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Olivia Rodrigo’s New Festival Just Raised $20 Million for Women and Girls
Pop music and giving back came together this weekend as Olivia Rodrigo’s first-ever Daisy Chain Fields festival brought some of the biggest names in music together for a cause bigger than the stage.
Olivia Rodrigo had a pretty big weekend.
The pop star hosted the inaugural Daisy Chain Fields festival Saturday in Irvine, California, bringing together an impressive lineup that included Chappell Roan, Doechii, Bikini Kill, Garbage, Sarah McLachlan and Stevie Nicks.
But the biggest headline may have nothing to do with the performances.
The one-day festival raised $20 million for organizations supporting women and girls. According to the Associated Press, the event initially generated $10 million for 10 nonprofit organizations, including the National Women’s Law Center and Black Mamas Matter Alliance. Philanthropist Melinda French Gates then pledged another $10 million through her organization Pivotal Ventures.
A Pop Festival With a Purpose
Rodrigo has been open about the artists who influenced her, making the festival something of a musical family reunion across generations.
The lineup stretched from current pop favorites like Chappell Roan and Doechii to legendary artists including Stevie Nicks and Sarah McLachlan. Riot-grrrl pioneers Bikini Kill and rock band Garbage were also part of the event.
The result was a festival that didn’t feel like a typical collection of artists sharing a bill. Rodrigo personally invited performers, and organizers intentionally avoided creating a hierarchy among the acts.
And judging by the crowd, fans were into it.
The festival attracted approximately 45,000 people, with Rodrigo closing the night with a career-spanning performance. She was joined onstage by some very special guests, including Stevie Nicks, Sarah McLachlan and Alanis Morissette.
The Olivia Rodrigo Effect
Rodrigo’s influence on younger pop fans has been obvious for years, but Daisy Chain Fields shows how that influence can extend beyond music.
The festival was inspired in part by the legendary Lilith Fair era of the 1990s, while giving Rodrigo’s generation of fans a modern version of a women-led music event.
And there was plenty for pop fans to talk about. Chappell Roan brought her larger-than-life stage presence, Doechii represented one of hip-hop’s most exciting crossover stars, and Rodrigo herself delivered the kind of superstar finale you’d expect from one of pop’s biggest names.
What’s Next for Pop Festivals?
Daisy Chain Fields is another example of how today’s biggest pop stars are using their platforms for more than releasing songs and selling concert tickets.
For Rodrigo, the festival combined several things her fans already love: huge pop performances, artists from different generations, fashion, community and a cause.
And with $20 million raised, it looks like the first Daisy Chain Fields was about much more than one day of music.
For fans of Top 40, there’s also a pretty fun takeaway: when artists like Olivia Rodrigo, Chappell Roan and Doechii share one stage, you know there’s going to be plenty to talk about Monday morning.
Pop music may change quickly, but apparently a great playlist—and a good cause—still bring everyone together.
