The wildfires consuming entire suburbs in Los Angeles have disrupted the lives and livelihoods of nearly 200,000 people (150,000 are currently under evacuation orders) and have destroyed, to date, in excess of 10,000 structures, homes and business. The impact on the music industry, which has deep and extensive roots in the city, has been considerable, with many musicians losing and studio facilities and others left without work with major concerts, recording sessions and gigs cancelled across Los Angeles and elsewhere.

A Chase Bank branch on Sunset Boulevard burning on 8 January. Photo Wikimedia Commons

Looming large among the victims of the fires, many of which still burn uncontrolled at time of writing, is the Schoenberg specialist Belmont Music Publisher, which lost its entire inventory in a fire that destroyed its premises in the Pacific Palisades district. Owned and operated by Larry Schoenberg, son of Arnold Schoenberg, Belmont was established in 1965 to manage the rights to the composer’s works and ensure access to some of the most significant music of the 20th century.

In a press release, Larry Schoenberg wrote: “The fire that ravaged the Pacific Palisades community in early January...