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Major music labels are canceling their 2025 Grammy-related events in the wake of the devastating wildfires across Los Angeles. Universal Music Group (UMG) and Warner Music Group announced they would divert resources and funds originally allocated for Grammy Week celebrations to support efforts for those affected by the crisis.
UMG has cancelled all Grammy Week activities, including its marquee artist showcase and after-party. The company expressed gratitude for first responders and underscored its commitment to the Los Angeles community. “L.A. is home to so many of us,” UMG said. “We are committed to supporting the music community, our artists, and the people of Los Angeles through this horrific episode.” Meanwhile, Warner Music Group called off its Grammy Week party and promised a $1 million donation via the Warner Music Group / Blavatnik Family Foundation Social Justice Fund toward fire relief and rebuilding.
Yet despite those cancellations, the Recording Academy made certain that the 67th Annual Grammy Awards would go ahead as scheduled on Feb. 2 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. For this year, though, the celebration takes on a new sense of mission: to raise money for wildfire relief and toast first responders. The Academy, via MusiCares, launched the Los Angeles Fire Relief Effort with a $1 million donation and has thus far disbursed over $2 million in emergency assistance.
The fires, which have ravaged Southern California, have left at least 24 people dead and more than 12,000 structures destroyed. Thousands of people have become homeless because of the strongly wind-fed blazes, which so far have created unprecedented challenges to firefighters. Mandatory evacuations and red-flag warnings remained in place as efforts to contain the fire continued.
Other Grammy-related events are also being rethought. The MusiCares Person of the Year gala, which was set to honor the Grateful Dead, and the Special Merit Awards are still under consideration. And the Milk & Honey pre-Grammy party has been axed, with founder Lucas Keller calling for companies to release hotel blocks or donate them to displaced residents.
The music Industry responds by canceling events where the funds will be channeled to offer much-needed support in this crisis. The essence of this is mainly laid on the collective effort to aid the affected communities and reinforce the state of resiliency against disasters that Los Angeles faces.
