Event

How the Los Angeles Wildfires Will Transform the 2025 Grammys

Published January 28, 2025

LOS ANGELES (AP) — This year's Grammy Awards will have a different focus than usual.

The Recording Academy typically plans numerous events during Grammy week, gathering music industry professionals to celebrate the occasion. However, due to the recent wildfires that devastated parts of Los Angeles, major institutions like Universal Music Group, Sony, Spotify, BMG, and Warner Music Group have canceled their pre-Grammy activities. Instead, they are redirecting their resources to support those impacted by the wildfires.

Despite the changes, the Grammys will still occur on Sunday at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. However, the emphasis will shift toward assisting wildfire victims.

Changes to Grammy Week in 2025

In response to the fires that affected the Pacific Palisades and Altadena neighborhoods, the Recording Academy, alongside its charitable arm MusiCares, initiated the Los Angeles Fire Relief Effort with an initial donation of $1 million. As per a letter to members dated January 13, they've already raised $2 million in emergency funds through additional donations.

After establishing the fund, Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. noted that the team began restructuring Grammy Week activities. Many staff members had to evacuate their homes, leading to discussions held “on the road, mobile-y, virtually.”

“We needed to connect with various officials and community leaders to understand the current situation and the potential timeline for safely proceeding with events,” Mason explained.

The Academy ultimately decided to streamline its Grammy Week activities down to four events, each incorporating a fundraising element.

This coming Friday, MusiCares will host its annual Persons of the Year benefit gala, honoring the band Grateful Dead. The following Saturday will feature the Special Merit Awards Ceremony and Grammy nominees’ reception, along with Clive Davis’s pre-Grammy fundraising event. The actual Grammy Awards will take place on Sunday.

Several planned events, including the usual pre-Grammy Black Music Collective gathering and other social events at the pop-up Grammy house, have been canceled.

“We believe that consolidating our events will maximize our impact at this critical time,” Mason shared. “It just didn't feel like the appropriate moment for social gatherings or celebrations. Instead, we wanted our events to serve a meaningful purpose and be impactful.”

Adjustments to the Grammy Award Show

Mason acknowledged the difficulties of holding a regular awards show while people are dealing with loss and destruction. Yet, he remarked, canceling the event would be counterproductive.

“We needed to raise funds while demonstrating solidarity through music and supporting the Los Angeles community,” Mason added. “With over 6,500 people involved in producing our shows and related events, moving forward became essential after assessing our options with Grammy producers Ben Winston, Raj Kapoor, and Jesse Collins.”

The plan is to continue awarding and promoting musical performances, transforming the show into a concert experience. Most importantly, the show is designed to generate awareness, drive donations, and deliver necessary support to those affected.

Ongoing planning includes innovative elements in the show aimed at elevating fundraising efforts, highlighting real-life heroes who protect communities during such crises.

While it won’t be a typical telethon format, the Grammy show will announce various initiatives and activations throughout the event, aiming to share pledges made by sponsors and community members.

Impact on Recording Academy Members

Almost immediately, approximately 3,000 aid requests have come in from members of the Recording Academy and music community, according to Mason. The most pressing needs include essentials like food, water, and shelter.

Looking to the future, assistance will extend to housing, replacing lost instruments, and focusing on mental health support among other considerations.

Is this a Unique Situation?

Natural disasters often impact the arts, and similar to the COVID-19 pandemic, the music community has faced numerous challenges. During the pandemic, MusiCares effectively provided over $40 million in aid. Their established infrastructure enables quick response efforts.

However, Mason noted that this will be the first major awards show occurring directly after the wildfires, meaning there is no prior example to guide this effort.

He stated, “It is important to be adaptable. If the situation worsens or conditions are deemed unsafe for hosting events, we will reassess our plans.”

Ultimately, the reasons to proceed—fundraising efforts, economic relief, and the chance for community solidarity—underscore the importance of this year’s Grammys.

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For more updates about the Grammy Awards, stay tuned.

wildfires, Grammys, fundraising