New York began to be known as an entertainment hotspot during the period when it was the most populous city in the world, around 1925. Broadway stages began to grow in popularity, and the great musical acts toured through New York City. Music and stage legends such as John Philip Sousa, Sarah Bernhardt and Frank Sinatra all passed through the city on their world tours.
Since its heyday as a major theater and musical capital, New York City has continued to gain popularity for other types of entertainment. The city is known for its cultural attractions, and boasts some of the most popular museums and galleries in the world. The city is home to several major festivals and events, and is the site of movie premieres throughout the year. Nightlife is excellent in the city, with clubs and bars that are considered some of the most exclusive worldwide.
Broadway theater productions are some of the most popular entertainment sources in New York City. Countless tourists and New Yorkers flock to a myriad of musicals and theater performances every year. Museums are also popular, with the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Guggenheim Museum and the American Museum of Natural History, among many others, attracting millions of visitors every year. Radio City Music Hall and Madison Square Garden host popular music and sporting events, and Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall host world-famous musicians.
Because New York City covers only a small area, its world-class entertainment venues are easily accessible from anywhere in the city. In few other cities worldwide can tourists and locals attend music, theater, sporting, art and festival events within walking distance of each other.
For many travelers and locals, another major source of entertainment in New York City is shopping. The city is home to countless branches of major labels, including Gucci, Prada, Hermes and Louis Vuitton. More budget-minded shoppers will be entertained by New York's many markets and roadside shops, which offer one-of-a-kind items and mass-produced products for lower cost.
