Over the last week, doomscrolling has become particularly devastating for music industry folks. The Los Angeles wildfires have destroyed the homes of many locals whose social media posts of ash-colored debris where their homes once stood are harrowing to watch. The Palisades and Eaton Fires, in particular, demolished the homes of big names in music such as influential producer/rapper/musician Madlib, R&B vocalist Jhené Aiko, actor/singer Mandy Moore and her husband Taylor Goldsmith of Dawes, super-songwriter Diane Warren, rapper Fat Tony, composer John Carroll Kirby, DIIV’s Zachary Cole Smith, and Poolside’s Jeffrey Paradise, among others.
It’s not only the well-known who have been impacted. The majority of music business individuals who have lost their homes are industry professionals such as Alexandra Baker, publicist to Billie Eilish, whose video showing her destroyed home as her voice shakes with disbelief, is jarring and unforgettable. Others who have lost their homes are KCRW tastemaker Chris Douridas, Biz 3 PR founder Kathryn Frazier (publicist for The Weeknd, among others), photographer and renowned vinyl collector Scott Dudelson, independent publicists Stephanie Weiss, Kim Grant, and Lesley Zimmerman, producer Bob Clearmountain, Ground Control Touring agent John Chavez, music attorney Brian McPherson, and PR veteran Diana Baron, who currently represents the Michael Jackson Estate. “Not everybody in the Palisades is rich,” says Baron, who’s experiencing price gouging while trying to find a rental. “The rest of the people [who lived] there are struggling. It’s not just movie stars. Chris Douridas is my neighbor. People are in shock.”
photo courtesy of Moonshadows
In addition to homes, Moonshadows, the oceanfront Malibu eatery that counted stars and locals among its clientele, has also burned down. Sol!d Selector DJ Mick Cole (Bud Brothers Monday Social) provided the soundtrack on the establishment’s Blue Lounge deck every weekend for years. Now, Cole’s son Tyler is on the frontlines as a firefighter with the LA Fire Department.
The music industry takes care of its own. It’s been heartening to witness the immediate rallying of established organizations like the Recording Academy’s MusiCares charity pledging $1 million, through to this grassroots spreadsheet, which has helped those like Zachary Cole Smith raise triple their financial goal in just a few days. The spreadsheet, which was created by a longtime music publicist, is continually updated with the names of those impacted by the fires, including links to donate to them directly. Some of the other organizations offering assistance in various forms are Sweet Relief Musicians Fund, Music Health Alliance, Guitar Center Music Foundation, the NAMM Foundation, We Are Moving the Needle Wildfire Relief Fund, Backline, Entertainment Community Fund, the UTA Foundation, and The 100 Percenters. In Sheep’s Clothing and Dublab have also teamed up for a fundraiser sale. Each of these entities is also accepting donations toward the funds they’ve set up for those impacted by the fires.
The GRAMMYs telecast on February 2 will raise funds to support wildfire relief, while Universal Music Group, Sony Music, and Warner Music Group all cancelled their GRAMMY events and redirected their resources to local relief efforts. Before then, Live Nation and AEG Presents plan to join forces with the Azoff family to stage a benefit concert, FireAid, at Los Angeles’ Intuit Dome, with talent to be announced shortly. On a smaller scale, LA label Leaving Records has announced their own outdoor concert benefitting musicians affected by the fire, with Julia Holter, Carlos Niño, Teebs, and more on the lineup.
“Since times have gotten really tough, sad, and overwhelming, the industry’s outpouring of support has been a huge part of what’s been keeping me going,” says Poolside’s Jeffrey Paradise, who lost his unique 1970s home. “I’ve had friends and fans and peers reach out and offer extremely generous support. It’s been truly remarkable.”
“Since times have gotten really tough, sad, and overwhelming, the industry’s outpouring of support has been a huge part of what’s been keeping me going.” — Jeffrey Paradise, Poolside
Superstar musicians have also stepped up to help their community. Beyoncé’s Beygood Foundation has donated $2.5 million and Metallica’s All Within My Hands Foundation has donated $500,000 to fire relief efforts. Snoop Dogg is offering free clothes at his Snoop Dogg Clothing Store in Inglewood on Thursday, January 16. Fuerza Regida rented a hotel for six days starting on January 11 for those affected by the fire. Fitz and the Tantrums’ Noelle Scaggs and She Wants Revenge’s Justin Warfield are using their social media platforms to provide valuable information and to connect those who want to help with those who need help. “I find that my role is primarily to listen and to offer resources and help when and however I can,” Moby shares, speaking from the perspective of someone who has many friends who’ve lost their homes or been dislocated. “Sometimes people just need a shoulder to cry on, sometimes they need recommendations for food, shelter, water. Every individual’s needs are so unique right now.”
Survivor’s guilt is a real thing, but it’s best to turn that into action. “The most effective way to help is to send money so they can do what they need with it,” says Paradise of what’s of use to those impacted by the fires. “It is not easy to know what you need or when you’ll need it. There is so much happening all at once, you can’t easily think about the practicalities of where you’re going to put stuff that replaces your stuff unless you’re using it day-to-day, like a car.”
“Sometimes people just need a shoulder to cry on, sometimes they need recommendations for food, shelter, water. Every individual’s needs are so unique right now.” — Moby
Baron says music memorabilia collector Jeff Gold of Recordmecca offered to help her put together a list of her valuables for her insurance company. Warner Brothers’ Executive Vice President of Media and Strategic Development Laura Swanson connected Baron with a rental listing. Spinlab Communications’ CEO John Vlautin offered her an Eames chair. One of the first people she heard from after losing her home was the late Avicii’s father. “What’s been most helpful to me is people sharing information about the things that are really important to start doing,” she tells me. “Call your insurance and get a client number. Call FEMA and register. Having a ‘10 Thing You Should Do’ gets mentally organized. Having an experience like this—over which you have zero control—as much as you move forward, you’re totally disoriented. Action can be really soothing. But in this situation where you’re completely unfamiliar with everything, somebody needs to tell you what you’re supposed to do. Knowing what to do helps channel the agony.”
A hugely helpful Reel that’s in heavy circulation on Instagram is from Jide Buckley at The Mortgage Kitchen. Buckley provides easy to understand advice on how to get a quick low-interest SBA disaster loan. This government loan ties in with the documentation your insurance company will require, speeding up that process.
“What’s been most helpful to me is people sharing information about the things that are really important to start doing.” — PR veteran Diana Baron
Diana Baron’s home just days before the fire decorated for her annual holiday party / photo by Randy Bookasta
FLOOD sent out a newsletter last week with evacuation and animal shelters, mental health providers, and many other resources. Since then, FEMA has opened two disaster recovery centers in LA at UCLA Research Part West and Pasadena City College Community Education Center. The official California website centralizes much of this information with easy to follow, organized clusters. Mutual Aid Los Angeles Network has a regularly updating spreadsheet with resources, drives, donations, and volunteering opportunities. If you want to feel extra proud of Los Angeles, Chop ’Em Down Films has posted stunning firsthand videos of Angelenos coming together at donation locations as well as volunteering.
“The timeline of people’s needs will keep evolving for months and years,” says Paradise. “Set an alert to check back on your friends or loved ones every two weeks for the next six months, as what they need will become clearer in the coming months. If you want to make an impact, don’t be shy to reach out and tell someone you love them and you’re there to help. I’m concerned the fire’s trauma may pass before people have a chance to come to the surface. Check in on them. It truly has meant so much to hear from friends I haven’t seen in years.” FL
