Rumors Shattered: The Las Vegas Strip and the Swansong of Retired Musicians
Younger music fans these days don't seem to understand the stigma surrounding Las Vegas residencies. They're quick to shell out hundreds of dollars to see artists like Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, and Bruno Mars, regardless of the old-fashioned connotations of Las Vegas and its impact on music careers.
However, for millennials and Gen-Xers, those memories of Las Vegas in the '90s still linger. Stereotypes often surface, with Justin Timberlake recently equating the idea of a Las Vegas residency to "planning your retirement." But was this a fair assessment of the city's music scene at the time?
In the past, Las Vegas was a sanctuary for musicians past their prime. The Strip's marquees boasted big names like the Osmonds, Engelbert Humperdinck, Tom Jones, Charo, and Andy Williams, who performed endlessly despite being well past their cultural expiration date. Even Wayne Newton, the self-proclaimed "Mr. Las Vegas," was more prominent due to his daily presence in town rather than leaving after each performance.
But then, Celine Dion changed everything. In 2003, she and her producers decided to take a risk. They knew they were offering more than just another greatest-hits residency. "A New Day" was a cutting-edge theatrical production, crafted to give audiences something truly unique. Masterminded by director Franco Dragone, who played a significant role in creating Cirque du Soleil's distinctive style, this extravagant show included Dion soaring over the audience on harness rigging, rising to the rafters with a water curtain surrounding her, and even Frank Sinatra making a cameo appearance on the song "All the Way" through a $10 million hi-def screen.
Dion's 17-year-long, two-residency spell, which grossed $681 million over 1,113 shows and drew in over 4.5 million fans, set the stage for Lady Gaga, who started her "Enigma + Jazz & Piano" residency in 2018 at the peak of her career. Gaga could say without a hint of irony or embarrassment, "It's been my lifelong dream to be a Las Vegas girl."
The changing landscape of Las Vegas played a role in the resurrection of residencies. Before the turn of the century, live music wasn't a priority for the resorts, which used performances as perks for their most loyal gamblers. Today, gambling brings in around a quarter of the casino revenue, so resorts shifted focus to provide top-notch entertainment.
Concerts West got involved by leasing out showrooms to independent producers who knew what they were doing. The rest, as they say, is history.
As for Justin Timberlake's resistance to a Las Vegas residency, he might want to reconsider in light of his dwindling chart success - his last Top 10 hit came out in 2016. And with Vegas moving away from nostalgia shows, Timberlake might find himself out of time.
So, let's debunk another Vegas myth: Las Vegas residencies are not just for washed-up has-beens. As proved by the likes of Dion and Gaga, they can be a lucrative and innovative platform for vibrant, successful artists.
Stay tuned each Friday for a new installment of "Vegas Myths Busted," celebrating the misconceptions about the city that need some serious debunking! Have a Vegas myth to bust? Drop us a line at [email protected].
P.S. There were no new myths this week, so we've revisited an old favorite, "Las Vegas Residencies." Look for more entertaining reads on our website!
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Source: www.casino.org
