The Los Angeles music industry has, in recent years, generally supported progressive causes. But as the city's mayoral and California gubernatorial primaries concluded Tuesday, some music executives and performers have endorsed and donated heavily to Spencer Pratt, the right-wing activist and reality TV star running for mayor.
According to data from the Ethics Commission of the city of Los Angeles, among Pratt's supporters are two members of the most powerful family in the recording industry who donated the maximum amount allowed by law.
Pratt is a registered Republican whose heated rhetoric about homeless “zombies” and AI-created ads have irritated progressives and delighted conservatives. He has received support from President Trump, who told reporters that “I'd like to see him do well. He's a character. I don't know him, I guess he probably supports me… I hear he's a great MAGA person.”
In response, Pratt told TMZ that “Everyone wants me to be successful because L.A. is the biggest city in the country. The only support I need is from moms who want to feel safe in L.A. I'm very focused on that.”
Universal Music Group is home to some of music's most outspoken progressives, including Olivia Rodrigo and Billie Eilish, whose brother and collaborator Finneas O'Connell donated $250 to progressive mayoral candidate Nithya Raman on May 6.
Earlier this year, UMG President and CEO Lucian Grainge presented Rodrigo with the company's Universal Music Group x REVERB Amplifier Award, which champions “non-profit social and environmental campaigns through the cultural power of music,” according to a statement.
On May 9, Grainge (listed as a resident of Pacific Palisades, where Pratt lost his home in the 2025 fires) maxed out with a $1,800 donation to Pratt's campaign, as previously reported in The Times. A UMG representative did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Grainge's donation.
He is not the only Pratt donor in the family.
Grainge's son Elliot rose through the ranks with his 10k Projects label and now runs UMG competitor Atlantic Records. Vocal progressives like Cardi B, the Marias and Charli XCX are some of the label's most notable acts.
On May 8, Elliot Grainge also donated $1,800 to Pratt's campaign. A representative for Atlantic did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Last month, record producer and songwriting titan David Foster and his wife, singer Katharine McPhee, performed at a fundraiser for Pratt where they sang a cover of Tina Turner's hit “The Best” for the mayoral hopeful. “Spencer, you're just the best. Better than everyone else. Better than Karen Bass and Nithya Raman,” McPhee sang.
At Warner Music, Gabz Landman, senior vice president of A&R at Warner Chappell, its powerful music publishing wing, which has worked with Dua Lipa, Laufey and Amy Allen, donated $105.24 to Pratt on February 4. Through a Warner Music representative, Landman said the donation was for merchandise given to a friend and was not intended to support Pratt's campaign.
Superstar EDM producer and DJ Kaskade has left messages of support on Pratt's social media, commenting on one of the candidate's posts that “At this point, who is buying Bass' fairy tale narrative? I'm still shocked he hasn't quit!” DJ and producer Diplo also left a supportive comment (a praying hands and “please” emoji) on one of Pratt's social media posts. Records do not show any personal donations to Pratt's campaign by any of the artists.
Public records do not show any donations to Pratt's campaign from live industry executives at firms such as Live Nation, AEG or Goldenvoice.
