Kate Nash took her frustrations directly to Live Nation’s London offices on Thursday, protesting in her underwear to highlight issues in the music industry.
The Foundations singer, 37, has been vocal about her struggles as an artist, including launching an OnlyFans page to help subsidise her UK and Ireland tour, which she says makes a statement about the lack of agency and the “broken” state of the music business.
Ahead of her sold-out show at Camden’s KOKO, Nash led her "Butts for Tour Buses" campaign through London, calling out Live Nation and Spotify for their role in what she described as an unsustainable industry.
Speaking outside Live Nation’s office, she told The Standard: “Do they give a f**k? I know I can't swear, but I'm p**sed off now.”
Nash explained that rising costs are forcing many artists to self-fund or cancel tours altogether.
She described the current landscape as “completely broken,” adding that even with the money she’s made through OnlyFans, she could only afford to hire an extra crew member for her tour, which kicked off on November 21.
The Nicest Thing hitmaker noted: “If you want live music in England to be able to carry on, then the government and Live Nation and Spotify needs to something about it because it's broken and it's not working.”
Nash highlighted the barriers faced by working-class artists, pointing out that without privilege, fame, or alternative means of generating income, many are excluded from the industry.
“A lot of artists are just having to cancel tours,” she shared. “And what I'm saying to young artists is like, the music industry has built a world that you can't enter unless you have extreme privilege or unless you're willing to sell photos of your bum or unless you're a famous name that can get attention.
“Like working class people are not invited into the music industry.”
She also criticised Live Nation’s staggering profits, which she claimed reached £22.749 billion last year, with an additional 9% increase expected in 2024 while the grassroots music industry is struggling.
“The grassroots scene in the UK is in crisis,” she added. “The music industry has failed artists we're seeing a massive, massive increase in profits at the top while everyone else is struggling to go on tour.
“And they are actually the main hold up in the government's recommendation to give one pound from every arena and stadium ticket sold to the grassroots culture.”
Earlier in the day, she said outside the Spotify building: “Artists are paid 0.003 of a penny per stream whilst [Spotify] demonetised 80 per cent of music on the platform. The shareholders cashed out over 419 million between them.”
Nash claimed on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that her account had allowed her to add an extra crew member to her tour staff.
British singer Lily Allen said earlier this year that she had joined OnlyFans to sell photographs of her feet online.
The Smile singer says she has “very strict guidelines” and is charging subscribers 10 dollars (£8) a month to view images of her feet on the platform, known for its adult content.
Beginning her career in 2005, Nash has had one UK top 10 single, and two UK top 10 albums.
Spotify and Live Nation have been contacted for comment.
