GET HELP
MusiCares provides crisis relief, preventive care, recovery resources, and need-based financial assistance for people across all music professions.
**MusiCares is a resource to eligible music professionals impacted by natural disasters, including the fires in the greater Los Angeles area. Contact MusiCares to get started, and scroll down to view all MusiCares’ & external fire relief resources.**
Reach out for help: [email protected] or 800.687.4227. MusiCares’ expert staff treat cases with integrity and confidentiality.
If you or someone you care about is in an emergency, please call 911 or text the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988. MusiCares is not a crisis hotline; we provide support tailored to clients’ unique challenges over a period of time.
Family members or friends may contact MusiCares on behalf of a music professional with their permission.
HOW WE HELP
MusiCares provides crisis relief, preventive care, recovery resources and need-based financial assistance in three key areas:
Mental Health & Addiction Recovery Services include preventive resources such as emotional support groups, referrals and financial assistance for counseling/therapy, and mental wellness workshops. In times of crisis, MusiCares facilitates and funds treatment for addiction recovery and mental health treatment. To bolster recovery, MusiCares can provide continued aftercare programming such as Intensive Outpatient programming (IOP), sober coach check in’s, assistance with sober living placement and costs, and hosts several addiction recovery support groups each week.
Health Services focus on need-based financial assistance for medical expenses and loss of work due to illness or injury, and recovery support through access to physical therapy and continued wellness resources. MusiCares also offers a variety of targeted health services including biannual clinics for dental, vision, and physical/holistic health, as well as ongoing hearing health and education services, smoking cessation efforts, and more.
Human Services include preventive programs addressing financial literacy, affordable housing, career development, legal issues, and senior services. In times of hardship, MusiCares provides humanitarian disaster relief, need-based financial assistance for basic living expenses like rent, utilities, car payments and insurance premiums, assistance with instrument replacement/repair if stolen or damaged in a natural disaster (excluding wear-and-tear), and funeral costs for a music professional or their family member.
Please reach out to MusiCaresRelief@musicares.org for more information or with questions about our services.
WHO WE SERVE
Anyone working in the music industry is encouraged to contact MusiCares for help. This includes musicians, songwriters, engineers, producers, live crew, tour bus drivers, managers, agents, A&R, makeup artists, costume designers, music video creatives & technicians, and anyone whose livelihood depends on music or makes music happen.
Those requesting financial assistance must possess documentation of employment history in one of the following areas:
A minimum of five years employment in the music industry (three years for disaster relief), OR
Six commercially released recordings or videos (singles)
All approved assistance is paid directly to a third party or creditor such as a landlord, bank, utility company, hospital, doctor, or therapist.
Many preventive resources are free and available to all. See our events page and social media to access all clinics, screenings, workshops and webinars.
MusiCares serves music professionals in the U.S. and Puerto Rico.
Resources for Those Affected by the Los Angeles Area Fires
MusiCares Disaster Relief Support
MusiCares is a resource to the music community impacted by the fires in the Los Angeles area. MusiCares provides disaster relief intended to cover short-term costs from evacuating (hotel, food, supplies). MusiCares is also able to provide additional support for individuals with considerable impact, including medical issues, damaged music equipment or longer-term relocation needs.
Individuals are eligible for MusiCares disaster relief support after 3 years employment in music in any capacity or credit on 6 commercially-released recordings. If you would like to request support from MusiCares, please reach out to [email protected].
Understanding Disaster Unemployment webinar: learn essential information about Disaster Unemployment and available emergency financial assistance grants for artists, arts workers and small business owners.
Mental Health Support
Music professionals may access financial assistance and referrals for mental health through MusiCares. Please reach out to musicaresrelief@musicares,org.
MusiCares facilitates weekly, virtual support groups free to all music professionals. They can be accessed here: Weekly Support Groups
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA - Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) provides free resources to access substance use services, mental health providers and additional resources.
The National Child Traumatic Stress Network (Help Kids Cope | The National Child Traumatic Stress Network) provides guidance and resources for parents to support their children to navigate the stress and trauma of disasters. MusiCares can also provide financial assistance and placement in mental health services for the children of eligible music professionals.
This Good Inside resource (Gi_ResourcesforParentsNavigatingtheCaliforniaWildfires) provides helpful guidance on having conversations with children about the fires and sample scripts.
988: If you or someone you know may be having suicidal thoughts or navigating a mental health crisis, please contact the 988 lifelife (Get Help - 988 Lifeline)
Guidance to Prepare for a Safe Evacuation
The FEMA Wildfire Evacuation Checklist provides guidance on how to plan, prepare and pack for an evacuation.
Accessing Up-to-date Information
211LA (Greater Los Angeles Wildfires | 211LA) includes regularly updated information on the size of the fires, evacuation orders and warnings, school closures and power outages.
Genasys Protect App (Genasys Protect) provides real-time updates via push notifications on fire status and evacuations.
Air Quality Information: Air Quality Index App
FEMA Webinar on Information for the Music Community: This webinar, supported through a consortium of entertainment-focused partners, provides tailored information about FEMA support for the music community and how to access that support https://entertainmentcommunity.org/femawebinar
FEMA Updated Information on Assistance and SBA Loan deadlines: https://www.ca.gov/LAFires/
Accessing Shelter
The County of Los Angeles Emergency Website (Emergency – COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES) has regularly updated information on access to shelters. Current shelters are listed below.
Calvary Community Church, 5495 Via Rocas, Westlake Village, CA 91362
Ritchie Valens Recreation Center – 10736 Laurel Canyon Blvd., Pacoima, CA 91331
Pan Pacific Recreational Center – 7600 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90036
Westwood Recreation Center – 1350 Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90025
Pasadena Civic Auditorium – 300 East Green Street, Pasadena, CA 91101
Pomona Fairplex – 1101 W McKinley Ave, Pomona, CA 91768
Stoner Recreation Center – 1835 Stoner Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90025
Accessing Food:
The Los Angeles Food Bank (Locate a Partner Agency) has a full list of food banks and resources available.
World Central Kitchen is distributing free meals to the public. You can access locations through the website. (World Central Kitchen | Meal Distribution Sites: California Fires)
Pro-Bono Studio Space:
Studios of Sanctuary: Many LA studios are participating in studio time donations. Check out the list of studios and apply here: https://www.studiosofsanctuary.com/
Pandion Music Foundation: This studio has also opened applications for pro-bono studio time at Earthstar Creation Center for anyone who is a music creator and has lost gear or studio space to the Greater Los Angeles Wildfires. PANDION MUSIC FOUNDATION: APPLICATION FOR PRO BONO STUDIO TIME AT EARTHSTAR CREATION CENTER | SurveyPlanet
** Earthstar and PMF retain the right to follow up and request additional documents to verify applicants’ eligibility for this opportunity.
Mobile Sessions is offering free studio time with their mobile studio, based out of their partner location Centerstaging. Impacted music creators apply on the Mobile Sessions website: https://gomobilesessions.com/lafiresassist.
LA County Household Relief Grant Application
California Lawyers for the Arts
LA County Consumer and Business Affairs
Alliance for a Better Community
Pet Support
If you cannot care for your pet, shelters are available at the following locations.
Small Animals:
Agoura Animal Care Center 29525 Agoura Rd, Agoura Hills, CA 91301
Baldwin Park Animal Care Center 4275 Elton St, Baldwin Park, CA 91706
Carson Animal Care Center 216 W Victoria St, Gardena, CA 90248
Downey Animal Care Center 11258 Garfield Ave, Downey, CA 90242
Lancaster Animal Care Center 5210 W Ave I, Lancaster, CA 93536
Palmdale Animal Care Center 38550 Sierra Hwy, Palmdale, CA 93550
Large Animals:
Pomona Fairplex 1101 W McKinley Ave. Pomona
Industry Hills Expo 16200 Temple Ave, City of Industry, CA 91744
Antelope Valley Fair 2551 W Avenue H, Lancaster, CA 93536
Locating Missing Family
Family Assistance Centers will open to provide information to people looking for missing family and friends due to the January 2025 fires in Los Angeles County. For more information contact (800) 675-5799 or visit redcross.org.
Family Assistance Center at Cheviot Hills Recreation Center
2551 Motor Ave
Los Angeles, Ca 90064
Family Assistance Center at Pasadena Convention Center
Visitor’s Bureau (building to the left of the civic auditorium)
300 E Green St.
Pasadena, Ca 91101