Many entities that most Americans would say didn’t need bailouts because, say, they were backed by Hollywood bigwigs who, in the midst of the pandemic were able to do things like buy $21.5 million properties in luxe neighborhoods (as Azoff did with one property in Beverly Hills in November 2021), still got money.

And most Americans understand on some level that money is fungible. Undoubtedly, Azoff didn’t need COVID aid personally. But the fact that his business(es) got it is unlikely to have hurt his bottom line.

Azoff advocated for pandemic aid targeted towards the music industry. In March 2020, he tweeted his thanks to Democrat Rep. Adam Schiff and Republican Sen. Lamar Alexander for their work to secure pandemic aid for the music industry. Azoff is also a Board Member of the Music Artists Coalition, which appealed for bailout money.