SUNDAY, FEB. 1— The 67th annual Grammy Awards took place in Los Angeles at the Crypto Arena for a night of energetic and fun performances, along with dishing out rewards like “Song of the Year” and “Album of the Year.” However, most artists that took the stage when accepting awards took the time to express important messages to the crowd and people watching live.
Take pop sensation Chappell Roan for example, who went on stage after winning “Best New Artist.” Roan took a stand on the unfair labor practices within the music industry and their artists, expressing her own experiences with it.
“I got signed as a minor. When I got dropped, I had zero job experience under my belt… It was devastating to feel so committed to my art and feel so betrayed by the system and dehumanized. If my label had prioritized it, I could have been provided care for a company I was giving everything to. Record labels need to treat their artists as valuable employees with a livable wage and health insurance and protection,” Roan said.
This received a loud applause from the crowd, the artists clearly showing their support for Roan’s message.
Later that evening, Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars accepted their award for “Best Pop Duo/Group Performance.” Gaga spoke up against their mistreatment of transgender individuals in our culture right now.
“I just want to say tonight that trans people are not invisible. Trans people deserve love. The queer community deserves to be lifted up. Music is love,” Gaga expressed.
Similar to Roan, this received a standing ovation from the crowd. This was most likely sparked by the wave of executive orders signed by President Donald Trump targeting transgender people.
Alicia Keys also took a political stand while accepting her “Dr. Dre Global Impact” award. She discussed the power of diversity in our society, targeting the diminishing of DEI programs in America.
“DEI is not a threat, it’s a gift,” Keys said.
Lastly, Colombian artist Shakira spoke up during her acceptance speech for “Best Latin Pop Album.” She expressed her support for immigrants as President Trump’s mass deportation plan goes into effect.
“I want to dedicate this award to all my immigrant brothers and sisters in this country,” she said. “You are loved, you are worth it, and I will always fight with you.”
The 90 seconds artists receive to speak on the Grammys stage may not seem like a lot of time, but it’s enough time to convey powerful messages, especially due to the large influences artists have.
