Over 1,000 people in the music community in Los Angeles are being supported by a charity following the fatal wildfires that have ravaged parts of the Californian city.
MusiCares – the non-for-profit arm of The GRAMMYs and Recording Academy – said scores of people had been in touch since they launched their “Fire Relief Effort” last week (Wednesday January 8).
Speaking to NME, Theresa Wolters from the organisation, said: “What’s been shocking to me, going through the contact we’ve had, is just the number of people who have lost everything.”
A number of internationally recognised musicians are among those affected by the catastrophic firestorms – they include Empress Of, DIIV’s Zachary Cole Smith and Madlib, all losing family homes to the blaze.
The series of wildfires, which began on Tuesday January 7, have led to the confirmed deaths of 24 people, the evacuation of more than 180,000 residents and an estimated 12,000 buildings destroyed.
The Pacific Palisades blaze, one of a number of fires that continues to burn, covers almost 20,000 acres – a geographic area approximately 20 times the size of the Glastonbury festival site.
Speaking to NME, Theresa Wolters, Vice President for Health and Human Services at MusiCares, said: “It’s almost impossible to describe the magnitude of the catastrophe and the loss in Los Angeles. We had no way of imagining it was going to be at the level it is now. Even what we saw Wednesday morning was horrifying.”
The team at MusiCares have stepped up by supporting those music professionals affected with short-term financial relief, including $500 emergency food vouchers.
“They’re so clearly traumatised and struggling,” said Wolters of the people they’re assisting. “All they write is one sentence: ‘I lost everything – I left with my family in five minutes, and everything’s gone’.”
She continued: “I’m reading a lot of stories of parents and how they’re trying to navigate this with their children. How do they explain to their kids that everything’s gone? That’s been incredibly difficult. And when you work in music what do you take with you? Do you grab as much of your equipment and instruments as you can? Or do you just hope it’s going to be there when you get back?”
Despite the efforts of thousands of emergency workers, the fires are yet to abate – Los Angeles Pasadena fire chief Chad Augustin has told BBC News predicted high winds and dry conditions may continue to exacerbate the situation in the coming days.
“People are running out of places to go,” Wolters added. “They are having to go further and further to be able to access safe accommodation. We’re also hearing so many stories of people who get the report that it’s okay to go home, and then have to leave again. So there’s the mental health aspects of people trying to navigate what’s now four days with virtually no sleep, constant warnings, and the total uncertainty of what’s going to happen with your home, family and livelihood.”
Despite the traumatic circumstances faced by many, Wolters said the team at MusiCares had been struck by the “kindness” of victims.
“People have reached out for support, but written in their email, Please help other people first’, she revealed. “I’m OK. I have food tonight. To be at the level where you need to reach out for help – you are clearly in a difficult circumstance – but to still have the humanity to put your friends, colleagues and community in line ahead of you. You can tell, I’m getting emotional talking about it… it’s been powerful and heartwarming to see.”
While some of the most famous musicians in the world have homes in LA, the city also has a longstanding and vibrant grassroots local music community – from record labels to studios, producers to music tutors.
“We’re here for individuals at every different income level,” confirmed Wolters. “So if you’re an artist, singer, songwriter, but also if you are a tour bus driver or a makeup artist who works on tour. We have an enormous record of support, especially for people who are independent in the industry, and may not have some of the backing of more established labels behind them.”
MusiCares, established more than 30 years ago, provides year-round support to music professionals in need. The organisation describes itself as “a safety net for the music community in the United States” and has organised emergency support efforts around previous US natural disasters such as hurricane Helene (2024), and further back hurricane Katrina (New Orleans, 2005). The group also provided support to music workers throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, as humans continue to burn fossil fuels and heat the planet to dangerous levels, the organisation is braced to deal with the consequences of climate change – most prominently seen in the US through the increased regularity and intensity of extreme weather events.
“It’s clear to us, with the disaster relief efforts that we’ve had, the magnitude of disasters is not getting any less. The frequency of disasters is not getting any less, and the level of impact to large numbers of people is only increasing,” noted Wolters.
“So while there’s certainly so much that we will better understand and learn from Los Angeles, it’s clear we need to have a focus on the climate. The reality is that we’re going to continue to have enormous disasters that impact a lot of people, and disaster relief is going to continue to be a huge priority for MusiCares.”
Alongside residential areas, a number of notable music establishments have also been affected by the wildfires.
Harbor Studios in Malibu, where Nicki Minaj and Doja Cat recorded albums, was destroyed with founder Zach Brandon describing the loss as “profoundly sad”. Legendary rockabilly label Wild! Records Studio was also lost in the Eaton fire, leaving founder Reb Kennedy without a home – and the loss of “hundreds of unreplaceable master tapes.”
“Whatever we can do to help LA to recover and get back on its feet is so important to us,” Wolters told NME. “There’s no question in my mind that this community in Los Angeles is going to rebound from this and will be stronger than ever. I’m optimistic about what this community can do when we all come together.”
High-profile artists have already begun offering their own sympathetic messages and aid. In the past few days, Miley Cyrus – who lost her LA home in the 2018 Woolsey Fire – expressed her sympathy and sadness for those affected. Meanwhile, Charli XCX has urged brands to donate clothing to those who’ve lost everything in this ongoing disaster, rather than to her and other A-listers.
This week also saw Guitar Center launch an initiative to replace instruments lost in the wildfires.
It has also been confirmed that the 2025 Grammys will proceed as planned and raise funds for those hit by the LA wildfires.
If you’re a Los Angeles music professional in need of support, you can contact Musicares at musicaresrelief@musicares.org or visit here.