An “it girl” in pop does more than create catchy beats and hard-hitting lyrics; she embraces music advocacy and views music as a vessel for change. Music is more than the hits and the numbers to Olivia Rodrigo; it’s the message she continues to carry through her actions and hosted events.
Rodrigo’s Daisy Chain Fields festival raised $20 million toward women-centered charities, featured an all-female lineup and hosted small women-owned businesses. Rodrigo managed to not only pull off a successful music festival, but also hosted a collective celebration of womanhood.
Rodrigo now sits amongst a legacy of women popstars who’ve used their influence for advocacy and charity.
Rodrigo has been vocal about her beliefs and activism toward women's reproductive rights since the beginning of her career. Music is a dominant force in the entertainment industry and it makes a lot of waves politically. Rodrigo uses this to her advantage instead of shying away from music’s inherent political tendencies.
Pop icons preceding Rodrigo like Madonna, Beyoncé and Dolly Parton have made music advocacy a relevant and vocal part of their career. Parton supported many charities in her lifetime and started the Imagination Library which aims to inspire “a love of reading by gifting books, free of charge, to children from birth to age five.”
Beyoncé and Madonna have been advocates for women in the music industry, calling out the double standard and expectations placed on them through their songs. Beyoncé specifically advocates for Black women and people of color, with her projects like “Black is King” on Disney+, a visual album focusing on and celebrating black culture.
Rodrigo’s festival is also not the first of its kind. Lilith Fair, which Rodrigo acknowledged as her inspiration, was a charity festival founded by Canadian singer Sarah McLachlan in 1997. At the time, the industry was skeptical that two women could successfully headline a festival. Doubters were proven wrong after Lilith Fair dominated in attendance from 1997-1999.
Using music as a way to share your beliefs, bring people together and call out prejudice is not a concept Rodrigo invented, but she’s taking a page out of past pop icons' books to establish her career as more than just a songwriter, but a writer seeking to change the culture.
Daisy Chain Fields raised $10 million in ticket sales, which was matched by American businesswoman Melinda Gates. Nonprofits in partnership with Daisy Chain Fields included Planned Parenthood, National Women's Law Center, National Institute for Reproductive Health and more women-centered organizations.
“i firmly believe that joy, community and music can be the drivers of meaningful change and I’m hopeful this festival will be just that,” Rodrigo said via Instagram.
Rodrigo had a team of more it girls join her in the lineup for Daisy Chain Fields. Some artists included Chappell Roan, Doechii, Mitski and Bikini Kill. To make as much profit as possible, those artists did the festival for free. Rodrigo claimed it was a "real testament to their hearts, as well as their talent.”
Women are pit against each other a lot in the entertainment industry. Whether it's in debate about their appearances, style or who they are dating. A lot of negative discourse is inherent in a career where they have a lot of eyes on them, the expectations placed on women in society seem to bear heavy on their shoulders.
Rodrigo’s all-women event is important in breaking down those fabricated competitions to show these women in music are all on the same team.
Rodrigo is creating a legacy with Daisy Chain Fields that reaches past the length of her music career. Not only does her work spark excitement for women's music, but it creates an impact.
Her impact on the music industry generated longevity in her career as not only a talented musician but a music advocate making major impacts for women in the industry.
Grace Schmidt is a junior studying journalism and fashion merchandising at Ohio University. Please note the opinions expressed in this column do not represent those of The Post. Want to talk to Grace about her column? Reach out to her at gs326823@ohio.edu or on Instagram at @graceschm1dt.
