As the adage goes: "What is heard in the marketplace will be known in the household" - this implies that any information shared publicly will quickly spread widely. Chappelle Roan has used this proverb to address the lack of support for artists from record labels. "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 in the industry profiting millions of dollars off of artists offer a livable wage and healthcare, especially to developing artists," she stated after she won Best New Artist award beating the likes of Benson Boone, Sabrina Carpenter, Doechii, Khruangbin, Raye, Chappell Roan, Shaboozey, and Teddy Swims.
She stood before the audience and passionately urged record labels to treat their artists as valuable employees. “Record labels need to treat their artists as valuable employees, with a livable wage, health insurance, and protection. Labels, we got you — but do you get us?” she proclaimed. Roan's speech was remarkably touching as she reflected on her own experiences in the industry. After being dropped with her first label, as a teenager, Roan encountered a lot of challenges. She was forced to Los Angeles and return to Missouri, where she worked at a drive-thru to make ends meet. And this has been experienced by a lot of artists who step away from the major-label system.
The artist's fame did not come easy. She'd first signed to Atlantic Records and released her debut EP, School Nights (2017). After being shown the door by the label, she released a series of independent singles including "Pink Pony Club," "Casual" and "Femininomenon," which aided in Roan's rise to stardom. Roan amassed a sizable following and gained the attention of other artists by promoting the songs on TikTok and Instagram.
Her credible representation of queer life in her music shows why she utilizes not only her music but also her platform and recognition to advocate for and support her fellow artists within the music industry. Roan's trending speech on advocating for a more equitable and supportive music industry serves as a rallying cry for artists everywhere.
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