LA wildfires: Music industry rallies in support of victims

In the wake of Los Angeles’ devastating wildfires, Live Nation and AEG Presents have joined forces with the Azoff family to hold a benefit concert, FireAid.

Set for 30 January at Inglewood’s Intuit Dome (cap. 18,000), the “evening of music and solidarity” will raise money to support rebuilding affected communities and efforts to prevent future fire disasters throughout Southern California.

Performers and ticket information will be announced in the coming days. Proceeds from the concert will go towards a charity created for this event. The benefit concert will precede the 67th Grammy Awards, set for 2 February at Crypto.com Arena (20,000).

More than 150,000 people have been evacuated as more than 40,000 acres have been burned and 12,000 structures have been destroyed across LA, per NPR. The economic damage could top $50 billion and may rank as one of the most costly natural disasters in US history, according to the Los Angeles Times. At least 24 people have been killed.

The music industry has been hit hard by the ongoing crisis, with countless professionals, technicians, and artists impacted.

A document is circulating with more than 210 individuals and families who have lost their homes, featuring links to financially support them.

“The music community is being so severely impacted but we will come together as an industry to support one another”

In response, the industry is banding together to raise money for those affected.

The Recording Academy and its welfare charity MusiCares have pledged $1 million to support music professionals impacted by the fires through its Los Angeles Fire Relief Effort.

“The entire Grammy family is shocked and deeply saddened by the situation that is unfolding in Los Angeles,” Harvey Mason Jr., CEO of the Recording Academy and MusiCares, said in a statement. “The music community is being so severely impacted but we will come together as an industry to support one another. Our organizations exist to serve music people … and we hope the broader industry will now rally to this cause.”

MusiCares is offering $1,500 in financial assistance and a $500 grocery card to affected music professionals working in the industry for over three years, intended to cover short-term costs.

“MusiCares disaster relief is intended to cover short-term costs, should you incur costs from evacuating (hotel, food, supplies). MusiCares is also able to provide additional support for individuals with considerable impact, including medical issues, damaged music equipment or longer-term relocation needs,” shares the charity.

Beyoncé is donating $2.5 million toward an LA fire relief fund started by her charity, BeyGOOD.

“The fund is earmarked to aid families in the Altadena/Pasadena area who lost their homes, and to churches and community centres to address the immediate needs of those affected by the wildfires,” the organisation announced today.

Multiple organisations are offering direct relief for musicians and music industry professionals, including the Black Music Action Coalition, the Entertainment Community Fund, mental health non-profit Backline, the Sweet Relief Musicians Fund, the Guitar Center Music Foundation, Warner Music’s Social Justice Fund, The 100 Percenters, and others. Billboard is actively compiling a list of available resources.

“Give to people who really truly need it”

Shelby Schenkman, a creators agent at United Talent Agency, is fundraising through The UTA Foundation to purchase clothes and essential items for affected colleagues and external community members. The effort has raised over US$7,500 to date.

Meanwhile, Charli XCX took to social media to urge brands to “give to people who really truly need it”, while American-Mexican band Fuerza Regida rented out a hotel for six days to provide shelter to those displaced.

Arenas around the city have cleared their music schedules for the month, with sporting programming also facing disruptions.

Last week, LA radio station ALT 98.7 cancelled the iHeartRadio ALTer EGO festival, which was set to return to Inglewood’s Kia Forum (cap. 17,505) last Saturday (11 January). Incubus, The Lumineers, Cage The Elephant, Glass Animals, The Offspring, St. Vincent, Fontaines D.C., The Head and the Heart, and Damiano David were all set to perform.

Kia Forum’s next scheduled concert is set for 1 February with K-pop group aespa.

Following FireAid, Intuit Dome’s next concert is on 22 February with Mexican band Los Tucanes De Tijuana. The arena cancelled a show with rapper Rod Wave last Wednesday (8 January).

A cancellation has not yet been announced for Calibash, the area’s “biggest Latin pop concert of the year,” set for this Saturday (18 January) at Crypto.com Arena. Maluma, Wisin, Xavi, Manuel Turizo, Emilia, and more are set to perform.

No music programming is scheduled for SoFi Stadium (70,000). The NFL announced the playoff game will move to Arizona’s State Farm Stadium (63,400) tonight (13 January).

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