MusiCares Wildfire Relief Distributions Top $2.2 Million So Far

MusiCares wildlife relief distributions

Photo Credit: CAL FIRE

A representative for MusiCares has confirmed the charitable arm of the Recording Academy has already distributed $2.2 million in wildfire relief to those impacted by the LA wildfires.

That sum is before the upcoming FireAid benefit concert to be held on January 30 at the Kia Forum and the Intuit Dome. The MusiCares Person of the Year celebration for The Grateful Dead will also have a special appeal for donations to support its wildfire relief efforts. Meanwhile the Grammys themselves have retooled the programming to focus on wildfire fund-raising and awareness of resources available.

“MusiCares started getting requests, and it’s now thousands of music people who need help,” Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. told Variety. “We needed to figure out how to be there to help serve a music community, so in addition to [the Grammys proceeding], we have raised over $3 million so far. All of that money is committed and spoken for—and we’re going to need a lot more.”

Those in the music industry who are impacted by the LA wildfires do not need to be Recording Academy members to receive aid. They just need to provide proof that they’ve worked in the music industry for at least three years or have six commercially released recordings. Disaster relief provided by MusiCares includes $1,500 in financial assistance and a $500 grocery card.

“I was lucky, but when I see people and friends of mine who have lost their studio, lost their house, lost their instruments, lost their ability to make a living, after all the strife and struggle that has happened to people in this community over the last five years,” Mason Jr. continues.

“I saw we have to do everything we can to be helpful. That involves raising money, that involves raising awareness and hopefully allowing MusiCares to have the financial resources that it’s going to take to support the thousands and thousands of people that are going to need help—not just this week or next week, but for the next few years.”

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