Chappell Roan did not have a “Casual” reaction to a music industry executive who took issue with her Grammys speech.
Roan posted on her Instagram Stories a response to a Hollywood Reporter guest essay that went viral for criticizing her Grammy night takedown of the industry. Roan had slammed major labels for their treatment of young, new recording artists and called for paying them a living wage and providing healthcare.
In the original piece, Jeff Rabhan accused Roan of “broadcasting naïveté and taking aim at the very machine that got her there,” and arguing: “If labels are responsible for artists’ wages, health care and overall well-being, where does it end and personal responsibility begin? Should Chris Blackwell put a mint on her pillow and tuck her in at night, too? There is no moral or ethical obligation by any standard that hold labels responsible for the allocation of additional funds beyond advances and royalties.”
On Friday, Roan fired back on social to Rabhan: “Wanna match me $25K to to support struggling artists? Will keep everyone updated with the much-awaited response. I will show receipts of the donations. In the meantime, here are some artists who deserve more love and a bigger platform.” Roan than gave shoutouts to Hemlock Springs, Sarah Kinsley, Devon Again and Baby Storme. She also posted Rabhan’s social media handle, presumably so her fans could express their thoughts on the matter.
THR put Roan on our list of Hollywood’s Biggest Winners of 2024 and also posted a counterpoint guest essay from songwriter Kay Hanley on this subject.
Hanley wrote: “Perhaps he was thinking: a young woman; a best new artist; she just materialized moments ago and doesn’t understand how we do things around here. Allow me, the 50-something music business executive, to explain” and then broke down some of the brutal financial realities facing young artists. She later concluded: “[Roan] earned every second of her moment on stage and used it as wisely as anyone I’ve ever seen in my 35-year music career. Major labels, it’s time to change your ways. The shot heard ‘round the world has just been fired by a 26-year-old icon. Good luck.”
