Rochelle Humes has made a surprising revelation about her music career earnings, stating she made more money during her time in S Club Juniors than with the popular girl group The Saturdays. Despite The Saturdays achieving chart success with hits like 'All Fired Up' and 'Higher', Rochelle explained that by 2008, the financial landscape of the music industry had drastically shifted.
The Financial Shift in Music
Speaking candidly on Jamie Laing's Great Company podcast, Rochelle detailed how the money "just went out of" the music industry around that period. She joined S Club Juniors in the early 2000s at age twelve, alongside members including Frankie Bridge, Aaron Renfree, and Calvin Goldspink. The group enjoyed success with tracks like 'Automatic High' during their active years from 2001 to 2003.
Earnings Structure in The Saturdays
Rochelle elaborated that while in The Saturdays, she received a salary but was expected to maintain a certain lifestyle that often proved unsustainable. Most of her income actually derived from brand endorsements and touring rather than record sales. She clarified that record deal figures often represent investment in production and marketing, not direct artist earnings.
"For a period of time, music artists were making money touring. The tours and the brand deals was where you would make your money. The records weren't for us," Rochelle explained. She mentioned examples like being the face of shampoo brands with personalized scents as crucial revenue streams.
The Impact of 360 Deals
The situation worsened when record labels introduced 360 deals, taking cuts from brand partnerships and live performances. "You've got to remember everything you earn, split that in half, basically with tax and an agent. And then there's five of you," she noted, highlighting how earnings were diluted among band members and other parties.
Paparazzi Intrusions
Beyond financial matters, Rochelle shared disturbing experiences with paparazzi during her time in The Saturdays. She described photographers "on the floor trying to get up our skirts" when she and husband Marvin Humes (formerly of JLS) would leave venues. Rochelle contrasted their experiences, noting Marvin's boy band background didn't involve the same level of intrusive behavior.
"It was a really strange period of time that we weirdly were just a bit accepting. We weren't earning enough money. It wasn't like, 'Okay, I don't like this anymore, let's stop this'," she reflected on the normalization of such invasions.
This insight from Rochelle Humes sheds light on the evolving economics of the music industry and the personal challenges faced by artists during peak fame periods.
