City of Hope Honors Primary Wave Founder and CEO Larry Mestel at Spirit of Life Gala Featuring Performances by Stevie Nicks, Melissa Etheridge and Jackson Browne

Yearlong Music, Film and Entertainment Industry Campaign Supports Breakthrough Cancer Research and Treatment, Including Cellular Immunotherapies and Breast Cancer Research

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--City of Hope^®, one of the largest and most advanced cancer research and treatment organizations in the country, honored Larry Mestel, founder and CEO of Primary Wave Music, with its prestigious Spirit of Life^® Award at the Music, Film and Entertainment Industry (MFEI) Gala held Oct. 27 at the Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood.

The annual gala marked the signature celebration of a yearlong philanthropic campaign led by Mestel to advance City of Hope's mission to make hope a reality for all facing cancer. Throughout 2026, the music and entertainment industry united under Mestel's leadership, bringing together artists, executives and entertainment companies to support City of Hope's pioneering work in CAR T cell therapy and other cellular immunotherapies, as well as breast cancer research and care initiatives.

The evening celebrated the extraordinary power of music and philanthropy, featuring special performances by legendary artists Stevie Nicks, Melissa Etheridge and Jackson Browne. The celebration began with a red carpet welcoming artists, executives and entertainment leaders from across the industry. TikTok, the world’s leading destination for music discovery and cultural connection, joined as one of the evening’s proud sponsors, marking its first involvement with City of Hope’s Spirit of Life Gala through its relationship with Primary Wave Music.

"Last night was proof that when a community unites around a common, and in many cases, shared purpose, what’s possible is beyond imagination. Over the last few months, I’ve been deeply moved hearing stories from both doctors and patients, and last night was no exception," said Larry Mestel, founder and CEO of Primary Wave Music. "I am truly humbled to receive the Spirit of Life Award, but what an incredible honor it was to raise millions of dollars to support City of Hope in their fight against cancer."

"For more than 50 years, the music industry has stood alongside City of Hope in our mission to change what’s possible for people facing cancer,” said Robert Stone, chief executive officer and the Helen and Morgan Chu Chief Executive Officer Distinguished Chair of City of Hope. “Larry Mestel has carried that legacy forward, inspiring an entire industry to advance cancer research and care. At the heart of this partnership is a shared belief that every patient deserves the best possible chance for a better outcome. Together, we are bringing new discoveries and treatments to the patients and families who are counting on us.”

Mestel founded Primary Wave Music in 2006, building the company into one of the world's leading independent music publishers and entertainment companies. Its legendary catalog includes music from icons such as Bob Marley, Prince, Whitney Houston, Stevie Nicks, James Brown and The Notorious B.I.G., among many others. Throughout his career, Mestel has championed creative partnerships that preserve musical legacies while introducing timeless music to new generations of fans.

Beyond the gala, Mestel's yearlong Spirit of Life campaign engaged artists and fans through a series of exclusive online auctions, sweepstakes and music-inspired fundraising opportunities. Among the offerings were rare handwritten lyrics from celebrated songwriters, collectible music memorabilia and once-in-a-lifetime fan experiences, providing new ways for music lovers around the world to contribute to City of Hope's mission.

“One of the things I love most about this industry is what happens when you bring a great idea to people who have the passion, creativity and generosity to make it something extraordinary,” said Alissa Pollack, president of Mediabase and Global Music Marketing, RCS Worldwide / iHeartMedia, and president of City of Hope's MFEI board. “We invited artists and partners to think beyond the traditional, opening up their catalogs, their personal collections and, in some cases, their lives to create once-in-a-lifetime experiences that money simply can’t buy. The response has been extraordinary and is a powerful reminder of what we can accomplish when we unite around a shared purpose. Together, we’re not just creating unforgettable moments for fans but we’re creating opportunities to change lives through our support of City of Hope’s breast cancer research.”

A central focus of the 2026 campaign is City of Hope's leadership in cellular immunotherapy, including CAR T cell therapy, which harnesses a patient's own immune system to recognize and attack cancer. As a global leader in developing and delivering these innovative treatments, City of Hope continues to advance research aimed at making cellular therapies more effective and available to more patients. Campaign contributions will also support breast cancer research and care, helping drive discoveries that can improve outcomes for patients.

"Progress against cancer requires both extraordinary science and an extraordinary community willing to invest in what comes next," said Kristin Bertell, chief philanthropy officer at City of Hope. "Larry Mestel and the music industry have demonstrated the power of that partnership. Their generosity is helping City of Hope accelerate promising discoveries, advance innovative therapies and bring new hope to patients and families who need it most."

Among the evening's performers was Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter and breast cancer survivor Melissa Etheridge, whose personal experience with cancer brought special meaning to the celebration and its mission.

"When you've faced cancer yourself, you understand just how much hope matters," said Etheridge. "Music has always been a powerful way to bring people together, and I was honored to support Larry and City of Hope, as well as this incredible community, to help make a difference for everyone facing their own battle with cancer."

"For more than five decades, our industry has united around City of Hope's mission, and each year we're reminded of the tremendous impact we can make together," said Evan Lamberg, president of Universal Music Publishing Group North America and chairman of City of Hope's MFEI board. "Larry has brought exceptional leadership, creativity and personal commitment to this yearlong campaign, inspiring participation from across the industry. We're proud to celebrate his accomplishments and build on a philanthropic legacy that has generated more than $180 million in support of City of Hope."

The live auction kicked off with a surprise donation, a signed Stevie Nicks limited edition Mattel Belladonna Barbie doll from her own personal collection. Other auction items included a signed guitar from Pete Townshend’s personal collection, a pickleball experience with Kenny Loggins, and a Hawaiian golf and dinner experience with Alice Cooper.

The evening concluded with a performance of “Landslide” by Stevie Nicks. Prior to her performance, Nicks shared that she had four people close to her get treatment at City of Hope facilities and encouraged the audience to support City of Hope.

The Spirit of Life Award is City of Hope's highest philanthropic honor, recognizing industry leaders whose professional achievements and humanitarian commitments reflect the organization's mission to improve and save lives. Mestel joins a distinguished group of past honorees, including Tom Corson, Jay Marciano, Lyor Cohen, Shelli and Irving Azoff, Clive Davis, Sir Lucian Grainge, Quincy Jones, Jon Platt and Sylvia Rhone.

City of Hope extends its gratitude to Mestel, Primary Wave Music, the MFEI board, participating artists, sponsors and industry partners whose generosity continues to advance the search for new cancer treatments and cures.

PHOTOS: HERE
Credit: Joe Scarnici / Getty Images for City of Hope

BROLL: HERE
Credit: Alan Larsen Films for City of Hope

About City of Hope

City of Hope's mission is to make hope a reality for all touched by cancer and diabetes. Founded in 1913, City of Hope has grown into one of the largest and most advanced cancer research and treatment organizations in the United States, and one of the leading research centers for diabetes and other life-threatening illnesses. City of Hope research has been the basis for numerous breakthrough cancer medicines, as well as human synthetic insulin and monoclonal antibodies. With an independent, National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center that is ranked among the nation’s top cancer centers by U.S. News & World Report at its core, City of Hope’s uniquely integrated model spans cancer care, research and development, academics and training, and a broad philanthropy program that powers its work. City of Hope’s growing national system includes its Los Angeles campus, Orange County, California, campus, a network of clinical care locations across Southern California and cancer treatment centers and outpatient facilities in the Atlanta, Chicago and Phoenix areas. City of Hope’s affiliated group of organizations includes Translational Genomics Research Institute and AccessHope™. For more information about City of Hope, follow us on Facebook, X, YouTube, Instagram and LinkedIn.

About Lawrence Mestel, Founder & CEO, Primary Wave Music

Lawrence Mestel, Founder & CEO of Primary Wave Music, has been working in the music and entertainment industry for over 30 years. In 2006, Mestel took his extensive experience working at multiple record labels and founded Primary Wave Music, a pioneer in acquiring legendary music catalogs and the largest independent music publishing company in the world. Primary Wave has controlled over 100,000 songs from the catalogs of legendary artists such as Bob Marley, Prince, Stevie Nicks, James Brown, Axl Rose (Guns N’ Roses), The Notorious B.I.G., Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons, The Doors, Smokey Robinson, Whitney Houston, Burt Bacharach, Bing Crosby, Luther Vandross, Andre 3000, Sun Records, and many more. The songs represented by Primary Wave include over 1000 Top 10 singles, and over 400 #1 hits. Originally founded on music publishing, Mestel has strategically and successfully built the company into a full-service music and entertainment powerhouse offering in-house marketing, branding, digital marketing, publicity, sync & licensing, TV & Film development, and estate management.

Mestel was one of the producers behind the critically acclaimed Kurt Cobain documentary film, Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck and he was part of the team who produced the Whitney Houston biopic, I Wanna Dance With Somebody distributed by Sony Pictures. Mestel and Primary Wave are also producers for the Allee Willis documentary, The World According to Allee Willis, and the Luther Vandross documentary, Luther: Never Too Much, and is producing the Bob Marley immersive experience at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.

In 2019 Goldman Sachs honored Larry Mestel as one of the “100 most intriguing entrepreneurs” at the annual Goldman Sachs Builders & Inventors summit. From 2020 through 2023, Mestel landed on Billboard Magazine’s “Power List” being recognized for his leadership in the music industry. In 2024, Mestel was once again featured on the Billboard Power 100, making the magazine’s “Leaderboard” which recognized the top 40 leaders across the music industry. He returned to the “Leaderboard” and Power List once again in 2025. He has also appeared on the Variety 500 three times and has been featured in top press outlets such as New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Wall Street Journal, The Hollywood Reporter, Entrepreneur, Fast Company, New York Post, Forbes, Billboard Magazine, and HITS Magazine.

About City of Hope’s Music, Film and Entertainment Industry Group

Inspired by the guiding humanitarian principles of City of Hope and motivated by the institution's commitment to innovative medical research and compassionate patient care, a group of key industry executives founded City of Hope’s Music, Film and Entertainment Industry group in 1973. In its 50-plus-year history, the group has raised over $180 million for City of Hope and has honored some of the most important figures in the music and entertainment industry.

The Spirit of Life Award is City of Hope’s most prestigious honor and is presented to an esteemed community of industry leaders around the world who have made a significant commitment to improving the lives of others through the advancement of research and clinical innovation and the delivery of personalized, compassionate care. Past honorees include Tom Corson, Jay Marciano, Lyor Cohen, Shelli and Irving Azoff, Edgar Bronfman Jr., Coran Capshaw, Eddy Cue, Clive Davis, Sir Lucian Grainge, Allen Grubman, Quincy Jones, Rob Light, Monte and Avery Lipman, Doug Morris, Mo Ostin, Bob Pittman, Jon Platt and Sylvia Rhone to name a few.