In her speech accepting the award for brand new artist on the 67th Grammys on Sunday, Chappell Roan referred to as on report labels to do proper by their artists.
Roan, who rose to fame final yr together with her hits “Good Luck, Babe!,” “Hot to Go!” and “Pink Pony Club,” was nominated for six Grammys, together with pop solo efficiency and pop vocal album. Earlier within the telecast, Roan took the stage alongside together with her entourage of western clowns and scarecrow dancers for a efficiency of “Pink Pony Club,” her anthem celebrating queer nightlife in West Hollywood.
Though she was acknowledged as a brand new artist, Roan was signed to Atlantic Data as a teen, prompting her to maneuver to L.A. in 2018. Nevertheless, she was dropped by the label after her early work didn’t instantly resonate with audiences. A part of that journey was additionally mirrored in her speech. Learn the total speech under:
Thanks to my fellow nominees whose music obtained me by means of this previous yr. Brat was one of the best evening of my life this yr. Thanks all who listened to get me right here immediately. Dan [Danniel Nigro] and Island Data, Amusement Data, my mates and my household, and, above all, my Papa Chappell, who I named myself after.
I informed myself if I ever gained a Grammy and I obtained to face up right here in entrance of essentially the most highly effective folks in music, I’d demand that labels within the business profiting tens of millions of {dollars} off of artists provide a livable wage and healthcare, particularly to creating artists. As a result of I obtained signed so younger — I obtained signed as a minor — and after I obtained dropped, I had zero job expertise beneath my belt and, like most individuals, I had a tough time discovering a job in a pandemic and couldn’t afford medical health insurance.
It was so devastating to really feel so dedicated to my artwork and really feel so betrayed by the system and so dehumanized to not have well being [care]. If my label would have prioritized artists’ well being, I may have been offered care by an organization I used to be giving all the pieces to. So report labels must deal with their artists as beneficial workers with a livable wage and medical health insurance and safety. Labels, we obtained you, however do you bought us?
Thanks.
