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FireAid

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FireAid
Benefit concert by the Annenberg Foundation
LocationInglewood, California, US
Venue
Date(s)January 30, 2025 (2025-01-30)
WebsiteOfficial website

FireAid was a two-venue benefit concert and music-based fundraising initiative that took place in Inglewood, California, United States, on January 30, 2025.[1] The event, organized by the Annenberg Foundation, raised funds to help those affected by the January 2025 Southern California wildfires, as well as funds to help prevent future wildfires in the area.[2][3][4]

Several of the people involved in the production of the event were directly affected by the fires, including producer Tim Sexton, lead mixing engineer Bob Clearmountain, and technical director Eric Becker.[5]

Performers

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Most of the performers at the event had some connection to the Greater Los Angeles area.[6]

The concert ran for six hours. Setlist:[6]

Intuit Dome

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Finneas O'Connell and Billie Eilish in 2022
The Intuit Dome

Additional appearances included Samuel L. Jackson, Quinta Brunson, and Miles Teller, who each introduced locals who lost their homes in the wildfires (Teller also lost his home in the Palisades Fire), and Jimmy Kimmel.[7][8][9]

Kia Forum

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Joni Mitchell in 2023
The Kia Forum

Additional appearances included Billy Crystal, who lost his home in the Palisades Fire.[7][8][9]

Dave Matthews was originally scheduled to perform with John Mayer but canceled due to a family illness.[10]

Fundraising

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The Annenberg Foundation will distribute contributions to FireAid, whose organizers set up a 501(c)(3) for the purpose. Steve Ballmer and his wife Connie pledged to match all donations made during the live event.[11] The Ballmers' offer was later extended to match donations made during streams for the next year.[12] During his segment, Billy Crystal noted that band U2 pledged $1 million.[11]

As of February 2025, organizers estimated that proceeds from donations, sales, and sponsorships are expected to exceed $100 million.[12][13]

Online streaming partners

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Following the event, streaming partners extended on-demand access to the broadcast for a full year.[12] The concert was broadcast live on many different streaming platforms and radio stations around the world including:[14]

Video streaming platforms

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Music streaming platforms

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Radio stations

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News stations

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Social media platforms

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Concert streaming platforms

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Movie theaters

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Controversy

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Six months after the concert was held, the victims of the fires told the media that they did not receive any money from the concert as promised. The Annenberg Foundation responded:

As a newly formed 501c3, FireAid does not have the capability to make direct payments to individuals and that was never the plan. To deliver aid into the community, we partnered directly with trusted local nonprofits who have the capacity to reach the communities in need, to provide food security, housing, and resources for schools. Each dollar was intended for the community, and a stipulation of the funds was that not a single dollar was spent on administrative costs.[15]

On July 31, 2025, Representative Kevin Kiley (CA-03) posted on X about this issue and requested the Department of Justice to investigate. In response, FireAid hired a law firm, Latham & Watkins to go over the funds sent.[16]

References

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  1. ^ Thomas, Carly (January 16, 2025). "Billie Eilish, Lady Gaga, Jelly Roll, Lil Baby to Perform at FireAid Benefit Concert for L.A. Wildfire Victims". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 17, 2025.
  2. ^ "FireAid benefit concert for those affected by LA fires: Everything to know". ABC7 Los Angeles. January 17, 2025. Retrieved January 17, 2025.
  3. ^ "Top music acts announced for FireAid, a concert to support L.A. wildfire victims". KTLA. January 16, 2025. Retrieved January 17, 2025.
  4. ^ Lloyd • •, Jonathan (January 16, 2025). "From Lady Gaga to Red Hot Chili Peppers: Here are the artists performing at the LA FireAid benefit concert". NBC Los Angeles. Retrieved January 17, 2025.
  5. ^ Patton, Tess (January 30, 2025). "Historic FireAid Concert Unites Streamers for the First Time, Bypassing Linear TV". Yahoo Entertainment. Retrieved February 4, 2025.
  6. ^ a b Willman, Chris (January 31, 2025). "FireAid Review: How a Female-Fronted Nirvana Reunion, Lady Gaga, Billie Eilish, Dr. Dre and Others Gave L.A. the Rebound Night It Deserved". Variety. Retrieved February 2, 2025.
  7. ^ a b Yang, Angela; Cohen, Rebecca; Hamedy, Saba (January 30, 2025). "FireAid live updates: L.A. fires benefit concert kicks off with Green Day, Billie Eilish". NBC News. Retrieved January 30, 2025.
  8. ^ a b Ruggieri, Melissa (January 30, 2025). "FireAid benefit concert: Follow live performances". USA Today. Retrieved January 30, 2025.
  9. ^ a b Brown, August; Wood, Mikael (January 30, 2025). "Joni Mitchell at FireAid: A stunning, stripped back performance of comfort and grace". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 30, 2025.
  10. ^ Hayes, Christal (January 30, 2025). "FireAid concert: Who's performing and how to watch". BBC News. Retrieved January 30, 2025.
  11. ^ a b Sherman, Maria (January 31, 2025). "FireAid combines music's biggest acts and stories of loss to raise money for LA wildfire relief". ABC 7. Retrieved February 1, 2025.
  12. ^ a b c Marshal, Elizabeth Dilts (February 7, 2025). "FireAid's On-Demand Streaming Deal and Dollar-for-Dollar Donation Match Extended". Billboard. Retrieved February 11, 2025.
  13. ^ Sarmiento, Isabella Gomez (February 5, 2025). "FireAid concerts raise estimated $100 million for LA wildfire relief". NPR. Retrieved February 11, 2025.
  14. ^ "Homepage". FireAid. Retrieved January 30, 2025.
  15. ^ Team, FOX 11 Digital (July 22, 2025). "$100 million FireAid money under scrutiny. Where have the concert funds gone?". FOX 11. Retrieved August 1, 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  16. ^ Willman, Chris (July 30, 2025). "FireAid Hires Law Firm to Review Dispersal of Funds From Benefit Concert in Response to Congressman's Inquiries". Variety. Retrieved August 1, 2025.
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External videos
video icon Official livestream on YouTube
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