Devastating Los Angeles Wildfires Impact Global Live Industry

As the worst fire in Southern California history ravages Los Angeles Country, the seat of the live music industry, a number of businesses have closed their offices for the day while music-related events in the region have been postponed or canceled as at least five different fires burned across the city destroying or damaging thousands of structures and forcing nearly 180,000 residents to evacuate their homes.

A major fire in the Pacific Palisades, an area west of L.A. where many prominent figures from the music industry reside, broke out Jan. 7 amid major gusts of Santa Ana winds that reached nearly triple digits in some areas. Flames later erupted near Pasadena, Sylmar and another in Hollywood Hills, near iconic music sites like the Hollywood Bowl and in Malibu.

Fire officials confirmed that the Palisades and Eaton blazes have destroyed thousands of structures, and both have 0% containment as of the morning of Jan. 9.

“It’s safe to say that the Palisades fire is one of the most destructive natural disasters in the history of Los Angeles,” L.A. Fire Chief Kristin Crowley said in a press conference Thursday.

As a result of the blazes, much of Los Angeles —the epicenter of entertainment with companies such as Creative Artists Agency, Live Nation and AEG Presents having offices in the area — has paused any announcements and events.

Live Nation advises fans who purchased tickets for any shows postponed or canceled to follow the venue’s social media account for updates or to reach out to the point of purchase.

“Our thoughts are with those affected by the fires in Southern California and we are grateful for the hard work of the first responders,” Live Nation said in a statement. “Due to an abundance of caution and to prioritize the needs of our community, some shows are postponed or cancelled. We continue to focus on supporting our team members in the area.”

CAA told Pollstar that it encouraged employees to “prioritize their safety above all.”

“The office is open for those that want to come in and utilize resources, but everyone has flexibility to work remotely as needed,” added a spokesperson from CAA.

Rod Wave’s concert at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, which was supposed to take place on Jan. 8, was one of several events canceled in the area.

“The health and safety of our fans and employees will remain the top priority. Tickets will be refunded at the original point of purchase,” Intuit Dome said in a statement.

A major concert hosted by local radio station ALT 98.7 was also canceled. iHeartRadio’s ALTer EGO was scheduled for Jan. 11 at the Kia Forum with Cage the Elephant, Fontaines D.C., Incubus, St. Vincent, The Head And The Heart, The Lumineers, The Offspring and Damiano David on the bill.

“Dear ALT Family – It is with heavy hearts that we report that we will be canceling our ALTer Ego show this Saturday at the Kia Forum,” the radio station wrote on social media. “The devastation from the fires is beyond comprehension. Our thoughts are with the Los Angeles community and listeners who have been affected by this tragedy. We also want to recognize and thank all the first responders. We love our city and are putting health and safety first.”

The Sunset Fire in Runyon Canyon forced venues like the Hollywood Bowl, which is only a few miles away, and The Comedy Store to shut down because they were within an evacuation area. That blaze prompted Hollywood Pantages Theatre to cancel its “Wicked” show on Jan. 8.

Flames were visible from Hollywood last night, but firefighters were able to stop the fire, and evacuations were lifted Thursday morning.

“The evacuation order for the Hollywood Bowl and surrounding area has been lifted as of this morning,” the Hollywood Bowl wrote on social media. “Thank you to the firefighters and first responders. We’re grateful for all the messages of support, and our hearts continue to be with everyone affected throughout Los Angeles.”

The historic Wiltern Theatre announced the postponement of two shows from Jeff Arcuri, and local sporting events have done the same. The NHL game between the L.A. Kings and Calgary Flames at Crypto.com Arena, located in the downtown area, was postponed, as well as the NBA game between the Lakers and Charlotte Hornets.

The NFL announced Thursday evening that the playoff game between the Vikings and Rams scheduled for Jan. 13 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood has been moved to State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.

“In the interest of public safety, Monday’s Vikings-Rams wild card game has been moved from SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, CA to State Farm Stadium, the home of the Arizona Cardinals, the NFL announced today,” the NFL said in a statement. “The decision was made in consultation with public officials, the participating clubs and the NFLPA.”

A few venues stepped up to help first responders’ efforts. Rose Bowl Stadium is serving as a command center for Pasadena firefighters and police, and the Laugh Factory did the same for first responders battling the Sunset fire.

Though conditions did improve in favor of firefighters on Wednesday, fire officials said that winds are expected to pick up again Thursday evening, further complicating their efforts to contain the blazes, especially those in the Palisades and Eaton areas.

With the fires affecting areas like Malibu, the Hollywood Hills, the San Gabriel Valley and the Santa Monica mountains, notable agents, managers and clients have reportedly lost their homes.

Actress and singer Mandy Moore, who is married to Taylor Goldsmith of Dawes, shared on Instagram that she and her family had to evacuate the Altadena area. She later updated her followers and said that her home was damaged, and her children’s school was destroyed.

“Honestly, I’m in shock and feeling numb for all so many have lost, including my family,” she wrote on Instagram. “My children’s school is gone. Our favorite restaurants, leveled. So many friends and loved ones have lost everything too. Our community is broken but we will be here to rebuild together. Sending love to all affected and on the front lines trying to get this under control.”

There are a number of ways to help those in need during such a devastating event. The California Fire Foundation is accepting donations to help local fire agencies and residents impacted by the fires, and donations to the LA Fire Department Foundation can equip firefighters to combat the blazes across the county. The American Red Cross and Direct Relief are other organizations that help those affected by the disaster.

GoFundMe set up a central hub that includes links to fundraisers set up for residents, and the site also set up a Wildfire Relief Fund page that will provide cash grants directly to those impacted by domestic (U.S.) wildfires

Editor’s note: The story was updated with an new statement from the NFL regarding the Rams-Vikings playoff game