Discussion of the Week: Do You Think That a Residency is a Good Career Move For an Older Artist?

Rise and Shine Musicheads! So for this week’s discussion, we’re talking about Artist Residencies. Now as a kid growing up in the 80’s and 90’s, I remember what was to see legends in all their glimmering, glitzy, shining glamour. Back then, bonafide music stars were made from more than just a few thousand views on YouTube or downloads from streaming sites. It had to do with tangible sales from concert tickets and full-length albums. If a song was a “real knockdown, drag out” hit, you’d know it because you couldn’t go for more than 20 minutes without hearing it in one format or another.

Now when I think of an artist doing a residency, I usually just assume that’s where their career goes to die a nice, quiet, and peaceful death. Harsh? I know….But nonetheless true. I think of older acts like Cher, Elton John, and Wayne Newton- artists who know that their tenure on the Billboard charts have long since passed, and are now making their bread and butter off royalties and playing golden oldies to the over-65 crowd.

Then when you think of artists like Celine Dion, Toni Braxton, Mariah Carey, and Britney Spears- no doubt, the biggest female acts of the 90’s- they dominated the charts with each single put forth. Aside from that, another fact that they all have in common is that they have/or have had residencies in Las Vegas.

Maybe it says something about my perspective, and how much older I am now…but I think it’s too soon for any of them to be considered “has-beens.” Do you remember how many times we heard “My Heart Will Go On,” or “Hit Me Baby One More Time” back in the day? Now I’ve never been a Britney fan, but for Goodness Sakes, she’s only 35, and has already been relegated to reliving her heyday of yesteryear. Then again, those were just about 20 years ago, so maybe my viewpoint is a bit skewered…I’m willing to admit that

What’s interesting is that while these artists may no longer have hits on the charts, they still make a financially successful and viable living out in Vegas because people will always remember the hits and what they were doing when they first heard them.

So I ask you, Do You Think That a Residency is a Good Career Move For an Older Artist? Why or Why Not? Sound off in the comments below, or join the discussion on our Twitter page.