How Olivia Rodrigo’s Daisy Chain Festival Made History

Key Points:

• Sarah McLachlan, founder of the 1990s all-women Lilith Fair festival, has passed the torch to Olivia Rodrigo, who launched a new all-women festival called Daisy Chain Fields in August 2024, featuring artists from multiple generations and genres.
• Daisy Chain Fields, held in Irvine, California, drew 45,000 attendees and raised $10 million for nonprofits supporting women and girls, including Planned Parenthood and the Center for Reproductive Rights, with Melinda French Gates doubling the donation to $20 million.
• Rodrigo sought McLachlan’s blessing and advice when planning Daisy Chain, highlighting the importance of community, empowerment, and safe spaces for women in music, while McLachlan expressed pride in seeing a new generation carry forward the festival’s spirit.
• Both artists discussed the ongoing challenges of sexism in the music industry, the evolving role of women in music, and the importance of using their platforms to advocate for social change, especially amid political attacks on women’s rights.
• The festival emphasized intergenerational collaboration and philanthropy, with all performers volunteering their time and proceeds supporting various causes, while also celebrating the power of live music to foster connection and inspire activism.