shows in one venue.[8] An artist who performs on a concert residency is called aresident performer.[9][10] Concert residencies have been the staple of theLas Vegas Strip for decades, pioneered by singer-pianistLiberace in the 1940s andFrank Sinatra with theRat Pack in the 1950s.
Celine Dion'sA New Day..., from 2003 to 2007, is the most successful concert residency of all time, grossing over US$385 million ($583.83 million in 2024 dollars)[11] and drawing nearly three million people to 717 shows. This commercial success was credited with changing and revitalizing Las Vegas residencies, which previously had the negative perception of something that performers resorted to when their careers were in decline. Dion is further recognized as the "Queen of Las Vegas".[12][13][14]
The concept of a concert residency was established by pianist and singerLiberace with a 1944 debut inLas Vegas.[15] Nearly ten years later, Liberace had his own show at theRiviera Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, which reportedly earned "Mr. Showtime" around $50,000 per week. After years of pursuing other projects in Los Angeles, he returned to his Vegas residency and earned around $300,000 a week, until his death from AIDS-related complications in 1987.[16]
Liberace's 1944 debut was followed byFrank Sinatra with theRat Pack, as well asElvis Presley.[15] In April 1956, Presley began a two-week concert residency at theNew Frontier Hotel and Casino, following the release of hisself-titled debut album. His shows were poorly-received by the conservative, middle-aged hotel guests[17]—"like a jug of corn liquor at a champagne party," wrote a critic forNewsweek.[18] Nevertheless, between 1969 and 1976, Presley would perform 837 consecutive sold-out shows at the (formerly) Hilton Las Vegas, which has since been renamed theWestgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino.[19]
Kurt Melien, vice president of entertainment atCaesars Palace, explained that "Historically, Vegas residencies were more aloss leader event – famous artists playing in small showrooms just to draw in the gambling crowds."[20] In the music world, Las Vegas was known as the place where singers went to "die"—if their careers hadn't suffered already—and where they could earn a comparatively meager wage in their "twilight" years, entertaining tourists on the Strip alongside magicians likeDavid Copperfield,illusionists andSiegfried & Roy's tigers.[20] Music journalist Jim Farber stated, "There used to be a certain element of cheesiness to playing in Vegas. I talked toCher about that, and she referred to it as an 'elephant graveyard where talent goes to die' — and she was speaking of herself."[21]
Celine Dion revitalized residencies in the 21st century, with the resounding success of her A New Day... residency between 2003 and 2007. In 2011, she would begin another successful run at Caesars Palace, with a contract through 2019. Her residencies introduced a new form of theatrical entertainment; with a fusion of song, choral ensemble, orchestral accompaniment, performance art, innovative stage craft, state-of-the-art technology, and even a tribute to her friend and idol,Michael Jackson, Dion managed to popularize the Las Vegas residency as a desirable way for top artists to essentially tour in place, letting their most dedicated fans come to them. Kurth Meline explained, "Céline was a pioneer without question. Twenty years ago, we couldn't have got someone the stature ofBritney Spears to appear in Vegas. Stars like her would never have considered it if Céline hadn't paved the way. She changed the face of modern Vegas." Dion's second residency,Celine, saw her perform a record-breaking 1,000th show atThe Colosseum on October 8, 2016, which she dedicated to the memory of her late husband and manager,Rene Angelil.[22]
Since the 2010s, many other major performers have followed suit and accepted residency offers.[23] This includes a variety of top acts, such asEDM DJsTiësto andCalvin Harris,[24] pop and R&B performers (includingAdele,Jennifer Lopez,Diana Ross,Katy Perry,Usher, andMariah Carey), and rock bands (such asDef Leppard andAerosmith).[25] Towards the end of the decade, there were even shows byhip hop acts such asDrake andCardi B.[26][27] By 2017, a tenth ofForbes Celebrity 100 had signed a residency contract in Las Vegas.[28]
Due to high demands, some artists extend theirtouring schedule at a single venue, making it a "mini residency". In other case, after a successful standalone residency, an artist expands it into a multi-venue concert series.Mariah Carey'sThe Celebration of Mimi (2024–2025) started as a 24-show residency, then she added more international shows across Asia, Europe, and Latin America.[29] Tours such asMadonna'sMadame X Tour was conceived as a series of residencies in select cities.[30]Harry Styles' 15 shows at theMadison Square Garden, as part of hisLove On Tour, won thePollstar Award for Residency of the Year.[31]
For decades, Las Vegas has been the central destination for concert residencies.[1] New York City has also grown as a residency destination, beginning withBilly Joel atMadison Square Garden in 2014.[32] In 2022 Harry Styles performed 15 nights at Madison Square Garden from August 20 to September 21.[33] American rock bandPhish also performed a 13-show residency at the same venue, from July 21 to August 6, 2017.Bruce Springsteen held his 2017–18 residency,Springsteen on Broadway, at theWalter Kerr Theatre in New York City.[1] In August and September 2007, theO2 Arena inLondon held a 21 concert series titled21 Nights in London: The Earth Tour byPrince.[34] From January to March 2009,Luis Miguel played a run of 25 shows atAuditorio Nacional in Mexico City.Michael Jackson had scheduled 50 concerts series titledThis Is It from July 2009 to March 2010 at The O2 Arena in London, but they were cancelled due tohis death. Mexican rock bandManá signed a residency tour at theLA Forum inLos Angeles, CA. "Maná: LA Residencia", exclusively at the venue starting March 2022 and will continue until the end of the year or until ticket sales drop.[35][36]
One of the most successful residencies in history wasElvis Presley's 636 consecutive shows at theInternational and Las Vegas Hilton from July 1969 through December 1976.[37] However, the box-office data for his residency are unavailable. Celine Dion's A New Day... is the most successful concert residency of all time, grossing $385.1 million and drawing nearly three million people to 717 shows.[38] Her second residency,Celine, is the second most successful one, generating $296 million from a total of 427 shows between 2011 and 2019. These two residencies made Dion the highest-grossing resident performer of all time.[39]
Following Celine Dion,Elton John has become the second-most successful concert resident performer; hisRed Piano residency grossed a reported $169 million between 2004 and 2009,[40] and hisMillion Dollar Piano residency grossed $131 million between 2011 and 2018. Another top-selling residency was Britney Spears'sBritney: Piece of Me, which began in December 2013 and ended in December 2017,[41] grossing $137.7 million.[42] From 2023 to 2024,U2 staged a residency calledU2:UVAchtung Baby Live at Sphere, which grossed $244.5 million from just 40 shows;[43]Billboard described it as the "fastest grossing residency in Boxscore history".[44]
Outside of Las Vegas, Bruce Springsteen grossed over $113 million with 236 shows of his New York residencySpringsteen on Broadway.[45][46] Billy Joel grossed $266.8 million withhis monthly residency atMadison Square Garden since 2014.[47]
