At the 2025 Grammy Awards, Chappell Roan took home the coveted award for Best New Artist and used her acceptance speech to address an issue close to her heart: the treatment of developing artists within the music industry.
Roan, who was presented with the award by 2024’s winner Victoria Monet, thanked her fellow nominees, acknowledging the music that helped her through the past year. With a notebook in hand, she took the opportunity to speak out on behalf of artists who are often exploited in the industry.
“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 and healthcare, especially to developing artists,” Roan declared. The crowd responded with enthusiastic applause as she made her powerful statement.
Roan shared her personal story, revealing that she was signed to a label as a minor and, when dropped, was left without job experience or access to healthcare. She recounted the difficulty of finding a job during the pandemic and how devastating it felt to be left without support while fully committed to her craft.
“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,” Roan said. “Labels, we got you, but do you got us?” She finished her speech with this powerful question, met with more applause. Fellow nominee Sabrina Carpenter was seen wiping away tears as the camera panned to her during Roan’s speech.
The race for Best New Artist this year was highly competitive, with nominees including Benson Boone, Sabrina Carpenter, Doechii, Khruangbin, RAYE, Shaboozey, and Teddy Swims. The pre-award performances showcased the impressive diversity of musical talent, with many of the nominees taking the stage. Carpenter and Roan both performed separately during the ceremony, each in contention for the night’s biggest award – Album of the Year.
In her performance, Roan brought the crowd to her “Pink Pony Club,” a nod to her love for Los Angeles. Speaking about the city’s influence on her, she said, “‘Pink Pony Club’ is my love letter to L.A. I love this city. L.A. gave me the courage to be myself because ultimately it is where I feel the most free.”
The 2025 Grammy Awards, hosted by Trevor Noah, aired live from the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, highlighting a night filled with powerful performances and significant wins.
Roan’s acceptance speech remains a reminder of the importance of caring for artists, especially those at the beginning of their careers. The message of artist welfare continues to resonate, sparking conversations about the industry’s responsibility to support those who help fuel its success.