How to Support Members of the Music Community Impacted by the Los Angeles Fires
Photo by Jay L. Clendenin/Getty Images
This week, thousands of structures have been damaged or destroyed by an outbreak of wildfires in the Los Angeles area. According to reports, there are at least 10 people dead and even more displaced due to loss of property and/or evacuations. As it stands, fires in the Pacific Palisades, Altadena, Pasadena, Hollywood Hills, Acton and Sylmar have burned over 35,000 acres of land, homes, businesses and California landmarks with only the Lidia, Hurst and Kenneth fires currently have more than 10% containment. While the city’s winds are lessening and firefighters are beginning to better contain the still-going fires, neighborhoods, shopping centers and beloved areas have been wiped out. It’s a devastation that will not know resolution for a very long time, if ever.
In the wake of this unprecedented time on the West Coast, many members of the music community have been greatly affected. Artists like Griffin and Taylor Goldsmith of Dawes, Zachary Cole Smith of DIIV, Fat Tony and Chris Shiflett of Foo Fighters, along with authors, publicists, managers, producers/engineers/mixers, promoters, agents and art directors have lost everything they own and have set up various donation spaces to help meet some of their immediate and long-term needs.
Currently, there are a few documents going around that are keeping track of music community members in need, including this one. There is also a tab that includes good resources for donating, organizing, gear replacement, rental cars and property loss relief, including MusiCares, Backline, Sweet Relief Musicians Fund, We Are Moving the Needle and Seahorse Sound.
The Black Music Action Coalition (BMAC) has announced an immediate relief fund where 100% of the funds raised will be distributed to Black residents and Black-owned small businesses affected by the fires via direct cash relief. More information can be found here.
We will continue updating this article as more resource documents are made available to share.