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Legendary hip-hop producer Madlib has become one of the thousands of people to lose their homes in the devastating fires that continue to rage across Los Angeles. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news In a post shared to X on Monday (Jan. 13), DJ Premier shared a Donor Box […]
Carrie Underwood is set to perform during Donald Trump’s upcoming presidential inauguration ceremony on Monday, Jan. 20, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., Billboard has confirmed. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news The eight-time Grammy winner will perform “America the Beautiful,” accompanied by The Armed Forces […]
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences has announced updates to its 2025 Oscars key dates and schedule of events due to the impact of the Los Angeles-area fires. The Oscar telecast is still set for March 2, but the nominations announcement is being delayed for the second time to Jan. 23 — and will now be held virtually. The Oscars nominees luncheon, always an A-list event, will not be held this year.
“We are all devastated by the impact of the fires and the profound losses experienced by so many in our community,” Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy president Janet Yang said in a joint statement. “The Academy has always been a unifying force within the film industry, and we are committed to standing together in the face of hardship.
“Due to the still-active fires in the Los Angeles area, we feel it is necessary to extend our voting period and move the date of our nominations announcement to allow additional time for our members.
“Additionally, as we want to be sensitive to the infrastructure and lodging needs of the region in these next few weeks, it is imperative that we make some changes to our schedule of events, which we believe will have the support of our industry.
“Our members always share how important it is for us to come together as a community, and we are determined to use this opportunity to celebrate our resilient and compassionate industry. We also look forward to honoring our frontline workers who have aided with the fires, recognizing those impacted, and encouraging people to join the Academy in supporting the relief efforts.
“We will get through this together and bring a sense of healing to our global film community.”
Updates are outlined as follows:
The nominations voting period is extended through Friday, Jan. 17, at 5 p.m. PT. The voting window was originally set to close on Sunday, Jan. 12. That was pushed back to Tuesday, Jan. 14, before being pushed back again today.
The nominations announcement is rescheduled for Thursday, Jan. 23, at 5:30 a.m. PT. The live announcement will be a virtual event without in-person media coverage. The nominations were originally set to be announced on Friday, Jan. 17, which was pushed back to Sunday, Jan. 19, before being pushed back again today.
The Oscars nominees luncheon, scheduled for Monday, Feb. 10, will not be held this year.
The Scientific and Technical Awards, scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 18, will be rescheduled to a later date yet to be determined.
The Academy stresses that all dates are subject to change.
The 97th Oscars, hosted by Conan O’Brien for the first time, will still be held on Sunday, March 2, at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood and will be televised live at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT on ABC, streamed live on Hulu and air live in more than 200 territories worldwide.
Metalcore band Ice Nine Kills has stepped up to offer relief for some of the people who’ve been impacted by the devastating Los Angeles wildfires. The Boston-bred group announced over the weekend the launch of a fundraiser they’ve dubbed “Heed the Call For California,” with 100% of the proceeds going to the California Fire Foundation […]
The 2025 Grammys are still set for Feb. 2 at Crypto.com Arena, the Recording Academy announced on Monday (Jan. 13). There was some question whether the show would go on as scheduled, given the wildfires that have devastated many neighborhoods in the greater Los Angeles area in the past week.
Other Grammy Week events, such as the MusiCares Person of the Year event and the Recording Academy’s Special Merit Awards, are up in the air at this point.
In a statement, Recording Academy and MusiCares CEO Harvey Mason Jr. addressed the trauma that has befallen the region since the first fires broke out on Tuesday Jan. 7, whipped by ferocious Santa Ana winds. “Our hearts go out to everyone affected by the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles. This city is our home, and we mourn the loss of life and destruction that have come to it in recent days.
“In close coordination with local authorities to ensure public safety and responsible use of area resources, the 67th Grammy Awards telecast on CBS on Feb. 2 will proceed as planned. This year’s show, however, will carry a renewed sense of purpose: raising additional funds to support wildfire relief efforts and honoring the bravery and dedication of first responders who risk their lives to protect ours.”
Those local authorities reportedly include the office of Mayor Karen Bass, public safety agencies and fire marshals. “In challenging times, music has the power to heal, comfort, and unite like nothing else,” Mason added. “The Grammys will not only honor the artistry and achievements of our music community but also serve as a platform to amplify the spirit of resilience that defines this great city of Los Angeles.”
The show will be produced by Fulwell 73 Productions for the Recording Academy for the fifth consecutive year. Ben Winston, Raj Kapoor and Jesse Collins are executive producers. The show will be broadcast live on CBS from 8 to 11:30 p.m. ET/5 to 8:30 p.m. PT, and will be available to stream live and on-demand on Paramount+.
Winston, Kapoor and Collins will have the very difficult task of somehow combining an awards show, which is a joyous celebration of achievement, with something far more serious and sobering.
Not everyone thinks it can, or should, be done. A major ancillary Grammy event, the Milk & Honey party, was canceled on Jan. 12 with a pointed message on founder Lucas Keller’s Instagram Story. “I regret that we will be canceling our annual award season pre-Grammy event in partnership with Reservoir and others. … It would be tone deaf to celebrate and I hope all other companies will follow suit,” he wrote. “Don’t come to town for the Grammy’s and take up hotels that people need desperately. Release your hotel blocks or donate them. In the meantime, if you can, please give money to MusiCares at this link to support wildlife relief. Everything counts.”
The Recording Academy and MusiCares launched the Los Angeles Fire Relief Effort last week with an initial $1 million donation to support music creatives and professionals. “Thanks to additional contributions, we have already distributed over $2 million in emergency aid to those most in need – and we remain steadfast in our commitment to providing ongoing assistance,” Mason and Hurt said in their statement. This is the third time in the last five years that the Grammy telecast has been impacted by outside events. The 2021 and 2022 shows were both postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2021 show was bumped from Jan. 31 to March 14. The 2022 ceremony was pushed all the way from Jan. 31 to April 3, and its location was moved to the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, due to scheduling conflicts with the Crypto.com Arena.
The Recording Academy has yet to announce the host of this year’s Grammys. The announcement was expected last week, but has been delayed to avoid stepping on the main news about whether the show was going to proceed or not. The announcement is expected soon.
Beyoncé is the top nominee for the 67th annual Grammy Awards with 11 nods, followed by Charli XCX and Post Malone with eight nods each, and Billie Eilish and Kendrick Lamar with seven nods each. Final-round voting closed on Jan. 3 at 6 p.m. PT.
Iron Maiden guitarist Adrian Smith is the latest musician to share that they’ve lost a home in the Los Angeles wildfires. The longtime heavy metal veteran’s wife, Natalie Dufresne-Smith, announced the news in an Instagram post over the weekend, writing, “We are safe. We have each other. We will start again. #malibustrong.”
She added a thank you to everyone supporting the family during these difficult times.
Last week, Dufresne-Smith posted footage of smoke billowing over the hills in an update telling her followers that the their family was safe at that point, though at the time she was not sure if their neighborhood would make it. She also posted a clip of the Smiths packing up their house as she narrated the harried flight from the smoke a fire. “Here we are, it’s pretty nasty, the closest we’ve been [to the fires],” she narrated as the longtime Iron Maiden guitarist did a final look around at the property and checked on a neighbor.
According to CNN, at least 24 people have died to date, with many more missing and nearly 200,000 Angelenos under evacuation orders as experts expect the deadly Santa Anna winds to whip up again this week, threatening further fire spread. Two of the larger fires, the Eaton and Palisades blazes, are already the second and fourth-most destructive fires in California history, burning a combined 38,000-plus acres to date; the Eaton fire is currently only 27% contained, with the Palisades Fire around 13% containment.
Smith’s post came around the same time that Primus bassist/singer Les Claypool revealed that his band’s guitarist, Larry “Ler” LaLonde and his family had lost their home in Pacific Palisades, a historic L.A. neighborhood that has been all-but-destroyed by the Palisades fire. Among the thousands of Angelenos whose homes have been burned to the ground by the fires are a number of musicians and entertainment industry veterans, including Mandy Moore (and her husband, Dawes leader Taylor Goldsmith), Paris Hilton, Beyoncé’s mother, Tina Knowles, Jhené Aiko, Paris Hilton, songwriter Diane Warren and The Hills stars Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag and many more.
In addition, Smashing Pumpkins leader Billy Corgan said his family had to flee the home they were staying in in Los Angeles.
On Monday (Jan. 13), Beyonce’s Beygood foundation pledged a $2.5 million donation to the L.A. Fire Relief Fund to assist families in need. In addition, Regional Mexican stars Fuerza Regida are renting out hotel rooms for displaced families and Hilton — whose Malibu home burned down live on TV — launched an emergency fund through her 11:11 Media Impact nonprofit to support families who’ve lost homes.
MusiCares and the Recording Academy launched the Los Angeles Fire Relief Effort to support music professionals impacted by the crisis, with a combined pledge of $1 million to kick off the effort. Anyone who has worked in the music industry for more than five years may qualify for immediate assistance, including up to $1,500 in financial aid and $500 in food vouchers.
For health alerts, evacuation updates and additional shelter information as the wildfire battle continues, go to L.A. County’s emergency website here. A number of organizations, listed here, are also offering help to those impacted by the wildfires, which began last Tuesday. Musicians and music industry professionals who are affected can get more details about assistance here.
See Dufresne-Smith’s post below.
As the devastating California wildfires continue to rage across the Los Angeles area, Primus singer/bassist Les Claypool took to Instagram over the weekend to reveal that the band’s guitarist, Ler LaLonde, had lost his home.
“All that is left of our good friend Larry ‘Ler’ LaLonde’s home,” Claypool wrote of the band’s longtime guitarist alongside a photo of a house reduced to ash, with just the remnants of a brick fireplace still standing. “When Mother Nature gets up on her hind legs, it can be brutal,” Claypool added. “My heart hurts for him and his family.”
The post included supportive responses from a number of fellow musicians, including former Police drummer Stewart Copeland, who wrote, “Dang. Ler did not deserve this,” with singer Carina Round adding, “Oh my. So much love to them.”
LaLonde’s wife, Shane Stirling LaLonde, posted a series of pictures and videos of the fires that ravaged the family’s home in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood, which has been almost completely destroyed by the Palisades fire, which is still raging. “Our home is gone, and so are the homes of every one of our friends and neighbors. I am still in shock, not quite sure what just happened. The first photo is the video confirmation we received that our home was lost. Ours is the second property with the tree still with oranges in the front yard but nothing else,” she wrote alongside a video of the destruction.
“We lost everything. It doesn’t sink in easily that you have nothing…. It’s still sinking in minute by minute. I know we are safe and yes I am grateful, but I can’t even begin to be close to grace yet as I can’t even comprehend this yet,” she added. “Not just the things, but our town, our community. We all no longer have a home, a neighborhood, a school,a community. I am gutted to the core.”
LaLonde is among the thousands of Angelenos who’ve lost everything during weeklong spate of out-of-control fires that have been fueled by strong Santa Ana winds, burning more than 38,000 acres so far (roughly 60 square miles) and destroying more than 12,000 homes and buildings. In addition, 24 people are confirmed dead and nearly 200,00 have been displaced to date, according to CNN.
A number of musicians and entertainment industry folks have spoken about the loss of their homes — including Mandy Moore, Paris Hilton, Beyoncé’s mother, Tina Knowles, Jhené Aiko, Paris Hilton, songwriter Diane Warren, Iron Maiden guitarist Adrian Smith, The Hills stars Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag and many more — while others are stepping up to offer help.
On Monday (Jan. 13), Beyonce’s BeyGOOD foundation announced a $2.5 million donation to the L.A. Fire Relief Fund to assist families in need, while Regional Mexican stars Fuerza Regida are renting out hotel rooms for displaced families. Hilton — whose Malibu home burned down live on TV — launched an emergency fund through her 11:11 Media Impact nonprofit to support families who’ve lost homes.
In addition, MusiCares and the Recording Academy launched the Los Angeles Fire Relief Effort to support music professionals impacted by the crisis, with a combined pledge of $1 million to launch the effort. Anyone who has worked in the music industry for more than five years may qualify for immediate assistance, including up to $1,500 in financial aid and $500 in food vouchers.
For health alerts, evacuation updates and additional shelter information as the wildfire battle continues, go to L.A. County’s emergency website here. A number of organizations, listed here, are also offering help to those impacted by the wildfires, which began last Tuesday. Musicians and music industry professionals who are affected can get more details about assistance here.
Beyoncé‘s BeyGOOD Foundation has pledged $2.5 million to assist families in recovery from the devastating California wildfires. In an Instagram post on Sunday night (Jan. 12), the foundation announced the pledge to the L.A. Fire Relief Fund aimed at helping impacted Los Angelenos in the midst of one of the most destructive wildfires in the state’s history.
“The fund is earmarked to aid families in the Altadena/Pasadena area who lost their homes, and to churches and community centers to address the immediate needs of those affected by the wildfires,” read the post, which encouraged followers to show their support for the impacted families by visiting the organization’s website.
The out-of-control fires that have been whipped up by near-hurricane force Santa Ana winds over the past week, scorching more than 38,000 acres so far (roughly 60 square miles) and destroying more than 12,000 homes and buildings while displacing nearly 200,000 and killing 24 to date, according to CNN. Experts expect the death toll to rise as firefighters and investigators move into burned areas. The New York Times reported that the Eaton Fire has damaged or destroyed more than 6,500 buildings in Altadena/Pasadena, with entire neighborhoods completely wiped out by the fires that are expected to spread further this week as winds pick up again in area that has gotten only a fraction of an inch of rain in the past six months.
BeyGOOD is among the many organizations that have stepped up to help with immediate needs, joining the Walt Disney Company, which pledged $15 million to relief and rebuilding efforts, along with the Warner Music and Blavatnik Foundation’s $1 million pledge. Live Nation also announced that it is planning a FireAid benefit concert at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood on Jan. 30 to raise funds for relief.
A number of musicians and entertainment industry figures have spoken about the loss of their homes — including Mandy Moore, Paris Hilton, Beyoncé’s mother, Tina Knowles, Jhené Aiko, Paris Hilton, songwriter Diane Warren, The Hills stars Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag and many more — even as others step up to offer help.
Regional Mexican stars Fuerza Regida are renting out hotel rooms for displaced families and Hilton — whose Malibu home burned down live on TV — has launched an emergency fund through her 11:11 Media Impact nonprofit to support families who’ve lost homes. In addition, MusiCares and the Recording Academy have launched the Los Angeles Fire Relief Effort to support music professionals impacted by the crisis, making a combined pledge of $1 million to launch the effort. Anyone who has worked in the music industry for more than five years may qualify for immediate assistance, including up to $1,500 in financial aid and $500 in food vouchers.
For health alerts, evacuation updates and additional shelter information as the wildfire battle continues, go to L.A. County’s emergency website here.
A number of organizations, listed here, are also offering help to those impacted by the wildfires, which began last Tuesday. Musicians and music industry professionals who are affected can get more details about assistance here.
See the BeyGOOD post below.
The home seen in “Scissors,” a new song and music video from Julia Michaels and Maren Morris, burned down in the wildfires that have devastated Los Angeles.
The pair made the video in Altadena, Michaels mentioned in an Instagram post on Friday (Jan. 10), the release day for her latest single with Morris. On YouTube, she shared a message that they’d learned the home’s owners, a couple with two young children, had since lost their house. (One of the L.A. region’s wildfires, the Eaton Fire, started in Altadena on Jan. 7; high winds turned it into a firestorm that destroyed “as many as 5,000 structures” in this area of L.A. County, the New York Times reported.)
“The house we shot the Scissors video in has been wiped out due to the wildfires in LA,” Michaels wrote in a comment on YouTube, pinned for viewers to see. “I feel so deeply sad for the family that lent their home to us to create this video. I just have no words for the devastation that has transpired in such a short span of time. If you are able to give anything to help this family rebuild donate here.”
She shared the link to a GoFundMe started by a friend of the family facing the loss of their home. As of Saturday (Jan. 11), the fund’s donation goal is close to being met.
In an Instagram Story, Morris wrote, “the house we just shot Scissors in sadly was lost in the fires. it was a cute family’s home… I got ready in their kid’s bathroom. now it’s this. between floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, fires, ugh. my heart breaks for every child who doesn’t get to go home, the animals displaced. my heart breaks for mother earth.”
For health alerts, evacuation updates and shelter information amid the ongoing wildfires in California, go to L.A. County’s emergency website here. A list of organizations helping those impacted by the wildfires is here.
In her Instagram post about “Scissors” on Friday, Michaels had said, “I hope you like this video as much as we enjoyed making it and that it captures a little of the magic and beauty that is Altadena foothills,” after praising Morris and the team behind the shoot: “So proud of this video and getting to create this song with some truly incredible people. @marenmorris, I am so in awe of you, your voice, your talent, the woman you are. What an honor it is that I get to sing with you AGAIN.”
The music video for “Scissors” is a cheeky one that matches the lighthearted tone of the pop tune, with the ladies singing about cutting a lover off, and out, of their life. Michaels and Morris coyly play on the lyrics with visual references of actual scissors (and scissorhands) coming for a man in bed … and end the clip with the sound of a quick snip.
“Scissors” is the first single of 2025 from both artists, and it follows their 2024 collab, “Cut!” Morris teased their new song ahead of its release in a red carpet interview with Billboard at the Golden Globes last weekend, saying, “Y’all are not ready. It’s so, so good. The video is so funny.”
See the “Scissors” video below.
Los Angeles County remains in the throes of massive wildfires that began in various locations starting Tuesday (Jan. 7), leading to the displacement of more than 180,000 residents. The wildfires have reportedly destroyed thousands of properties and claimed 10 lives as first responders continue to battle the flames throughout the region.
More and more organizations are stepping up to collect funds and provide resources for those impacted by the disasters. Below is an updating list of ways to help residents, first responders and members of the city’s music community.
Music workers looking for relief can navigate here for additional resources.
Support for Families and Outdoor Workers
Inclusive Action has launched a GoFundMe to provide cash relief for outdoor workers impacted by wildfires. The emergency aid fund will provide $500 in cash assistance directly to “open-air workers,” i.e. people whose jobs require them to work outside, including street vendors, landscapers and recyclers.
This Is About Humanity has launched a fund supporting front and second-line migrant farm workers, day laborers, and other essential workers and their families severely impacted by the recent fires in Los Angeles. Through Jan. 31, TIAH is matching up to $50,000 in donations to provide critical relief, housing support, food assistance and essential resources.
The LAUSD Education Emergency Relief Fund is providing immediate assistance to families and Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) employees affected by the devastating fires. The fund will offer direct cash assistance and support to families and employees affected by the fires; support teachers and in-class resources for students at impacted schools, ensuring continuity of learning to the greatest extent possible; provide flexible assistance for mental health support; and offer support for other immediate and long-term needs for students, families and teachers.
Support for First Responders
Donations to the LA Fire Department Foundation will go to supporting the heroic firefighters responding in real-time to protect lives, homes and communities.
The CA Fire Foundation is working with local fire agencies and community-based organizations to provide direct financial support to impacted residents as details of the damage emerge. The California Fire Foundation also provides critical support to surviving families of fallen firefighters, firefighters and the communities they serve.
Essential Items for Families in Need
Baby2Baby is providing essential supplies like diapers, clothing, hygiene products and emergency kits to families in need through hundreds of their community partners.
World Central Kitchen is supporting first responders and families impacted by wildfires in the Los Angeles area with sandwiches and warm meals.
Mutual Aid LA Network is continually working to compile an extensive list of organizations offering assistance and accepting donations through this spreadsheet.
Support for Music Professionals
The Recording Academy and MusiCares have launched the Los Angeles Fire Relief Effort to support music professionals impacted by the crisis and made a combined pledge of $1 million to kick off a fundraising effort. You can donate here.
The Sweet Relief Musicians Fund has launched a natural disaster relief fund for music professionals in Los Angeles County and the surrounding areas. Funds raised will go to help those recoup the loss of music-related equipment as well as medical bills related to the fires and other vital living expenses. Head here to donate or fill out an application.
The We Are Moving the Needle Microgrants Wildfire Relief Fund is designed to support “early and mid-career producers, engineers, and creators who have lost studio space or gear” in the wildfires. Those wishing to donate can go here.
The 100 Percenters has launched an LA Wildfire Relief Fundraiser to benefit professional songwriters, producers, artists and music professionals “with verifiable industry contributions” who reside “in wildfire-impacted areas” in Los Angeles County and “can demonstrate wildfire-related loss and financial need.” The fund will provide immediate financial assistance with grants up to $2,500 for housing, transportation and essentials; support rebuilding efforts with grants of up to $10,000 to replace equipment and “restore creative spaces”; and offer mental health support with grants of up to $2,000 for counseling and wellness services. Donate here.
Mid/Long-Term Relief
California Community Foundation‘s Wildlife Recovery Fund focuses on mid-term and long-term recovery efforts for those affected by the fires.
Pasadena Community Foundation‘s Eaton Canyon Fire Recovery and Relief Fund is mobilizing local resources to support resilience and immediate and long-term recovery initiatives in the L.A. County cities of Pasadena and Altadena.
The PLUS1LA Fires Fund will help local nonprofits offering shelter and care to those who have lost their homes, including PPE to prevent smoke inhalation, food, clothing, diapers, formula, hygiene items and mental health support to help those coping with trauma. Over the long term, it will support efforts to help individuals, families, communities and the environment recover from the destruction.