Why Big Music Stars Are Choosing City Residencies Over Tours?

Can a tour still be called a tour if artists do not travel? That question is being asked by many fans as some of the world’s biggest music stars choose to perform long runs of shows in a single city instead of touring multiple locations.

From 12 nights by Harry Styles at Wembley Stadium to 10 shows by Ariana Grande at London’s O2 Arena, extended residencies are becoming more common. While convenient for artists, the trend has frustrated fans who must now pay extra for travel, accommodation and food.

BBC Newsbeat spoke to several artists, including CMAT, Jade Thirlwall, Self Esteem and Wolf Alice, to understand why this shift is happening.

Speaking on the Brit Awards red carpet, Jade Thirlwall, formerly of Little Mix, said residencies can be healthier for performers.

“Staying in one place is better for your body, voice and mental health,” she said, though she added that she personally enjoys touring and travelling.

Singer-songwriter Myles Smith described the issue as a “mixed bag”. He noted that artists such as Harry Styles, Bruno Mars and Adele have spent more than a decade on the road.

“If they choose to stay in one place now, it feels earned,” he said.

For fans, however, fewer tour locations often mean higher costs and limited access. Ariana Grande has said her upcoming Eternal Sunshine tour, including 10 Wembley shows, will be her last for a long time. Some fans criticised the decision online, calling it inconvenient, especially after her long break from live performances.

Ticket prices have also drawn complaints. Seats for Harry Styles’ UK shows ranged from £44.10 to £466.25, with additional expenses for those travelling from outside London.

Despite the concerns, large concerts can bring major economic benefits. According to Barclays, Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour contributed nearly £1 billion to the UK economy last year.

Fan Georgia Prickett, 27, previously told the BBC that hotel prices rise sharply once concert dates are announced. She and her friends travelled from different parts of England to attend shows at Wembley and returned home the same night to avoid extra costs.

Rock band Wolf Alice believe residencies make sense for certain artists. Bassist Theo Ellis said Harry Styles’ residency felt like an artistic choice. However, he warned that such formats can exclude fans.

“Not everyone gets the chance to experience it,” he said. “You need to be a very big artist to do this.”

During their Brit Awards speech, the band also highlighted the growing crisis facing grassroots music venues.

Irish singer CMAT stressed the importance of smaller venues, saying touring different places helps artists grow creatively.

“Playing to different crowds teaches you a lot,” she said. “That struggle helps creativity.”

Singer Self Esteem, whose real name is Rebecca Lucy Taylor, previously performed a series of London shows at the Duke of York’s Theatre. She said the decision was driven by artistic vision rather than convenience.

“It’s nice to stay in one place,” she said, “but music should not be limited to one city or one type of audience.”