December 15, 2015
A New Jersey senator says Adele's tour skipping over Atlantic City in favor of several stops at nearby Philadelphia and New York City is all the more reason to pass his bill giving tax credits to A-list performers who come to the struggling shore town.
In a release Tuesday, Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean pushed for getting his legislation through, saying the English singer's massive North American trip -- which includes two shows at Wells Fargo Center in South Philly - won't benefit his state at all.
“New Jersey gets nothing from Adele performing eight shows in neighboring New York and Pennsylvania," Kean said in the release.
The legislation, which has passed committee, was introduced in January. It would give top-tier artists who agree to have at least four shows in Atlantic City's tourism district in a year tax credits and exemptions on income earned at those shows as well as performances at other New Jersey venue.
A performer's A-list status would be determined by the Secretary of State and would be based on ticket and record sales, awards and other factors.
This summer, Kean pushed for passing the bill after Maroon 5 played on the Atlantic City shore as part of a series of live beach performances.
Kean says the more than 50,000 people who showed up then should stand as a sign for how the gambling town, which has seen several casinos close in the past few years, can reinvent itself as an entertainment destination.
