America’s Dream Headliners: Who Should Take Over the Las Vegas Sphere Next?
As U2’s trailblazing residency at the Las Vegas Sphere wraps up, the buzz about who will command its futuristic stage next has music fans across the country excited and speculating. The possibility of Bon Jovi, Lady Gaga, or Harry Styles raising the roof has sparked thousands of predictions, and rumors about Dead & Company occupying the coveted slot have made headlines. But what does the public actually want? To get to the heart of America’s hopes, a new survey of 3,000 US music enthusiasts reveals the nation’s top picks to headline the Sphere—and the results may upend the ongoing speculation.
Survey Highlights: America’s Sphere Residency Favorites Revealed
A nationwide study asked respondents to select which artists they would most want to see as the next Las Vegas Sphere headliner. Here’s what stood out:
- Lady Gaga was the clear favorite out of the most likely and rumored artists on the list.
- Despite current rumors, Dead & Company was the least popular choice among the possible 2024 headliners.
- When considering the top artists streamed on Spotify in 2023, Taylor Swift outshined the competition as America’s favorite potential Sphere performer.
- Pop music topped the list of preferred genres for performances at the Sphere, demonstrating the nation’s taste for high-energy, mainstream hits.
The Public’s Ideal Lineup for Las Vegas Sphere
According to survey data, Lady Gaga emerges as the top rumored artist for a Sphere residency, strongly backed by her successful track record of groundbreaking performances in Vegas. With her dynamic hits—think “Shallow,” “Bad Romance,” and “Poker Face”—Gaga offers a blend of showmanship and musical prowess that feels tailor-made for Vegas’ most innovative venue.
Closely following, Beyoncé clinched the second spot on the wishlist. Her prior Vegas appearances, including her powerful “I Am…Yours” shows at the Wynn Casino, still resonate with audiences nationwide. On the heels of mega-successful tours and cinematic releases, Queen Bey’s return would certainly be a headline-making event.
The third most popular rumored act, Coldplay, stands out as a band whose spectacular visual and sonic style could truly maximize the immersive experience the Sphere provides. Anthems like “Yellow,” “Viva La Vida,” and “The Scientist” are already crowd pleasers and would undoubtedly light up Vegas in signature Coldplay style.
In a surprise twist, current rumors didn’t align with public desire: Dead & Company, while reportedly in serious talks for the 2024 residency, polled as America’s least preferred Sphere act among the rumored choices.
America’s Top Artists Beyond the Rumors
To capture wider musical aspirations, participants were also asked to pick their dream Sphere headliner from Spotify’s most streamed artists of 2023 and the rumored names. Unsurprisingly, Taylor Swift took the top spot. As an artist shattering records and winning global acclaim with her ongoing Eras Tour, Swift’s appeal stretches across generations. However, with a packed tour schedule through the end of 2024, her appearance at the Sphere remains a future hope for fans.
Lady Gaga’s popularity held strong, earning her the second overall position when looking at both rumored and top-streamed artists. Her consistent appeal highlights a national longing for her return to Vegas, this time in an even more spectacular format.
Bruno Mars landed in third, buoyed by his energetic style, current Vegas shows, and crowd-pleasing hits such as “24K Magic,” “Uptown Funk,” and “That’s What I Like.” His ongoing residency momentum proves his lasting draw for Vegas audiences.
The full top 10 most wanted stream-friendly Sphere artists, as chosen by Americans:
| Rank | Artist |
|---|---|
| 1 | Taylor Swift |
| 2 | Lady Gaga |
| 3 | Bruno Mars |
| 4 | Eminem |
| 5 | Paul McCartney |
| 6 | Beyoncé |
| 7 | Eagles |
| 8 | Bon Jovi |
| 9 | Coldplay |
| 10 | Billie Eilish |
Preferred Genres: Pop Takes Center Stage at the Sphere
In addition to artist preferences, respondents also voted for their favorite genres to headline the Sphere’s ongoing residencies. The survey found that pop music was the dominant choice, matching broader listening and concert trends. Rock came in second, followed by hip hop, metal/punk rock, and R&B.
Complete genre rankings from the survey:
| Rank | Preferred Genre |
|---|---|
| 1 | Pop |
| 2 | Rock |
| 3 | Hip Hop |
| 4 | Metal / Punk Rock |
| 5 | R&B |
| 6 | Other |
| 7 | EDM |
| 8 | Country |
| 9 | K-pop |
| 10 | Jazz |
| 11 | Rap |
How the Survey Was Conducted
The findings in this article come from a January 2024 survey of 3,000 adults located across the United States. The questionnaire consisted of two main parts: the first asked respondents to select their preferred Sphere residency among the most rumored artists, and the second combined those possibilities with Spotify’s top 2023 artists.
The average respondent age was 40.4 years. The sample comprised 53.7% women, 44.4% men, 1.2% non-binary individuals, 0.6% transgender respondents, and 0.1% other.
Data Usage Guidelines
Data and visuals from this article can be reused for non-commercial purposes, provided that credit is given via a link back to this page to acknowledge the original authorship.
