It's Been a Minute Can OnlyFans save the music industry?
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May 12, 2025 
Join NPR culture reporter Isabella Gomez Sarmiento as she dives into the surprising rise of OnlyFans among musicians seeking financial stability. With concert ticket prices soaring and rising costs, artists are turning to digital platforms, blurring lines between music and adult content. Isabella reveals the stark economic challenges that threaten the music industry's middle class and discusses how these shifts reflect broader societal views on labor and creativity. It's a thought-provoking look at survival in today’s music landscape.
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Kate Nash’s OnlyFans Experience
- British singer-songwriter Kate Nash joined OnlyFans under judgment but highlighted why artists supplement income.
- Her experience underscores the economic challenges musicians face to sustain careers.
Touring Is No Longer Lucrative
- Touring income for musicians, especially independents, has drastically decreased despite high concert turnout and ticket sales.
- Costs of touring rose due to inflation and pandemic impacts, while artist pay remained stagnant.
Shrinking Music Industry Middle Class
- The music industry has stark financial divides, with superstars thriving but a shrinking middle class of artists struggling.
- Middle class musicians often lack safety nets, forcing some into alternative income sources like OnlyFans or even medical trials.