FIREAIDE & GRAMMYS RAISE OVER $124M
The Grammy Awards and last week’s FireAid benefit concerts raised $124 million to help people affected by the Los Angeles wildfires, organizers said Tuesday.
The FireAid concerts on Jan. 30 at the Intuit Dome and Kia Forum in Inglewood raised $100 million from an estimated 50 million viewers across 28 streaming platforms, according to the Annenberg Foundation, which was among a number of philanthropic organizations and individuals and a variety of corporations that helped present the event. The $100 million total includes matching donations from Steve Ballmer, the concert venues’ owner, and his family, as well as donations from veteran music industry executive Irving Azoff and his wife Shelli, rock bands U2 and the Eagles and other donors.
The FireAid lineup included Red Hot Chili Peppers, Katy Perry, No Doubt, Earth, Wind & Fire, Dr. Dre, Joni Mitchell, Alanis Morissette, Stevie Nicks, Stephen Stills, Graham Nash, Mike Campbell and Olivia Rodrigo. The concert also showcased Nirvana reunion of sorts that featured Dave Grohl on drums, bassist and original band member Krist Novoselic and guitarist Pat Smear performing the band’s songs with St. Vincent, Kim Gordon and Joan Jett providing lead vocals.
“FireAid funds will support the Los Angeles-region’s immediate needs and long-term recovery from the recent wildfires made possible through the overwhelming generosity of those throughout Southern California and around the world,” according to a statement from the Annenberg Foundation.“The FireAid Grants Advisory Committee, composed of longtime L.A.-region philanthropic leaders with deep relationships in the non-profit community, have been working to identify key areas of need, for maximum impact,” FireAid organizers said. “Led by the Annenberg Foundation, the committee has been listening daily to affected communities, assessing local resource gaps to ensure aid reaches those most in need, and researching the handling of other fire disasters, such as those in Maui and Northern California. The first phase of grants are expected to be awarded by mid-February.”
The 2025 Grammys on Sunday and connected events raised $24 million to help fire victims, with $9 million generated on Grammy night and $15 million from MusiCares events during the week leading up to the Grammy Awards ceremony. This year’s MusiCares Persons of the Year gala that honored the Grateful Dead was among several Grammy week events, the Recording Academy announced Tuesday.
The theme of the Grammys telecast was fire relief with scenes of the wildfires’ devastation in Altadena and Pacific Palisades accompanied by information on donating. Firefighters presented the album of the year award to Beyoncé, and the event started with a performance by Los Angeles-based rock band Dawes, members of which lost homes and studios in the Eaton Fire.
FireAid is still accepting donations via FireAidLA.org.
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