Why Music Residencies Are Becoming the New Concert Economics
Source: NYT > Business (paywall)
Extended residencies—where artists play the same venue repeatedly rather than touring—are reshaping how the music industry finances live performance, with artists like Harry Styles using them to reduce logistical costs while fans absorb higher ticket prices and travel expenses. This model mirrors Las Vegas's decade-long dominance of residency economics but now applies to major cities and younger artists, representing a structural shift away from the touring model that historically distributed revenue across promoters, venues, and local economies. Post-pandemic supply chain anxieties and labor costs are being solved by concentrating demand rather than distributing it—a profitable move for artists and venues that may hollow out touring infrastructure for mid-tier acts.