Re the earnings of pop bands: even when physical music (as in CDs) were the main source of income, the manufactured bands didn’t earn that much, certainly not enough to retire on.
Hannah Spearritt of S Club 7 (or rather, her dad) attempted to sue the band’s management company about ten years ago for more money. The members each earned £150k a year: they were effectively on a salary with occasional bonuses for DVD sales etc.
She lost. She’d signed a contract that made her, and the others, something like employees. They didn’t write any of the music and were replaceable. They probably had a good life for ex-stage school kids with no other talent apart from performing other people’s songs and dancing. Probably made a bit extra from personal appearances and enjoyed the benefit of fame whilst they had it (getting free clothes, good tables in restaurants etc.)
I bet Steps were the same. Pete Waterman set the band up, and I don’t think he’s financially naive. Odds on the Steps members were earning an amount similar to S Club, and were similarly salaried rather than taking all the risks and rewards. Which means that no way is Lisa Scott Lee going to be retired on her Steps earnings. They probably did quite well out of the reunion tour, I imagine. Plus I remember the girls from Steps appearing In those underwear shoots for men’s magazines every chance they got.
Didn’t she marry that bloke who was drafted into Hearsay just before they broke up? I can say with confidence that it’s unlikely that his pop career earnings are supporting them.
I went to a festival in Glasgow years ago - very poppy, included Blue, Darius etc - and Lisa Scott Lee was one of the early filler acts. She had just gone solo after Steps split up. She did a couple of songs, woeful, then signed off with “you all have a great day, OK? Byeeee!”. A bloke in the crowd near us sad, “It just got better” as Lisa left the stage. Comedy gold.
Bands like One Direction and the Spice Girls are the exception to the ‘manufactured bands‘ earnings rule of thumb because MERCHANDISE.