It is a staggering amount of money raised in just less than a week – $125 million to aid recovery efforts in the wake of the devastating Los Angeles wildfires that broke out on January 7.
Huge thanks are going out to the music industry, a number of its most talented artists and matching funds from deep-pocketed individuals and sponsors.
The nearly six-hour-long FireAid concert held last Thursday at the Intuit Dome and Kia Forum, transmitted live over 28 broadcast networks and streamers brought in $100 million.
Featuring a long list of music’s biggest stars currently and over the past decades, the event was one for the ages and reached an estimated 50 million viewers. The funds raised included matching donation from the venues’ owner Steve Ballmer, along with donations from music industry heavyweights the Azoff family, U2 and the Eagles.
These were some of the highlights: Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong and Billie Eilish opening the show, No Doubt performing “Don’t Speak,” Gracie Abrams doing her version of “A Long December,” Stevie Nicks with “Stand Back” and “Edge of Seventeen,” the Red Hot Chili Peppers “Californication,” the reconstituted Nirvana set, with Violet Grohl, Joan Jett, Kim Gordon and St. Vincent channeling Kurt Cobain, Alanis Morissette’s “Hand in my Pocket,” Jelly Roll’s “Hollywood Nights” with Travis Barker, Stevie Wonder’s set joined by Sting and Lady Gaga’s “Shallow.”
Meanwhile, the Grammy Awards and affiliated events raised about $25 million towards fire relief, with $9 million from Grammy night Feb. 2 and $15 million from MusicCares events including its Persons of the Year gala honoring The Grateful Dead.
You can watch the full FireAid concert here. And/or donate to FireAidLA.org.
