Scott Mills has warned social media stars that their careers are unlikely to last more than five years, though he acknowledged they may make a lot of money along the way.
Scott Mills has warned social media stars that their careers are unlikely to last more than five years.
The BBC Radio 2 presenter prefers his own “gradual” rise to success than those from the online world, who can make it big very quickly only to fade away, and though he had to play a “long game” to get to where he is now, he is happy with his choices.
Asked his opinion on social media stars, he told the Daily Telegraph: “I wouldn’t say I resent those people, because fair play to them for finding that place and that niche. But I would say, really, there’s no longevity in it.
“We’re all going to get older, and you’re not going to be a TikTok star, probably, in five years. So you can make a lot of money very quickly, but I would still rather the way that I’ve done it, which has been very gradual.
“My first radio job was in Southampton when I was 16. The rise in money and the rise in career were definitely a long game, but I wouldn’t have done it any other way.
“I am now in my 50s, I’m still doing it, and doing the best I’ve ever done. So there is something to be said for it.”
Despite his success, the 51-year-old DJ still feels some insecurity about his financial position, but he has learned not to push himself as hard as he used to and isn’t afraid to turn down jobs any more.
He said: “I still feel that insecurity a little bit. I also think that’s because I work in an industry where you don’t sign up thinking this is a job for life. Contracts can end, radio stations get taken over, and then they decide, ‘we don’t have a slot for you’. That’s happened to a lot of people I know.
“Through my 20s, 30s, even 40s, if I was offered work, I’d take it, sometimes at a risk to my health. I was working way too much, because my mindset was that you don’t know when it might end.
“There was one freshers’ week where my schedule for playing in student unions was: Monday: Aberdeen, Tuesday: Glasgow, Wednesday: Edinburgh. I would do my show in London, fly to Scotland, do the gig around midnight, stay over with four hours sleep, fly back, do the show in London, repeat.
“I took every opportunity for 20 years, and actually I don’t really want to any more. I enjoyed it, but life is different now. I want some quality of life and I’m in a position now, although I’ve only recently reached it, where it’s okay to say no sometimes.”
Scott Mills issues warning to social media stars
