Pro AV, MI, and Arts Communities Support L.A. Fire Victims

By David Keene

January 18, 2025 – In very challenging times for L.A. and area, it’s good to know that so many organizations and people in pro AV, the MI (music instrument) industry, and the arts are actively working to provide assistance and relief.

NAMM has been so involved, over many years, in so many great efforts to help music students including those from historically marginalized communities. They and other organizations including the Guitar Center Music Foundation and Gibson Gives are heading up a major relief effort. And look at the great companies that straddle both MI and pro AV who have signed up to help the effort – among them JBL Professional, Sony, Yamaha, Audio-Technica, AKG, Shure, and many more.

On the arts side, I can’t imagine having a better-funded sponsor than the J. Paul Getty Trust, associated with the wonderful Getty museums (I love both museums with passion and have visited them often, the Getty Center in L.A., and the Getty Villa in Malibu). A Getty-led coalition of major arts organizations and philanthropists is providing emergency relief for artists and arts workers in all disciplines who have lost residences, studios, archives, artworks, or livelihoods or have otherwise been impacted by the devastating Los Angeles fires. The fund has a large list of participants, including the Mohn Art Collective (Hammer Museum, LACMA, and MOCA) partnered with East West Bank, today joined with the Mellon Foundation, the Helen Frankenthaler Foundation, The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Qatar Museums, Ford Foundation.

To get involved, follow the links in these Press releases from the organizations:

 

Musical Instrument Industry Unites to Support Victims of the Los Angeles Wildfires

Gibson Gives and The Guitar Center Music Foundation bring together over 20 manufacturers to raise funds and help rebuild the lives of those in the Los Angeles music community who have lost their instruments and gear destroyed by the fires.

Leading MI manufacturers AKG, AlphaTheta/Pioneer, Audio-Technica, DW, Eastman, ESP Guitars, Hoshino (Ibanez Guitars/TAMA Drums), JBL Professional, C. F. Martin & Co., Pearl Drums, Remo Inc., Roland, Saga, Schecter Guitar Research, Shure, Sony Music, Universal Audio, Vater Percussion, Yamaha, Avedis Zildjian Co, and more will offer support and donations to LA musicians

(Los Angeles, CA) January 17, 2025 — In the wake of the devastating wildfires in Southern California, leading manufacturers from the musical instrument (MI) industry have joined forces to help support the recovery of music programs and musicians impacted by the fires. Gibson the iconic American-made instrument brand, and Guitar Center the world’s largest retailer of musical instruments, are bringing the music community together through their philanthropic divisions Gibson Gives and The Guitar Center Music Foundation to provide immediate funds and support for musicians and humanitarian aid organizations across Los Angeles.

To maximize this effort, Gibson and Guitar Center have enlisted the assistance and support of many prominent manufacturers from the MI industry including AKG, AlphaTheta/Pioneer, Audio-Technica, DW, Eastman, ESP Guitars, Hoshino (Ibanez Guitars/TAMA Drums), JBL Professional, C. F. Martin & Co., Pearl Drums, Remo Inc., Roland, Saga, Schecter Guitar Research, Shure, Sony Music, Universal Audio, Vater Percussion, Yamaha, Avedis Zildjian Co, and more in a massive and unprecedented donation relief effort.

For musicians, music professionals, or a nonprofit music program based in the Los Angeles area affected by the fires, The Guitar Center Music Foundation and Gibson Gives are donating a special one-time grant to replace instruments and gear. Los Angeles musicians who lost their instruments and gear can reach out and apply HERE now through February 28, 2025. Proof of loss or address may be required.

The brands have partnered with the NAMM Foundation L.A. Wildfires Relief Fund as well as the NAMM Show which is providing two dedicated L.A. Wildfire Relief Centers during the upcoming NAMM Show, held at the Anaheim Convention Center (January 23-25). These relief centers inform attendees on how they can support the coordinated efforts of this initiative. They will be in Hall C and in ACC North Level 2. For those who donate $35 or more onsite to the GCMF at the Anaheim Convention Center, they will receive their choice of a special edition GCMF branded t-shirt, tote bag, or hat.

“We are devastated by the recent fires that have deeply affected our artist communities and the places they call home. In response, we are committed to providing impactful support to help rebuild and heal. We understand the powerful role music plays in the healing process, and we will continue to stand with our community, using the strength of music to bring hope and recovery.” — Erica Krusen, Global Executive Director, Gibson Gives.

“I am deeply grateful to see such an outpouring of support from everyone coming together to assist musicians who have tragically lost their instruments in the fire. This collective effort is not just about replacing instruments; it’s about restoring the power of music in people’s lives—a vital source of healing, renewal, and strength as they navigate the journey of rebuilding their lives and communities.” — Myka Miller, Executive Director of The Guitar Center Music Foundation.

“We are overwhelmed and deeply appreciative of the generosity from our music industry. NAMM and The NAMM Foundation are collaborating closely with NAMM Members to unify all efforts and maximize relief efforts for the those impacted by the LA Wildfires.” — John Mlynczak, NAMM president and CEO.

 

LA Arts Community Fire Relief Fund

Join a Getty-led coalition of major arts organizations and philanthropists providing emergency relief for artists and arts workers in all disciplines who have lost residences, studios, archives, artworks, or livelihoods or have otherwise been impacted by the devastating Los Angeles fires.

Recognized internationally as a thriving center for all aspects of the arts, Los Angeles has an exceptionally diverse and vibrant community of artists, arts workers, and related professionals. All have been gravely affected by the ongoing fires, which have upended the lives of thousands of individuals and disrupted the creative economy of Los Angeles and its region.

Your gift to Getty in support of the LA Arts Community Fire Relief Fund is fully tax-deductible. If you would like to discuss a major gift to the fund, please contact Emily Cregg, Senior Development Officer, at (310) 440-6049 or [email protected].