Kate Nash, who gave the world the 2007 hit Foundations, has discovered a rather novel way to counter the costs of touring. The singer-songwriter is battling to keep production costs from reaching astronomical levels, and, in a cheeky bid, she’s turned to OnlyFans with “Butts for Tour Buses.” For just $9.99, a subscription to Nash’s initiative saw her fund the rest of her ongoing 9 Sad Symphonies tour, clearing the benchmark in a week, and sparking the larger conversation on financial inequality in the music industry.
Despite having nearly a million monthly listeners on Spotify, Kate Nash says that touring typically leaves mid-tier artists like her in debt. “I can tour the world, but I cannot make a profit,” she shared. Compound this with rising costs of crew, travel, and dynamic ticket pricing, and it is no wonder that Kate Nash wants systemic solutions, such as the U.K.’s proposed stadium ticket levy to support grassroots venues.
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Beyond financial liberation, OnlyFans has offered Kate Nash a platform for empowerment and protest. Her recent fire truck stunt, featuring a giant poster of her in a pink thong, toured London, drawing attention to late-stage capitalism’s impact on the arts. Nash calls for action to preserve the vibrancy of live music. “If all the small venues close, we’ll miss the edge and authenticity they bring,” she warns.
Legislators in the UK are currently pushing for reform in the live music industry. The planned stadium ticket levy was approved for early implementation by UK MPs earlier in December. “We want to see a voluntary levy on arena and stadium tickets come into effect as soon as possible for concerts in 2025,” wrote Sir Chris Bryant MP, Minister of State for Media, Tourism, and Creative Industries, in a letter outlining the government’s deadline for the music industry’s response to that proposal. By the first quarter of 2025, we hope to see noticeable advancements in the music industry in order to reach this deadline.
With her OnlyFans success far outpacing streaming income, Kate Nash continues to push boundaries, championing feminism and ethical reform in the music industry. “There’s a way to fix it,” she insists, “so we can keep enjoying live music at all levels.“
