Los Angeles Fires: Resources Available for the Music Community
The wildfires around Los Angeles County have become one of the most devastating natural disasters to ever hit the city, burning more than 35,000 acres in and around the city, destroying over 10,000 homes and buildings and forcing nearly 200,000 people and counting to evacuate.
Some in Los Angeles’s music community who live in the Palisades or Altadena have begun to share stories about the devastation of losing their homes, while others are still awaiting information to learn if their houses have survived. Aside from the resources available to everyone in the area, those in the music industry have some music-specific resources potentially available for them as well, which we’ve compiled below.
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Most prominently there’s MusiCares, the Recording Academy’s non-profit established to assist the music community in times of crisis. The organization has already told those in the music industry in need of relief to reach out. Late Thursday, MusiCares launched the Los Angeles Fire Relief Effort, pledging $1 million. Those seeking relief can email [email protected].
“We expect the disaster relief efforts in Los Angeles to be extraordinary, if even just on the basis of how many music people have lost their homes in the last day,” Laura Segura, executive director of MusiCares, said in a statement. “MusiCares is always committed to ensuring that music professionals are supported in times of crisis, and we ask for the larger community to donate for those in need at this dire time. MusiCares can help with short term emergent needs for those currently displaced, and then longer-term services as we get a handle on the full extent of how music people are impacted.”
Songwriter advocacy group the 100 Percenters announced a fundraiser on Friday, looking to establish a fund to grant up to $2,500 for housing and transportation. The fund will also give up to $10,000 to replace equipment and up to $2,000 for mental health support.
“The Los Angeles wildfires have destroyed homes, displaced families, and disrupted lives, leaving many music creatives struggling to recover,” the organization said on Friday. “These individuals often live without safety nets like traditional employment benefits or disaster relief support, making rebuilding their lives and careers even harder.”
There’s also the Entertainment Community Fund, which also helps provide resources and relief to those in the entertainment business in times of emergency. “If you’re a part of the entertainment industry and have been impacted by the California Fires, the Fund is here to help through support, connection to resources and emergency financial assistance,” the organization said on Thursday.
The Sweet Relief Music Fund also confirmed this week that it’s accepting applications and taking donations over the wildfires. That fund is intended to help pay for destroyed music equipment, as well as any potential medical bills related to the fires.
Guitar Center and its Guitar Center Music Foundation are offering to replace instruments and gear destroyed by the fires via one-time grants. The grant, for up to $1,500, is open to Los Angeles-based musicians and musician instruction programs only. Applicants may apply through Feb. 28.
Aside from the official funds, Some in the community have taken matters into their own hands as well, with a quickly-growing spreadsheet now circulating to share GoFundMe links and other immediate needs for those in the music business who’ve lost their homes. That spreadsheet also includes other links to relief resources.
Artists have also joined in the effort to help those affected. On Thursday, Snoop Dogg tweeted a link for “official clothing to those affected by fires” with an address for Snoop Dogg’s Clothing in Inglewood. Those in need can visit the rapper’s store all day Friday.
Clairo started selling Charm tee-shirts on her website on Monday, with 100 percent of the proceeds going to GoFundMe’s Wildfire Relief Fund and to the Anti-Recidivism Coalition.
Discogs started a fundraising effort with all sales revenue on the site on Friday January 17 going to MusiCares.
The Performance Rights Organization ASCAP announced Wednesday that it would be distributing $1 million in emergency relief to its members in Los Angeles impacted by the fires.
The Eagles donated $2.5 million for the upcoming LiveAid benefit concert, which will take place on January 30 at the Intuit Dome.
Advocacy group the Songwriters of North America relaunched its Songwriter Fund this week, offering $500 grants to songwriters and composers impacted by the fires. Applicants can apply for the aid here.
Live Nation’s Crew Nation Global Relief Fund announced Friday that it is committing $1 million in aid earmarked for musicians and live music industry workers. The application is here.
The Weeknd, who announced earlier this week that he was pushing back the release of his album Hurry Up Tomorrow because of the fires, announced Friday that he has committed $1 Million to the LAFD Foundation, GoFundMe’s Wildfire Relief Fund and LA Regional Food Bank.
This story will be updated as more music relief efforts are made available.
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