The Best New Artist award winner was one of many to make political statements during their acceptance speeches at last night’s Grammy Awards Ceremony
“Labels, we got you, but do you got us?” asked singer Chappell Roan during her acceptance speech for the Best New Artist award at last night’s Grammy Awards, in which she urged record labels to pay their artists a liveable wage and provide basic healthcare.
The Missouri-born 26-year-old beat the likes of Shaboozey, Sabrina Carpenter, Doechii, R/tag/rayeaye, Khruangbin, Benson Boone and Teddy Swims to win the Best New Artist award last night, and seized the opportunity to advocate for better treatment of 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,” said Roan in a heartfelt speech. “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 prioritised artists’ health, I could have been provided care by a company I was giving everything,” the ‘Pink Pony Club’ singer continued, before concluding with the question: “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?”
Elsewhere, Roan shared a message of solidarity with trans people during a red carpet interview. “It’s brutal right now, but trans people have always existed and they will forever exist,” said Roan in apparent reference to the worrying backsliding on LGBTQ+ rights by the incumbent Trump administration. “And they will never, no matter what happens, take trans joy away, and that has to be protected more than anything because I would not be here without trans girls. Just know that pop music is thinking about you and cares about you, and I’m doing my best to really stand up for you in every way I can.”
These messages were echoed by Lady Gaga during her acceptance speech for the Best Pop/Duo Performance award, alongside Bruno Mars. “It’s such an honour to sing for all of you. I just want to say tonight that trans people are not invisible,” Gaga said to cheers from the crowd. “Trans people deserve love. The queer community deserves to be lifted up. Music is love. Thank you.”
Both incidents arrived as part of a slew of politically charged messages at the 67th Annual Grammy Awards. Also apparently responding to the policies of President Trump, the winner of Best Latin Pop Album, Shakira, dedicated the award to her ‘immigrant brothers and sisters.’ “You are loved, you are worth it, and I will always fight with you,” said the three-time Grammy winner.
Separately, rising rapper Doechii, who won the award for Best Rap Album, shared a message of support for young Black women. “Anything is possible. Don’t allow anyone to project any stereotypes on you, that tell you that you can’t be here or that you’re too dark or that you’re not smart enough or that you’re too dramatic,” said Doechii in a tearful speech. “You are exactly who you need to be, and I am a testimony!”