For fans of Harry Styles, his 30-date residency at New York City's Madison Square Garden has become one of the year's biggest musical events. Tens of thousands of fans have flocked to the iconic arena each night, eager to catch the show before the run ends over Halloween weekend.

The residency follows Styles' hugely successful 2022 run, when he performed 15 consecutive nights at the same venue. He is far from alone in embracing the format. Las Vegas residencies, once considered a final career stop for ageing performers, have increasingly attracted younger stars, including Usher, Katy Perry and Lady Gaga. In 2024, Adele staged a 10-date residency in Munich, while Bad Bunny's 31-date residency in Puerto Rico last year generated more than $200 million, providing a significant boost to the island's fragile economy and raising its international profile.

Celine Dion, who holds the record for the highest-grossing Las Vegas residency, has recently launched a concert series just outside Paris. It marks her first series of performances since she disclosed her diagnosis with stiff-person syndrome.

Artists and industry executives say residencies have become increasingly popular for several reasons, although critics argue that the format can shift costs onto fans, who might otherwise attend concerts in their hometowns instead of spending money on travel.

Residencies meet changing demands
Mitch Rose, head of North American touring at Creative Artists Agency, which represents performers including Styles and Perry, said residencies are not a new concept.

He traced their origins to the Las Vegas performances of Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett in the 1960s, when artists regularly played multiple shows at hotels over the course of a year.

Over time, the format became associated with performers nearing retirement. That perception changed in the 2000s when Dion revived the concept through her long-running Las Vegas productions, "A New Day …" and "Celine."

John Meglen, co-CEO of Concerts West, played a key role in organising both of Dion's Las Vegas residencies and her latest concert series in France.

"Most people thought we were crazy," he said, referring to the scale and expense of the original undertaking, which involved 200 shows annually over 40 weeks, with five performances each week.

The strategy ultimately paid off. According to Billboard, Dion grossed $681.3 million through 1,141 performances over 16 years.

Rose said audiences increasingly view residencies as destination events, similar to music festivals that attract fans from around the world.

He compared the experience to Coachella, where music lovers gather in the desert each April to share a collective experience.

When Styles' residency was announced, Madison Square Garden was the only venue in the United States where he was scheduled to perform in 2026, adding to the event's exclusivity, Rose said.

Residencies also often inspire temporary artist merchandise stores and fan gatherings, further strengthening their festival-like atmosphere.

Artists and the music industry reap benefits
R&B star Usher staged his popular "Usher: My Way The Vegas Residency" in 2022 and 2023 as part of a high-profile period that also included his performance at the 2024 Super Bowl halftime show.

Speaking to The Associated Press at the time, Usher said the stability of performing in one location was a major attraction.

"I like the idea of what I've found in Las Vegas. It gives me an opportunity to settle. I have children now. I got a life," he said.

Residencies also offer substantial financial advantages by reducing the costs of transporting production equipment, staff and performers from one city to another, Meglen said.

Rose highlighted the benefits for artists' mental well-being, noting that performing in a single location eliminates the need for constant air and bus travel.

The format also allows performers to develop elaborate stage productions without having to transport them around the world.

One prominent example is Las Vegas' Sphere, a 516-foot-wide (157-metre) entertainment venue featuring advanced technology and a high-resolution LED screen that extends around half of its 17,500-seat audience.

In 2026, Carín León became the first Latino artist to stage a residency at the venue.

"It's a venue that lets you express a lot of stuff because of all of the tools," he said. "For me, it was perfect."

Fans question ticket prices
Despite the benefits for performers, some fans believe residencies place an unfair financial burden on audiences.

Tickets for Styles' New York shows range from less than $100 to $1,000, excluding travel expenses for fans coming from outside the city.

Sara Feigin, a New York-based photographer and Styles fan, said she understands why artists prefer residencies but questions the high ticket prices.

"I understand why residencies make sense for an artist and why it would be less stressful and make their lives easier. But as a fan, I don't understand how they cost as much money as they do," she said. "You're playing over 30 days at the same venue, why is this $300?"

Feigin argued that lower operating costs should translate into more affordable tickets for audiences.

A representative for Styles declined to comment.

For events sold through Ticketmaster, including Styles' residency, the event organiser determines the base ticket price, known as the face value, before fees and taxes are added.

Meglen stressed that traditional touring remains important, but said residencies and tours can coexist. Residencies allow artists to give other markets a break, helping rebuild demand for future tours.

He argued that repeatedly touring the same markets does not necessarily lead to higher ticket sales.

Residencies spread across the world
The choice of location largely depends on an artist's popularity and audience, Rose said, citing Bad Bunny's successful residency in Puerto Rico as an example.

"Nobody could do what he did in Puerto Rico, right?" he said, adding that major entertainment markets are generally the first choices for residencies, although not every city is suitable.

Meglen said Paris was the natural choice for Dion because it is her biggest market worldwide.

Other major entertainment hubs, including Los Angeles, Las Vegas and New York, remain leading destinations because they offer numerous large venues capable of hosting extended concert runs.

Fans living far from these cities may therefore have to travel to see their favourite performers, as the residency format is expected to remain popular.

"Everything is cyclical and the residencies are certainly having a moment," Rose said. "And as long as there's a Las Vegas or an act big enough to do multiple nights in arenas, it will never go away."