During her announcement for "Best New Artist" at the 2025 Grammy Awards, pop star Chappell Roan used her platform to demand better treatment for artists under labels. She focused on labels prioritizing "a livable wage and healthcare" for developing artists.

Her message was positively perceived by most, but there were a few detractors. The most notable of said detractors was music executive Jeff Rabhan, who took to The Hollywood Reporter to discuss his gripes with Roan's speech. Titled "Chappell Groan: The Misguided Rhetoric of an Instant Industry Insider," the op-ed commends Roan for her talent but calls her "far too green and misinformed" to make actual change in the industry.

Rabhan insinuates that Roan's newness to the music industry leaves her lacking perspective, and chides that other highly regarded artists would not be keen on her speech. "What would Prince say? Or Tom Petty?" he adds.

"Whether it’s Prince wresting back control of his master recordings at the height of his popularity or Petty funding his iconic album Damn the Torpedos himself — and then refusing to release it — and later taking on his label for raising the price on his LP, skin in the game earns a seat at the table. But that table requires a willingness to leave blood on the floor and to put your money where your mouth is."

Later in the article, Rabhan uses Bill Maher's criticism of Roan's politics around Palestine to insinuate that she is uninformed, not just in the music industry, but in greater world politics as well. Along with Maher's remarks, Rabhan adds that her politics are "trendy" and "performative," saying she does not understand "the complexities of the issues they’re addressing."

This is all also ignoring the fact that Roan was signed to Atlantic back in 2015, making her a 10-year music industry veteran.

"Artists like Roan aren’t changing the game; they’re repeating the old one — young stars getting a taste of success, turning into critics of the machine that elevated them, and ultimately, continuing to profit from that very system."

Rabhan ends his column with a subheading called "Less Talking, More Doing," where he argues that the biggest changes in music are done not by speeches, but actions. Rabhan cites "industry disruptors" like Taylor Swift and Prince, who sought to reshape the industry. He then argues that if Roan wants something like healthcare for developing artists, she needs to invest in new compensation models: "Put your money where your mouth is."

Well, it seems Roan has taken that message to heart. On her Instagram story, Roan calls out the executive and pledges $25,000 to donate to struggling artists.

The following post has her announcing that she will keep everyone updated and will show receipts of the donations. "Mr. Rabhan I love how in the article you said ‘put your money where your mouth is’ Genius !!!” she wrote. “Let’s link and build together and see if you can do the same 🔥🔥🔥"

After the post, Roan dedicated the rest of her Instagram story to uplifting artists who "deserve more love and a bigger platform." Those artists include Hemlocke Springs, Sarah Kinsley, Devon Again, and Baby Storme.