Lyor Cohen, Global Head of Music at YouTube and Google, will receive The Spirit of Life Award from City of Hope at a gala dinner on October 18 at the Pacific Design Center in Los Angeles.
City of Hope is an independent research and treatment center for cancer, diabetes and other life-threatening diseases.
City of Hope’s Music, Film and Entertainment Industry Group presents the award to a community of industry leaders globally 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”.
“This collection of industry leaders has made extraordinary contributions to our mission and continues to enhance our ability to deliver tomorrow’s breakthrough innovations today,” said Robert Stone, City of Hope’s CEO and Helen and Morgan Chu Chief Executive Officer Distinguished Chair.
City of Hope has given the same award to other notable figures like Republic Records founders, chief executives and brothers, Monte and Avery Lipman, Epic Records Chairman and CEO Sylvia Rhone, Sony/ATV Music Publishing boss and former head of Warner/Chappell Music Jon Platt, Universal Music Group boss Lucian Grainge and veteran music industry lawyer Joel Katz.
Cohen was chosen for this year’s award for his contributions to the music industry.
The executive started his career as a road manager for Run DMC and the Beastie Boys and later took on a variety of leadership roles across the music business, from management to independent and major labels including Def Jam and Warner Music Group.
“My career has been shaped by a contrarian point of view. Open to making mistakes, making big bets, unpopular decisions and being comfortable with change; that is how culture shifts and how breakthroughs happen.”
Lyor Cohen, YouTube
Cohen joined YouTube in September 2016. Back in 2021, Cohen claimed that YouTube Music is the “fastest-growing subscription service out there.”
“City of Hope is proud to honor the notable contributions of Lyor Cohen and celebrate 50 years of philanthropic partnership with the Music, Film and Entertainment Industry group,” said Stone and Chu.
“We look forward to partnering with Lyor and the larger music community in the years ahead to develop new cures and save patient lives.”
Cohen said: “If you have the opportunity to give a gift back to the industry you love, with an organization like City of Hope, whose doctors and scientists’ passion for helping others is so extraordinary, it’s a no-brainer.”
“In addition to Lyor powering American Hip Hop as a cultural and musical phenomenon, I have known him to have a big heart and passion when it comes to helping others.”
Evan Lamberg, Universal Music Publishing Group
He added: “My career has been shaped by a contrarian point of view. Open to making mistakes, making big bets, unpopular decisions and being comfortable with change; that is how culture shifts and how breakthroughs happen. To me, these are many of the same qualities that make City of Hope’s mission to transform the future of cancer care across all communities so impactful. I am honored to join this admirable group of Spirit of Life recipients and look forward to continuing the tradition of leaning on music to bring us together.”
Cohen sits on the board of both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the National Independent Venue Association. He is also an acting director for SCAN-Harbor, a New York-based charity.
Evan Lamberg, president of Universal Music Publishing Group North America and president of City of Hope’s Music, Film & Entertainment Industry’s board, said: “City of Hope’s Music, Film & Entertainment Industries division, and its board, are so thrilled that Lyor has accepted our invitation to be the Spirit of Life honoree and as the MFEI division is celebrating its 50th year.”
“In addition to Lyor powering American Hip Hop as a cultural and musical phenomenon, I have known him to have a big heart and passion when it comes to helping others. This is certainly a prime example of that as he now takes an incredible step in helping City of Hope fight cancer, diabetes and HIV.”
City of Hope will launch a year-long fundraising initiative that includes marquee events such as the Taste of Hope wine dinner and auction on May 17 in New York City, and a Music Trivia Bowl on July 20 in Los Angeles, as well as the Songs of Hope event.
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