In a column for RTÉ, Kate Nash argues that grassroots musicians face an economic crisis and announced she is set to lose about 16,000 dollars on her upcoming North American tour.
The 39-year-old singer joined the subscription platform OnlyFans in 2024 to draw attention to the financial challenges facing independent artists and help fund her live shows, RTÉ reported. Nash released her record 9 Sad Symphonies in 2024 and subsequently launched her Butts for Tour Buses campaign after letting a crew member go before the festive season.
“I was just losing thousands and thousands of pounds because I was choosing to have a human band instead of backing tracks, a sound person, a lighting person, and a few members of crew,” Nash told RTÉ.
Nash explained that streaming revenue and ticket sales do not adequately cover modern touring overhead for artists who choose to travel with a full band and technical crew. She said that cultural impact and millions of streams should realistically translate to the ability to pay supporting musicians and staff properly.
“I think that considering the cultural impact that my music has made, and the fact that I have millions of streams and I sell thousands of tickets, means that I should be able to have a band and a crew and pay them,” Nash told RTÉ.
The musician recently launched an OnlyFans TV channel to share behind-the-scenes vlogs detailing the realities of life on the road. Her recent tour stops included intimate venues in Derry, Cork, Kilkenny, and Dublin, following festival appearances over the summer where she debuted material from an upcoming project exploring her Irish heritage.
Nash emphasized that despite two decades in the music industry—beginning with her 2007 chart-topping debut album Made Of Bricks—the economic doors are closing for emerging independent artists trying to build sustainable careers.
“I’m going on tour to North America,” Nash told RTÉ.
“I’m set to lose about 16,000 dollars and I’m going to be putting my ass on the internet a lot to try and cover the cost of that. So, let’s have some fun.”
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