When wildfires swept through Los Angeles in January, the damage extended beyond homes and hillsides—it hit classrooms, rehearsal spaces, and the livelihoods of musicians and educators. In response, NAMM (The National Association of Music Merchants) and The NAMM Foundation stepped in with a focused mission: help the music community rebuild.
NAMM, the world’s largest not-for-profit music trade association, represents over 15,000 companies and professionals across the global $19.5 billion music products industry. Beyond the showroom floors and convention centers, NAMM champions the belief that music has the power to connect, heal, and transform lives. Through its charitable arm, The NAMM Foundation, the organization works to expand access to music education and foster lifelong participation in music-making.
With the creation of the 2025 LA Wildfires Relief Fund, NAMM aimed to do exactly that—restore what was lost and keep the music going.
Among the hardest hit were L.A.-area schools. Palisades Charter High School, which lost its entire music program facility in the fire, is now continuing its band program in a temporary commercial space in Santa Monica.
“During this time of crisis, we have seen how music can bring healing to our students and communities,” said Peter Ye, director of bands at Palisades Charter High School, in a statement shared by NAMM. “Because of our dedicated community members and donors, like The NAMM Foundation, we continue to provide music education and performance opportunities to our students when they need them the most.”
Likewise, Marquez Charter Elementary School is receiving support to rebuild its fire-damaged theater with new lighting and sound systems—an investment not only in equipment, but in future performances, creative expression, and student confidence.
Beyond the classroom, the fund is helping musicians get back on their feet.
Altadena Musicians, a grassroots organization supporting freelance artists, received aid to scale up their app, Instrumental Giving, which connects donors with musicians in need of instruments. The fires left many artists without the tools of their trade—guitars, keyboards, and gear that carry both practical and deeply personal value.
“Instruments aren’t just things; they carry stories, lineage and magic,” said Brandon Jay, founder of Altadena Musicians. “Even though instruments are irreplaceable, together we can help musicians—players who lost everything—to continue their journeys and make new magic.”
With additional help from groups like Moving the Needle, Music Forward Foundation, and the Guitar Center Music Foundation, funds are covering critical infrastructure losses, relocation costs, and instrument replacement, ensuring L.A.’s music scene can continue to thrive, even after tragedy.
The relief efforts also extend to nonprofits, including Sweet Relief, which is using the support to help musicians cover medical expenses, replace lost gear, and stay afloat in the wake of displacement. Outreach Through the Arts is likewise ensuring that young students in Pacific Palisades and Santa Monica have instruments in their hands and music in their lives.
In total, NAMM and its partners have turned a moment of crisis into a collaborative act of resilience, proving once again that music isn’t just about entertainment—it’s a lifeline, a community builder, and a force for healing.
As one statement from NAMM put it: “Thanks to the generosity of The NAMM Foundation and over 125 NAMM members and donors, the following music communities have received critical assistance from the NAMM LA Wildfire Relief Fund.”
In a city known for its soundtracks, this moment is a reminder that the most powerful music sometimes happens offstage—quietly, behind the scenes, one donation and one repaired instrument at a time.
To learn more or support NAMM’s ongoing efforts, visit www.namm.org.
