At the 2025 Grammys, Chappell Roan won the much-anticipated best new artist prize. She utilized her victory to draw attention to how the music industry treats up-and-coming artists.
The category’s 2024 winner, Victoria Monet, made a comeback to the Grammy stage to declare Roan the winner this year. The singer-songwriter of “Hot to Go!” expressed gratitude to her fellow candidates, saying, “Their music got me through this past year.” When Roan took the platform to make her remarks, she had a notebook with her, which she told herself she would always use if she ever found herself in this situation.
To applause from the audience, Roan declared, “I told myself that if I ever won a Grammy and 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 livable wage in healthcare, especially to developing artists.”
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Roan continued by explaining that she was signed as a minor and that she had no work experience or health insurance when she was previously removed from her label. She also mentioned that she had difficulty finding employment during the pandemic. “Being so dedicated to my art and feeling so dehumanized by the system and betrayed by not having help was so devastating,” she added.
“We got you, Labels, but do you have us?” As she concluded her acceptance speech, Roan asked. Applause erupted from the audience. After Roan’s speech, the camera went to fellow contender Sabrina Carpenter, who appeared teary-eyed.
The year’s biggest singles were performed by Benson Boone, Carpenter, Doechii, Khruangbin, RAYE, Roan, Shaboozey, and Teddy Swims, among others, in the fierce competition for best new artist. Before the prize was presented, the artists—aside from Carpenter, Roan, and Khruangbin—performed a medley. Both Roan and Carpenter, who were vying for the night’s greatest prize, album of the year, gave separate performances during the event. The musical range of this year’s nomination class was demonstrated by the pre-award performances.
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Roan’s performance at the Grammys transported the audience to the “Pink Pony Club.” In keeping with the evening’s theme, Roan declared, “‘Pink Pony Club’ is my love letter to L.A.,” referring to her passion for the city. I adore this city. Since L.A. is ultimately where I feel the most free, it gave me the confidence to be who I am.
Trevor Noah hosted the 2025 Grammy Awards, which were broadcast live from the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Sunday. See all of the red carpet arrivals here, and see the complete list of winners here.
See the complete text of Roan’s speech below.
Hello, thank you to my fellow nominees whose music got me through this past year. Brat was the best night of my life this year. My hat’s going to fall. It’s going to be OK. [Laughs]. Thank you all who listened to get me here today and Dan [Dan Nigro] and Island Records, Amusement Records, my friends and my family, and above all my Papa Chappell, who I named myself after.
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 would offer a livable wage and healthcare, especially to developing artists. Because I got signed so young… I got signed as a minor, and 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 and so dehumanized to not have help. And if my label would’ve prioritized artist 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 livable wage and health insurance and protection.
Labels, we got you, but do you got us?
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