After rising to fame, singer Chappell Roan has consistently used her platform to advocate for struggling artists. During her Grammy-winning speech in 2025, Roan highlighted the need for better support systems for creatives who are facing challenges in the industry. Her call to action did not go unnoticed, as two fellow pop stars, Charli xcx and Noah Kahan, decided to match her $25,000 donation to support struggling artists.
Challenging the Status Quo
Following Roan’s plea for a “livable wage and health care” for emerging artists, former New York University music executive Jeff Rabhan criticized these efforts, suggesting that challenging the label status quo would require significant sacrifice. Roan, known for her outspoken nature, responded to Rabhan’s comments on Instagram by announcing her own donation and challenging him to follow suit.
In a bold move, Roan donated $25,000 to artists who had been dropped by their labels, a situation she herself had experienced. Her public plea to Rabhan to match her donation sparked a conversation about the need for better support systems within the music industry. Despite Roan’s message being directed at Rabhan, it was fellow singers Noah Kahan and Charli xcx who took immediate action by matching her donation.
Supporting Struggling Creators
Noah Kahan was the first to step up, pledging to match Roan’s $25,000 donation to support artists’ access to healthcare. Charli xcx quickly followed suit, inspired by Roan’s passionate speech at the Grammys. Both singers echoed Roan’s sentiments by emphasizing the importance of putting “money where [their] mouth is” when it comes to supporting struggling artists.
The combined donations from Roan, Kahan, and Charli xcx, along with an additional $25,000 contribution from the Hinterland Music Festival, have amounted to $100,000 raised to support struggling creators. These donations will be directed to Backline, a non-profit organization that provides mental health and wellness resources to music industry professionals in need and their families.
Roan’s commitment to making a real change in the industry goes beyond crowdfunding efforts. In an Instagram story, she emphasized the need for industry leaders to step up and protect their investments in a sustainable way. Roan’s initiative, named “We Got You,” aims to challenge labels to provide better support for artists, moving beyond standard industry practices.
For Roan, the message is clear: artists deserve more than what is currently considered standard in the industry. She remains steadfast in her mission to create meaningful change and ensure that struggling creators receive the support they need. As Roan aptly put it, “Random dudes are allowed to criticize my Grammy speech, but they best put their money where their mouth is, otherwise, MOVE out of the way.”
