You've heard of Las Vegas residencies. These shows invite the world's best musicians to perform at popular casinos like Caesars Palace, Wynn Resort, Planet Hollywood, and Park MGM.
Some celebrities perform in Las Vegas more often than others. It all has to do with the popularity of an artist’s genre in the casino scene. In this article, we’ll outline the most played music in Las Vegas by looking at the artists who perform in the city the most. Let’s get started.
Pop Music
This might come as a surprise to some, but pop is arguably the most played music in Las Vegas. Visit the Strip any day of the week and there’s a strong chance you’ll find a pop artist.
Although there are many pop artists in the world, below are some of the most popular pop artists scheduled to perform in Sin City this year:
• Adele
• Katy Perry
• Kelly Clarkson
Fifteen-time Grammy Award winner, Adele, will be performing at Caesars Palace for more than 30 shows starting June to November. Surprisingly, her residency is already sold out.
Katy Perry has been performing at various Las Vegas casinos since April. And she has shows until November, at which point she will take a short break from music. Book tickets to watch the "Roar" hitmaker perform at Resorts World by visiting her official website, katyperry.com.
American Idol winner, Kelly Clarkson, is one of the busiest singers in America today. She’s a judge on the Voice. She has a talk show and plans to perform in Las Vegas in July and August.
Rock Music
Rock stars have been performing in Las Vegas casinos since the 1960s. From Elvis to Aerosmith, you can count on catching a live concert from a rock band while touring Las Vegas any time of the year.
In 2023, Maroon 5 is the biggest rock band with shows in Nevada. The group will be performing at Park MGM in July and August. To be clear, the "Moves Like Jagger" hitmakers have been performing in Vegas since March. However, they took a three-month break in April to perform in other cities.
Maroon 5 aside, Rod Stewart, Billy Idol, and Santana will all have concerts at various casinos in Nevada. Rod Stewart will perform at Caesars Palace—like he’s always done since 2013. Billy will perform at the Chelsea Theater while Santana will display his talents at the Mandalay Bay.
Country Music
Country music has an enormous fan base in Sin City. Unsurprisingly, some of the biggest country artists in the country are always performing in the desert:
• Garth Brooks
• Jordan Davis
• Miranda Lambert
• Carrie Underwood
• Luke Bryan
• Keith Urban
Garth Brooks is booked to perform in Caesars Palace beginning in June. He will end his residency later in November. Miranda Lambert will light up the crowds at Hollywood Resort from July to December while Underwood will be at Resorts World.
Luke Bryan will perform at the same resort as Carrie Underwood. However, Keith Urban will be at Planet Hollywood—the same place he performed last year. If you love country music but have no time to attend a live concert, visit one of the casinos mentioned above.
All casinos play background music. Some of them—Caesars and Planet Hollywood—play country music often. They might not play in the poker rooms or blackjack tables. But there’s always a place in the casino where you can listen to your favorite songs.
Rhythm and Blues
Las Vegas loves Rhythm and Blues, from Planet Hollywood to Mandalay Bay. Usher is the biggest attraction in Vegas casinos. He has a residency at Park MGM running until late November.
Besides Usher, you can catch R&B performances by Keith Sweat at Palms Casino later in Las Vegas. And if you plan to visit Sin City in late August, buy tickets to watch Beyoncé perform at the Allegiant Stadium.
Similar to Usher, Soul of Motown love to tour in the desert. And they perform at just about any casino—Las Vegas Resort, M Resort, Planet Hollywood, and Westgate Resort & Casino.
There are a lot more R&B artists with shows in Sin City. But in the usual style, you don’t have to leave your casino to listen to R&B. Just ensure you’re at a resort that loves rhythm and blues—they’ll probably play the music while you’re enjoying slots.
Hip Hop
Pop stars, country, and rock music artists dominate the residency space. But that doesn’t mean rappers never get invites to perform in the desert. If anything, most rappers are usually booked to perform at popular nightclubs in Nevada.
What's more, casinos play rap music in the background all the time. Good rap songs keep revelers entertained. And entertained gamblers spend more on slots and card games.
With that said, below are famous rappers with shows in Las Vegas this year:
• LL Cool J
• Drake
• Tiger
• Dizzy Wright
• Kehlani
For clarity, most of the rappers mentioned above won’t be performing inside casinos. They may perform at parks owned by casinos. But in most cases, you will find hip-hop live performances at the biggest nightclubs in Las Vegas.
Jazz
Legendary jazz singer Frank Sinatra is credited for pioneering the Las Vegas residency. Sinatra began performing in Sin City casinos in the '40s and didn't quit until he died in 1998.
While Sinatra is the most famous jazz artist to have performed inside a Vegas casino, he's not alone. Artists like Jimmy Mulidore, Scotty LaFaro, and James Moody performed in Vegas casinos for years.
Jazz seems to have lost popularity to other genres in the world of live music. However, it's still popular. Some of the greatest artists in the country have residencies in popular casinos almost every year.
This year, make a date to attend live performances by Buddy Guy, Kenny G, and Boney James at the Smith Center. They will all perform on different dates, though. With that said, jazz is a popular casino theme.
It's the most dominant background music at casinos. It's soothing. It's slow and puts you in the mood for gambling. That's why it's often the soundtrack for so many slot machines.
Music Played at Online Casinos
While the music played at land-based casinos creates a captivating atmosphere, it's worth noting that the world of casino entertainment extends beyond physical establishments.
For those seeking the thrill of casino games from the comfort of their own homes, real-money online casinos offer a convenient and exciting alternative. If you're ready to explore the virtual realm of gambling and experience the pulsating energy of online casinos, start by checking out this list of top-rated real money casino sites in New Zealand.
Select casinos with music-themed slots if you like listening to music. Look out for games like Jimi Hendrix, Guns N' Roses, Motorhead, Elvis Lives, and Michael Jackson slot machine.
