FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 10, 2026
CONTACT
City of Hope
Bridget Livengood
[email protected]
Primary Wave
Catie Monck
[email protected]
CITY OF HOPE ANNOUNCES STAR-STUDDED MUSICAL LINEUP FOR 2026 MUSIC, FILM AND ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY SPIRIT OF LIFE® GALA HONORING LARRY MESTEL
Melissa Etheridge, Stevie Nicks and Jackson Browne to Perform at Annual Benefit Supporting CAR T Cell Therapy, Breast Cancer Research and Patient Care
LOS ANGELES — City of Hope®, one of the largest and most advanced cancer research and treatment organizations in the United States, today announced an extraordinary lineup of musical talent for the 2026 Music, Film and Entertainment Industry (MFEI) Spirit of Life Gala honoring music executive and entrepreneur Larry Mestel, founder and CEO of Primary Wave. The evening will feature special performances by Melissa Etheridge, Stevie Nicks and Jackson Browne, with additional performers and special guests to be announced.
The talent announcement follows an intimate campaign kickoff gathering in New York City, where influential leaders from across the music and entertainment industries came together to formally launch Mestel’s Spirit of Life campaign benefiting City of Hope. The evening celebrated the industry’s longstanding philanthropic legacy while setting the stage for a year of fundraising in support of breakthrough cancer research and patient care.
This year's campaign, led by Mestel as the 2026 Spirit of Life honoree, will support City of Hope's pioneering work in CAR T cell therapy and other cellular immunotherapies designed to harness the body's immune system to fight cancer with greater precision and effectiveness. Recognized as a global leader in cellular therapy, City of Hope is advancing innovative approaches that help bring lifesaving treatments to more patients, including through one of the nation's largest outpatient CAR T cell therapy programs. A portion of the funds raised will also advance breast cancer research and care initiatives at City of Hope.
Taking place during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the evening carries added personal significance for many involved in the campaign, including Mestel and Etheridge, both longtime advocates for cancer awareness and research.
“As a breast cancer survivor, this cause is deeply personal to me,” said Etheridge. “I know how critical research, compassionate care and breakthrough treatments are for patients and families facing cancer. I’m honored to join City of Hope, Larry and this incredible community during Breast Cancer Awareness Month to help raise support for lifesaving research and bring more hope to people navigating this disease.”
“CAR T cell therapy and other cellular immunotherapies are transforming the future of cancer treatment, offering new hope to patients facing some of the most difficult cancers,” said Marcel van den Brink, M.D., Ph.D, president, City of Hope Los Angeles and City of Hope National Medical Center. Dr. van den Brink holds the Morgan and Helen Chu Presidential Chair, City of Hope National Medical Center and is also the chief physician executive at City of Hope, occupying the Deana and Steve Campbell Chief Physician Executive Distinguished Chair in Honor of Alexandra Levine, M.D. “Philanthropic support from leaders like Larry Mestel and the music community helps accelerate discoveries from the laboratory to patients faster. We are deeply grateful to these extraordinary artists and industry leaders for helping City of Hope push the boundaries of what’s possible in cancer research and care.”
“For decades, the music community has been part of the fabric of City of Hope’s mission, showing up with extraordinary generosity, heart and purpose,” said Kristin Bertell, chief philanthropy officer, City of Hope. “We are deeply thankful to these artists for helping bring people together in support of cancer research and care, and for reminding patients and families everywhere that there is an entire community standing with them.”
Mestel has spent decades building influential partnerships across music, entertainment and culture through Primary Wave, one of the world’s leading independent music publishing companies. He is being recognized with City of Hope’s highest philanthropic honor for his leadership, vision and longstanding commitment to giving back through the music industry community.
“City of Hope’s mission is deeply meaningful to me and to so many people throughout our industry,” said Mestel. “This night is about harnessing the power of music and community to fund lifesaving research, support patients and families, and help create a future where more people survive cancer.”
The annual Spirit of Life campaign has historically raised millions of dollars to advance City of Hope’s pioneering research and patient-centered care programs, supported for decades by leaders across the music, film and entertainment industries. Additional event details, performers and special guests will be announced in the coming months.
Event Details
Date: October 27, 2026
Location: Pacific Design Center, Los Angeles
For more information about the Spirit of Life campaign or to get involved, please visit cityofhope.org/mfei, donate at cityofhope.org/musicgives or contact [email protected].
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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 U.S., 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 top 5 in the nation for cancer care 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, a network of clinical care locations across Southern California, a new cancer center in Orange County, 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 AccessHopeTM. 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.