As countless musicians and industry professionals continue to face displacement and destruction amid the catastrophic LA wildfires, the Recording Academy and MusiCares have pledged $1 million to provide both immediate aid and long-term support to the region’s music community.
Over 38,000 acres have burned and more than 12,300 structures destroyed, with the death toll climbing to 11 as of Saturday, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. The lattermost figure is expected to climb, officials said, as the wildfires remain largely uncontained.
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
As the blazes continue to wreak havoc, displacing tens of thousands of residents, the Recording Academy and MusiCares are taking immediate action to provide relief. The crisis has wiped out venues, recording studios, equipment repositories and other critical essentials vital to the livelihoods of musicians and industry professionals.
Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. expressed deep concern for the music community in a statement.
“The entire GRAMMY family is shocked and deeply saddened by the situation that is unfolding in Los Angeles,” Mason Jr. said. “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 because music is a powerful force for good in the world, and we hope the broader industry will now rally to this cause.”
MusiCares has a long history of organizing critical disaster relief efforts, including providing assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic and the Hawaii wildfire outbreak of 2023. Eligible applicants aid include not only musicians, but also producers, event crew members, agents and other professionals across the industry’s ecosystem.
The Recording Academy and MusiCares have launched a joint donation page to amplify support for those in need. Residents affected by the wildfires can access a variety of resources, including emergency shelter locations provided by the Red Cross and transportation vouchers from Uber and Lyft for evacuees.
For more information on how to contribute to the ongoing relief efforts or to apply for assistance, visit the MusiCares website.
