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Kate Nash just made a powerful statement about both the collapse of the music industry and the empowering side of the sex work industry. The British singer found fame in the early 2000s — now, she's funding her tours with OnlyFans. And she doesn't want anyone to feel sorry for her.
“It’s very funny, I think it is also fun to do, and my industry is completely broken, I don’t think it’s sustainable, and I think it’s a complete failure, I think it will collapse as well,” the singer explained of her decision on BBC's Today Show. "So I do think people are going to have to find solutions to fund their art."
She went on: “I think it’s quite empowering, and I’m also creating jobs with my bum now, for example, I couldn’t bring a crew member that’s on tour with me in the UK to Europe, but now I can, because of my OnlyFans website.”
Who is Kate Nash?
Kate Nash was born in Harrow in 1987. After falling in love with music at a young age, she attended the BRIT School. Although she was initially interested in acting, she turned to her “hobby” of singing after being rejected by a number of drama schools. By 19, she had a record deal.
Since then, Nash has gone on to release five albums and 22 singles. Her first album Made of Bricks reached number one in the UK. After the success of her first album, she was dropped by her label. “After I got dropped it was a long process to redefine what success was and to keep my self‑esteem afloat," she said to The Guardian, adding, "Over the years, some of the funnest memories have been during the bleakest times financially. I remember playing in a pub in Guildford. It was a fun, sweaty show, and I looked around and realised I loved the musicians I played with. There are some superstars with an unfillable cup who could play the Staples Center in Los Angeles and never experience that level of joy.”
Nash has also worked as an actor, appearing in Netflix's Glow as Rhonda Richardson and last year's comedy film Coffee Wars.
Earlier this year, she said: “I love being an artist but it’s constant work, especially now music feels as if it’s an industry for the rich. Musicians are making less money, even from touring. But whatever happens, I have my family, my sisters, where I’m from.”
Our girl is crossing the pond once again.
Why has Kate Nash joined OnlyFans?
Kate Nash has been making headlines this week after joining OnlyFans to fund her own tours.
As Nash explained on the Today Show, her turn to OnlyFans was the only reason her financial difficulties as an artist were getting any media attention. “I think it will perhaps cause a bit of a stir and a conversation,” she said. "I don’t think if I posted my tour poster and said the music industry is struggling right now, artists are struggling, support us, help me pay good wages, blah, blah, blah, I don’t think I’ll be here on Radio 4 talking about it.
"I think the reason people are talking about me going on tours is because I’m selling pictures of my ass now, I’ve already been working my ass off for years, and now I’m just going to get paid really well for it, and I’m going to pay my employees really well for it too."
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After a decades-long career, some of her fans have commented that her turn to sexual content creation to fund her music is “sad.” However, Nash doesn't see it that way.
“Don't be ‘sad’ that I started an OnlyFans to fund my tours,” she wrote in an Instagram statement. “It's very empowering and selling pics of my arse is fun & funny, sex is fun & funny. Women being in control of their bodies is vital and something we should all be standing by & fighting for.”
She continued: “If you could remove same & sadness from your perception of sex work you can help empower sex workers.”
Not only is Nash calling out the music industry, she's also calling out people who still associate sex work with shame — and for that, we can only applaud her.
