The bright lights of Las Vegas and big-name music have gone hand in hand since the city rose out of the Nevada desert. As a resort and holiday destination, it must be assumed that the entrepreneurs understood that visitors would want a fully rounded experience. The lure has always been more than just the gaming tables when you look at casinos worldwide. Glamorous locations like Monte Carlo, built in the Belle Epoque style, were created to reflect the height of fashion, and draw in visitors.
Las Vegas was no different with its flamboyant architecture and totally immersive experience. The message is that a visitor to Vegas needs go no further. Here they could experience the sites of Europe, be that the Eiffel Tower or the Venetian canals, without having to get their passport out. The best dining experiences and finest hotels were also on offer. To top it all off, the very best musicians would perform – what more could anyone want from their vacation?
Reaching a Wider Audience
From the point of view of the musicians and performers, a Las Vegas gig or residency offers a massive level of exposure in the city’s large clubs and entertainment venues. So there’s a more than even chance that your music might become the backdrop to someone’s cherished holiday experience. As a result, a new fanbase is born who go on to buy the band’s records or book tickets to their next tour.
The Jazz Age
It probably all started with the birth of jazz. In the days of prohibition, jazz musicians were the soundtrack in the back-alley speakeasies of the day. An underground movement began to emerge, and the worlds of music and gambling became interwoven.
Big Named Stars
There are some musicians whose names are forever associated with the Strip. Possibly the most famous of all was Frank Sinatra. He did not only perform in Las Vegas; he loved being there too. The city has a whole Frank Sinatra tour that takes visitors to his favourite haunts.
Sinatra and The Rat Pack headlined at The Copa Rooms in the 1960s, and by the end of the decade, he was a resident at Caesars Palace. At that time, after 6 pm, the dress code was strictly black tie, and no one in town would have been let in wearing shorts and a t-shirt.
Elvis Presley immortalised the resort in the sixties too. The film Viva Las Vegas was released in 1964 and is regarded by fans as one of his best performances.
With names as big as Presley, Sinatra, and Sammy Davies Jnr, cementing their stardom thanks to Vegas, it is hardly surprising that other musicians were happy to be booked to play at the resort.
However, it is not just playing in Vegas that appeals to musicians – the city is the subject of their songs too. Sinatra famously sang ‘Luck Be a Lady Tonight’ in the 1955 Hollywood musical, and the song became a staple part of his Vegas set. Katy Perry’s ‘Waking Up in Vegas’ describes a couple’s wild weekend in the city. ACDC released ‘Sin City’ with lyrics about the opulent lifestyle on offer, including diamonds, caviar, and Lamborghinis. Meanwhile, Panic at The Disco’s ‘Vegas Lights’ explores the darker side of the city’s nightlife and is filled with anxiety and existential angst.
All Change
Just as the music scene has moved on, so too have the gambling opportunities for millions of US residents. Once, the only place to make a legal wager was to take a trip down to Nevada and visit the casinos. Now an increasing number of states allow their residents to enjoy the online casino experience at home. Online casino bonuses let players get a fully immersive casino experience at Caesars without going anywhere. In addition, the soundtrack going along with the flutter is could now be an MC session and not a band dictated by the venue.
This relationship is continuously evolving, with the development of new entertainment platforms and marketing strategies, such as those employed in casino seo which aim to enhance visibility and attract a broader audience to the world of online gambling.
Modern Day Music
Plenty of modern-day bands have made it big in Vegas, and breakthrough artists are doing it right now. The tradition of Las Vegas as the birthplace for entertainers’ careers has continued down the decades.
British superstar singer Adele famously hates touring, so a Las Vegas residency was a bit of a dream come true for her. Performing to a live audience but without dragging herself around the world. It was also incredibly lucrative as she earned over $500,000 per show, making her one of the highest-paid female performers ever. Tickets for weekends with Adele at Caesars Palace Colosseum ranged in price from $1325 to $17,000-plus. She played for 24 concerts earlier this year.
In 2012 Rod Stewart was believed to have grossed $2.5 million per show while he had his Colosseum residency. Likewise, lady Gaga’s MGM Park Theatre Residency between 2017 and 2019 earned her close to a $ 1 million per show.
So, the association between music and gambling might have started in underground jazz clubs, but there is no denying that it has gone on to become big business. Celine Dion, for example, earned over $400 million in the city over a four-year period. What started as the soundtrack has now become the star attraction. It seems that people now come to see the performer and, while they are there, stumble across the gaming tables.
