Who Will Perform on New Year’s Eve? A Guide to Betting on the Big Show

New Year’s Eve in Times Square is one of the biggest televised events every year. The iconic ball drop celebration draws over 1 million people to Midtown Manhattan and is watched by over 1 billion viewers worldwide. A major highlight of the event is the star-studded musical acts that perform just before midnight.

Speculating on who will secure the coveted spots on the live broadcast is part of the excitement each year. Here are some tips on how to place friendly wagers on the Times Square entertainment.

Set Up Informal Betting Pools

Get together friends, family, coworkers or other groups interested in betting on NYE performers. Appoint someone to organize and keep track of all wagers. Set rules like a minimum bet amount ($5-$20) and deadline for getting bets in. Allow people to claim their desired artists early. Compile a betting sheet with the performer names and have each person sign by their bets.

Determine Favorites vs Underdogs

Do some research on who has performed recently at Times Square and artists with rumored upcoming projects or tours. Popular mainstays like Mariah Carey often have the best odds to perform. Newer artists or unexpected collaborations can offer long-shot payouts. Establish payout multipliers for favorites and underdogs.

Make Your Picks

Once the betting sheets are circulated, it’s time to decide on your predictions. Pick artists you think are the most likely choices based on past appearances or current popularity. Go for a fan favorite for a safer bet or take a risk on an underdog for a bigger payout. Make sure to get your bets in by the set deadline.

Part of the fun is gathering to watch the Times Square celebrations and see if your bets pay off. There will likely be several musical guests throughout the night before the main act performs just before midnight. See if your artist takes the stage for an exciting win or if you just miss the mark.

Settle All Bets

After the ball drops, get back together with your betting group and tally up the results. Did Mariah come through again or did Taylor Swift make a surprise appearance? Pay out winnings to those who guessed correctly based on the set odds. The winner with the best prediction can take the pot.

The Top NYE Performers of All Time

The star-studded lineup over the years has included many memorable performances from top artists. According to the source, some standouts include Ashanti and Ja Rule’s 2021 reunion showcasing their classic hits like “Mesmerize” and “Always on Time.” Their infectious energy and chemistry electrified the crowd.

Janet Jackson’s 1993 set also went down in history as she danced and sang hits from her self-titled album like “Rhythm Nation” and “That’s the Way Love Goes.”

Alicia Keys highlighted her soulful vocals by belting out “No One” in 2008 following the release of her hit album As I Am.

Rihanna also left her mark with a 2007 performance of “SOS” where the crowd enthusiastically sang and danced along.

Of course, Mariah Carey’s 2017 appearance was iconic as she braved the freezing cold in a fur coat to perform classics like “Hero” and “Vision of Love.” No one rings in the new year like the “Queen of Christmas.”

In 2022, Usher phoned in an exhilarating set from his Las Vegas residency including his megahit “Yeah!” And just this year, the newly reunited New Edition celebrated their 40th anniversary by performing their R&B hits like “If It Isn’t Love.” Their first ever Times Square show kicked off their 2023 tour.

The electric energy and top talent make Times Square on New Year’s Eve an unbeatable concert experience. As the ball drops, fans are treated to once-in-a-lifetime performances from music legends.

Strong Contenders

Some music superstars who make rare or first-time New Year’s Eve appearances could create buzzworthy moments.

• Taylor Swift – One of the biggest pop singers today, Swift has not graced the Times Square NYE stage since 2008, when she rang in 2009 with upbeat country-pop tunes from her second studio album Fearless. But after embarking on her Eras Toursupporting her record-breaking Midnights, she’d be a major draw. That said, she is rather busy with her boo, Travis Kelce, as well as her Eras tour, so the likelihood of Taylor performing in Times Square anytime soon is low.
• Bad Bunny – The Puerto Rican trap and reggaeton artist is one of the hottest music acts right now. After staging the highest grossing tour of 2022, he may just keep the party going on NYE.
• Christina Aguilera – The ‘Dirty’ singer has performed more than once on the Times Square NYE stage, including 2007, 2018, 2019, and 2022. There’s a strong chance she’ll be back once again in the future.

Previous Notable Performances

Here are some of the most memorable New Year’s Eve performances in Times Square for the ball drop celebration:

• Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve – Dick Clark hosted the first live New Year’s Eve broadcast from Times Square in 1972. For decades his show brought the biggest pop stars like Blondie, Barry Manilow, and Whitney Houston.
• Madonna (2012) – The Queen of Pop counted down to 2013 by performing songs like “Vogue” and “Music” in a black outfit with gold gladiator boots.
• Jennifer Lopez (2014) – JLo rocked the crowd with a high-energy set of her smash hits like “Waiting for Tonight” and “Jenny from the Block.”
• Justin Bieber (2020) – The pop superstar danced and sang before the 2020 ball drop, even serenading a backup dancer during “Sorry.”

The 2024 Lineup

This year’s lineup has already been announced. If you are planning to hit Times Square to see the silver ball drop at midnight, you can look forward to enjoying performances from Flo Rida, Megan The Stallion, Sabrina Carpenter, Jelly Roll, Paul Anka, and LL Cool J, among others. It promises to be an amazing night!

No matter who takes the stage live from Times Square, it will undoubtedly feature some of music’s biggest stars. The iconic New Year’s Eve celebration always delivers a night of spectacular performances, so start thinking ahead to who might perform in 2025, so you can place your bets early!