UMG letter to employees about displacement LA wildfires

Photo Credit: Beau Horyza

Firefighters are still working to contain the deadly blaze that has burned significant portions of Los Angeles County. Over the weekend, UMG Chairman Lucian Grainge sent an update to employees about the impact.

UMG is operationally based in Santa Monica, which is partly under evacuation. Lucian Grainge himself is a long-time Pacific Palisades resident. Digital Music News obtained a copy of the letter sent to UMG employees over the weekend, which you can read below.

Dear Colleagues,

Among the many thousands of Los Angeles residents whose lives have been severely upended by the catastrophic fires are many of our own colleagues. As of today, at least 50 of our colleagues have been totally displaced, with many losing their homes entirely. With the fires still raging and threatening other areas of Los Angeles, unfortunately this situation is far from over.

I’m writing to let you know we are here for those colleagues who have been, and will be, impacted by this horrific tragedy.

Accordingly, I have asked Jody Gerson, Eric Hutcherson, John Janick, Monte Lipman, Boyd Muir, and Will Tanous to work with me to help coordinate a range of efforts to support those impacted.

Given the urgency of this diaster, I have cancelled my previously scheduled business meetings next week in Europe and decided to remain in Los Angeles so that the work of this group can be accomplished quickly.

As a Pacific Palisades resident for more than 15 years, I have great empathy for how many of you must feel and how this has disrupted your (and your family’s) lives. However, amidst all this uncertainty, we must continue to work together to deliver for our artists and songwriters around the world. Let’s not forget—we are strong, we will continue to be brave, and as always, we will march on together!

— Lucian

At least 24 people have died, with dozens more still missing. More than 92,000 people in Los Angeles county are under evacuation orders, while 89,000 more are under evacuation warnings. The entire region from Ventura to San Diego, should prepare for possible evacuation orders according to Cal Fire. The total area burned by the Palisades, Eaton, and Hurst fires is about 60 square miles.