Kate Nash Tells MPs the UK Music Industry is at a Breaking Point

The ongoing debate over the sustainability of the music industry has reached a fever pitch in February 2026. While streaming platforms and large promoters report record revenues, mid tier and grassroots artists are facing an unprecedented financial crisis. At the center of this firestorm is British singer Kate Nash, whose recent actions and testimony have exposed the “destructive influence” of current industry models.

The Reality of Mid-Career Touring

In November 2025, Kate Nash took her frustrations to the streets, protesting outside the London headquarters of Spotify and Live Nation. By February 3, 2026, she escalated her advocacy by testifying before the UK Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee. Nash’s testimony provided a blunt reality check for policymakers.

Financial Losses: She reported losing £26,000 on her recent European tour and an additional £13,000 on her UK dates.
The OnlyFans Solution: Nash revealed that her career is currently only viable because she sells content on OnlyFans. She famously used the slogan “Butts for tour buses” to highlight that streaming and ticket sales alone can no longer cover basic overhead like fuel, hotels, and crew wages.
The Brexit Tax: Nash pointed to the rising costs of post Brexit touring as a major factor in the shrinking economic viability for UK performers.

The Grassroots Infrastructure Crisis

The struggle isn’t limited to individual artists. The very foundations of the live circuit are crumbling. The Music Venue Trust Annual Report 2025, released in January 2026, painted a grim picture. More than half of UK grassroots music venues reported making no profit at all in 2025. The report warned that the majority of these spaces are now just one financial shock away from permanent closure.

The Search for Solutions

To address these systemic issues, several major initiatives are currently being debated.

The Grassroots Levy: A proposed £1 levy on arena and stadium tickets would fund smaller venues. The government has set a June 30, 2026 deadline for the industry to adopt this voluntarily before considering mandatory legislation.
Fan Led Review: A parliamentary inquiry is currently examining the fan experience and the sustainability of the live music ecosystem.
Fix Streaming: The Musicians’ Union continues to lobby for fairer royalty distribution to ensure that digital income actually reaches the pockets of the creators.

As Nash warned in her testimony, if the middle ground of the industry continues to shrink, music risks becoming an exclusive luxury reserved only for the wealthy. Without structural reform, the future of UK culture is at stake.