In a stark testimony to MPs, musician Kate Nash has revealed the extreme measures she is taking to sustain her career, stating she must "sell pictures of my bum on the internet" to finance her tours. The Foundations singer, 38, appeared before the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee to detail how post-Brexit regulations are crippling performing arts touring and work in the EU.
Financial Losses and Personal Sacrifices
Nash disclosed devastating financial losses from recent tours, citing a £26,000 deficit on her last European tour and a £13,000 shortfall on her UK tour due to escalating costs. She described the painful decision to lay off a crew member just before Christmas, expressing deep guilt as an employer forced to cut costs relentlessly. "I was doing everything I could do to cut costs, which I really hate doing as an employer," she told the committee.
The OnlyFans Lifeline
Despite two decades in the industry, chart-topping success with her debut album Made Of Bricks, and a BRIT Award for best female artist in 2008, Nash confessed that her OnlyFans account is now the sole reason she can fund tours. "Now the only reason it is possible for me to do it is because I sell pictures of my bum on the internet," she said, explaining she joined the platform during her last touring cycle to draw attention to the crisis and because she "genuinely needed the finances."
She elaborated on the dire situation, noting that after promoting a record and completing North American, European, and UK tours, she was stressed about paying invoices before Christmas. "I thought this is something I can do quite quickly, make an impact, talk about the problem - and financially, it really did quite help me," Nash added.
Broader Industry Crisis
Nash warned that the issue extends beyond her personal struggles, threatening the very fabric of UK culture and economy. "We are at risk of losing our reputation and pride in our culture, which will have a knock-on effect on the UK economy," she asserted. She highlighted that only wealthy artists may afford to tour if changes are not made, making music exclusive and exacerbating issues of class, race, gender, sexuality, and identity.
"I think music should not be exclusive, it's for all, and it becomes an issue of class," Nash said. "That is really real - if a new artist doesn't have disposable income I don't understand how they would be able to do shows in the UK, let alone in Europe." She pointed to a "pipeline" being overlooked regarding the future of UK music and its global cultural standing.
Exploitation by Major Companies
In a thinly-veiled attack on the music industry, Nash criticised entertainment giants like Spotify and Live Nation for profiting while artists struggle. "Live Nation, Spotify and the major labels are responsible for a lot, if not all, of the problems going on in the industry," she stated. She accused them of being "very destructive" to artists' lives and the dreams of newcomers, with artists bearing all the risk and companies taking "the majority of the profits in quite extreme ways."
Nash called for greater scrutiny, saying, "We need to point the floodlights at these major companies that profit from us." She described the industry as having a "broken core" and being "basically unregulated" and "exploitative," adding, "We are completely desperate at this point. Anything that can be done that makes it easier and more financially viable helps."
Wider Impact on Artists
The singer shared anecdotes of fellow musicians resorting to selling instruments, furniture, and even homes to make ends meet, underscoring the severity of the crisis. She revealed that she sometimes declines European gigs because they would result in financial loss. "Myself and a lot of artists are sick of screaming into the void on how difficult it is," Nash lamented, emphasising the urgent need for support in an industry where artists are increasingly marginalised.
