FireAid

FireAid
Benefit concert by the Annenberg Foundation
LocationInglewood, California, US
Venue
DateJanuary 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

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

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

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

The Annenberg Foundation distributed 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]

Proceeds from donations, sales, and sponsorships exceeded $100 million.[12][13]

Online streaming partners

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

Music streaming platforms

Radio stations

News stations

Social media platforms

Concert streaming platforms

Movie theaters

Controversy

Six months after the concert was held, some victims of the fires told the media that they had not received any money from the concert organizers. 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 review the funds sent.[16] Their report found no misrepresentation, fraud, or otherwise improper management or use of funds.[17] The House Judiciary Committee released an interim report in January 2026. [18] According to the Committee, FireAid disbursed at least $75 million to 118 non-profits and at least $25 million has not been distributed. The report criticized FireAid for more than a half-million dollars that were "used to pay bonuses, salaries, and consultants for non-profit organizations" along with funds sent to causes "with little or no nexus to assisting fire victims." Additionally, it faulted the organization for misleading donors in claiming funds would be sent "directly" to victims of the fire when "FireAid has diverted donations to third-party groups" instead. [18]

References

  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.
  17. ^ Latham & Watkins (September 8, 2025). "FireAid" (PDF). Retrieved February 25, 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  18. ^ a b "FIREAID APPARENTLY MISUSED CHARITABLE DONATIONS BY FUNDING ILLEGAL ALIENS, PODCASTERS, AND NON-PROFITS' ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS" (PDF). January 6, 2026. Retrieved February 25, 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
External videos
Official livestream on YouTube
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