Larry Mestel has picked up City of Hope's Spirit of Life Award after helping raise millions for cancer care. The Primary Wave Music boss received the honor at a gala in West Hollywood, where Stevie Nicks, Melissa Etheridge, and Jackson Browne performed for guests at the Pacific Design Center.
The fundraiser backed research into CAR T cell treatment, other immune cell therapies, and breast cancer care. Organizers kept the final total private, though Mestel confirmed that donations had reached the millions.
And this cause is deeply personal for him. Mestel lost his younger sister to cancer, making his work with the charity far more than a business event. He also spoke about how stories from doctors and patients had stayed with him throughout the campaign.
TikTok joined the gala as a sponsor for the first time, thanks to its ties with Primary Wave. Robert Stone, who leads City of Hope, praised Mestel for getting music industry figures involved in efforts to improve treatment and patient care.
The fundraising went far beyond ticket sales. Fans could bid for rare music items, enter prize draws, and get access to special artist experiences. Alissa Pollack of iHeartMedia and Mediabase helped lead those efforts through the charity's entertainment board.
Stevie Nicks donated a signed, limited-edition Mattel Bella Donna Barbie from her personal stash. Other auction prizes featured Pete Townshend's signed guitar, a pickleball session with Kenny Loggins, and golf and dinner in Hawaii with Alice Cooper.
Etheridge brought her personal experience to the event as a breast cancer survivor. She spoke about how much hope matters during treatment and why she wanted to help Mestel and the people who rely on the charity.
Nicks had a personal link as well. Four people close to her had received care at City of Hope, she told guests. Her set ended the evening with Landslide, a song tied to Primary Wave's publishing interests.
That connection goes back to the firm's purchase of most of Nick's songwriting catalog. The deal covered Landslide, Edge of Seventeen, Stand Back, and Dreams.
Evan Lamberg of Universal Music Publishing Group praised Mestel's work in drawing support from across the business. The charity's music, film, and entertainment group has raised more than $180 million over its history.
That group began in 1973 and has honored many industry figures. Its past Spirit of Life recipients range from Quincy Jones and Clive Davis to Lyor Cohen, Jon Platt, Sylvia Rhone, Jay Marciano, and Lucian Grainge.
Away from charity work, Mestel has built Primary Wave into a major music rights firm. Its roster features songs linked to Prince, Bob Marley, Whitney Houston, James Brown, and The Notorious B.I.G.
The company has also kept busy with major deals. It bought Kobalt from Francisco Partners in a transaction reported at around $1.5 billion, with Brookfield helping fund the move.
Primary Wave also closed its fourth main investment fund at $2.225 billion, giving it more capital for its music business.
The fundraiser backed research into CAR T cell treatment, other immune cell therapies, and breast cancer care. Organizers kept the final total private, though Mestel confirmed that donations had reached the millions.
And this cause is deeply personal for him. Mestel lost his younger sister to cancer, making his work with the charity far more than a business event. He also spoke about how stories from doctors and patients had stayed with him throughout the campaign.
TikTok joined the gala as a sponsor for the first time, thanks to its ties with Primary Wave. Robert Stone, who leads City of Hope, praised Mestel for getting music industry figures involved in efforts to improve treatment and patient care.
The fundraising went far beyond ticket sales. Fans could bid for rare music items, enter prize draws, and get access to special artist experiences. Alissa Pollack of iHeartMedia and Mediabase helped lead those efforts through the charity's entertainment board.
Stevie Nicks donated a signed, limited-edition Mattel Bella Donna Barbie from her personal stash. Other auction prizes featured Pete Townshend's signed guitar, a pickleball session with Kenny Loggins, and golf and dinner in Hawaii with Alice Cooper.
Etheridge brought her personal experience to the event as a breast cancer survivor. She spoke about how much hope matters during treatment and why she wanted to help Mestel and the people who rely on the charity.
Nicks had a personal link as well. Four people close to her had received care at City of Hope, she told guests. Her set ended the evening with Landslide, a song tied to Primary Wave's publishing interests.
That connection goes back to the firm's purchase of most of Nick's songwriting catalog. The deal covered Landslide, Edge of Seventeen, Stand Back, and Dreams.
Evan Lamberg of Universal Music Publishing Group praised Mestel's work in drawing support from across the business. The charity's music, film, and entertainment group has raised more than $180 million over its history.
That group began in 1973 and has honored many industry figures. Its past Spirit of Life recipients range from Quincy Jones and Clive Davis to Lyor Cohen, Jon Platt, Sylvia Rhone, Jay Marciano, and Lucian Grainge.
Away from charity work, Mestel has built Primary Wave into a major music rights firm. Its roster features songs linked to Prince, Bob Marley, Whitney Houston, James Brown, and The Notorious B.I.G.
The company has also kept busy with major deals. It bought Kobalt from Francisco Partners in a transaction reported at around $1.5 billion, with Brookfield helping fund the move.
Primary Wave also closed its fourth main investment fund at $2.225 billion, giving it more capital for its music business.
