During her 2025 Grammy award acceptance, Chappell Roan called on record label executives to offer “liveable” wages and healthcare for artists.
Named Best New Artist at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California on Sunday night (2.02,) the singer-songwriter bested Benson Boone, Sabrina Carpenter, Doechii, Khruangbin, Raye, Shaboozey, and Teddy Swims who were all nominated in the category.
Taking to the stage, the now 26-year old trophy winner (born Kayleigh Amstutz) thanked her fellow nominees, friends, and family before reading a pre-written speech from her notebook in which she urged music industry leaders to provide more support to young performers.
“I told myself if I ever won a Grammy and I got to stand up here in front of the most powerful people in music, I would demand that labels and the industry profiting millions of dollars off of artists would offer a liveable wage and healthcare, especially to developing artists.” “Because I got signed so young, I got signed as a minor. When I got dropped, I had zero job experience under my belt, and like most people, I had a difficult time finding a job in the pandemic and could not afford health insurance.” “It was so devastating to feel so committed to my art and feel so betrayed by the system. If my label would have prioritized artists’ health, I could have been provided care by a company I was giving everything to.” “So, record labels need to treat their artists as valuable employees with a liveable wage and health insurance and protection. Labels, we got you, but do you got us (sic)?” stated the Missouri-born singer/songwriter.
In addition to the Best New Artist category, Chappell’s debut full length, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess, was also up for Album of the Year at the Grammys, the trophy for which was won by Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter.
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Author: Al Denté
Photo: Jason Martin