More artists are playing residencies, so why do musicians need to keep touring?
As more artists opt for multi-night residencies, why does touring need to be a viable option for emerging and mid-tier artists?
For growing bands and artists, touring used to represent the early signs of making it, and an exciting opportunity to travel and conquer new audiences. Now, thanks to rising costs, it’s more of a barely possible logistical nightmare. More and more artists are favouring residencies in single venues and cities instead, an option that offers many advantages that touring doesn’t. But, this isn’t really viable for most artists, and there are numerous reasons why touring shouldn’t be eschewed just yet (or ever).
Why residencies?
Recently, Harry Styles has generated lots of news after announcing his upcoming residency tour (a hybrid, fun!), “Together, Together”. Back in January, Styles announced that he would perform residencies in six cities, kicking off in May. This will see him break a Wembley Stadium record, putting on a 12-night run in London in June. He’ll close the tour with a huge 60-night run at Maddison Square Garden in New York City.
Speaking to the media, the singer has given some good reasons for choosing residencies over the traditional touring set-up. Speaking to Zane Lowe, in an interview for Apple Music, Styles explained, “I think it makes the show better. I think you can build something that doesn’t have to travel every night.” He also highlighted the increased opportunity for a better work/life balance. “I think there’s something in this that allows me to like stay in my life while I’m doing it. And therefore I think it allows me to take care of myself better, which I think makes me better at doing the thing.”
He also pointed out the improved ease for the musicians and crew he performs and travels with. “And people in my band have families now and kids, and some aspects of that too. It’s really important to me that they’re on the road, that I would love to have them. I don’t want to make it like near impossible for them to be able to come do that with me.”
This makes perfect sense. Elaborate stage production isn’t something you can just whack up and take down night after night, so staying put allows for more impressive staging. Plus, if an artist is able to get decent rest and stick to some form of healthy routine, this is sure to be reflected in their performances. All wins for both the performer and the audience.
However, residencies require fans to travel to a single location. That means they are mostly viable for global stars like Taylor Swift or Ariana Grande, whose audiences are willing to spend money on travel, accommodation, and time off work as well as tickets. UK tickets for the Together, Together shows reportedly range from £44.10 to £466.25, which has already sparked criticism from some fans online.
The pitfalls of staying put
The BBC recently shared the views of other artists and performers on the idea of residencies vs touring. Jade Thirlwall said, “For an artist doing a residency, it’s probably just healthier for your body and your voice and your mind to not be travelling all the time.” Singer-songwriter Myles Smith noted that most of the artists choosing to do residencies have already put decades into touring, “So it’s like the idea that if they want to stay in one location, it feels very earned.”
On the flipside, some artists understand that residencies can lead to fans missing out.
“I think the negative side can be that maybe not everyone gets to go and experience it,” said Theo Ellis of Wolf Alice. “You need to be an artist of a certain size to do it.”
Rebecca Lucy Taylor, AKA Self Esteem, admitted to the BBC that performing shows in one place certainly has its benefits. Although she did note that it’s important that people aren’t excluded from attending performances. “But it is important to keep making sure that it’s not only for one type of person in one area of the country.”
Why is touring important for grassroots venues?
The grassroots music venue crisis is still a major issue in the UK, the US, and elsewhere. In recent years, artists, fans, and organisations have repeatedly called for more funding and protection for independent venues and creative spaces that support local music scenes.
Of course, you wouldn’t expect Harry Styles or Taylor Swift to pop up at your local arts centre for a weekend now, but major tours can still benefit grassroots venues in indirect ways. When popular artists travel through multiple cities, they bring an influx of fans, industry professionals, and media attention. This can create opportunities for smaller venues to host related events such as aftershows, showcase gigs, or performances from emerging local artists.
Large tours can also boost the wider local economy. Fans travelling for concerts often spend money on hotels, restaurants, and nightlife. Smaller venues can benefit from this increased activity, especially if visiting fans choose to explore the local music scene while they are in town. In this way, major tours can help shine a light on grassroots venues and introduce new audiences to independent music spaces.
Why is touring crucial for emerging artists?
Touring various towns and cities isn’t just beneficial for the local economy or for fans dotted about the place, but it also offers important educational opportunities for artists.
Speaking to BBC Newsbeat, CMAT said, “There should definitely be longer breaks and stuff in between shows, but there’s something about learning how to play in front of different audiences and not just a home crowd and not just a kind crowd.” She went on to explain, “Learning the differences between that makes creativity a bit more fertile. You’ve got to suffer.”
The majority of pop stars and big names started out performing in independent and small venues. This experience enables performers to hone their skills, learn the difference between playing to small rooms and huge crowds, as well as learn the difference between an audience in London and a crowd in rural Ireland.
Touring all over the place, including smaller towns and venues, means the potential for higher audience engagement and enthusiasm. Music fans tend to be proud of their hometown and local venue, so they are more likely to turn up and get involved (recommend the show to friends, buy merch, share their experience on social media).
Summing up
Residencies offer clear benefits for artists. Staying in one place can improve work–life balance, reduce the strain of constant travel, and allow for more ambitious stage production. For major stars who have spent years touring, the chance to slow down and build a larger, more consistent show can feel well earned.
However, residencies are not a realistic option for most musicians. For them, touring remains the best way to reach new listeners, grow a fanbase, and develop their live performance skills.
Touring also spreads the benefits of live music more widely. By visiting different towns and cities, artists make shows more accessible for fans and help support local venues and music scenes.
The key thing is to work out a way to make touring viable and sustainable for artists. The difficulty lies in the rising cost of touring, which leads to higher ticket costs that fans increasingly struggle to afford. Finding solutions – whether through better support for venues, fairer industry practices, or more efficient touring models – will be crucial to maintain a varied and accessible live music sector.