Primary Wave Music and the Estate of Whitney E. Houston kicked off their celebration last week at the W Hotel in Hollywood honoring the incomparable icon Whitney Houston. It was an exciting week-long residency celebrating her 60th birthday, career and life presented by Sony.
HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 01: Jordy Freed, Donna Houston, Larry Mestel, Pat Houston and Jun Makino during the Primary Wave Music And The Estate Of Whitney E. Houston Kick-off 60th Birthday Celebration Of Icon at W Hollywood on February 01, 2023 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Gonzalo Marroquin/Getty Images for Primary Wave Music and the Estate of Whitney E. Houston)
The event included tons of fun attractions like the opening of Sony’s 360 Reality Audio Immersive Listening Lounge, the Whitney Houston Pop-Up Retail Shop and gallery featuring rare and iconic photos, as well as several iconic gowns worn by Whitney throughout her career all leading up to the Saturday night pre-Grammy party with special guest DJ. Billboard Power 100 executive Larry Mestel of Primary Wave was also in attendance along with members of the Houston family – Donna, Pat and Gary Houston – and Sony executives Jordy Freed, Jun Makino and more.
HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 01: Atmosphere during the Primary Wave Music And The Estate Of Whitney E. Houston Kick-off 60th Birthday Celebration Of Icon at W Hollywood on February 01, 2023 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Gonzalo Marroquin/Getty Images for Primary Wave Music and the Estate of Whitney E. Houston)
Primary Wave Music and the Estate of Whitney E. Houston continue to honor the incomparable singer, announcing today a Grammy-week residency to celebrate the 60th birthday, career and life of the iconic Whitney Houston at the WHITNEY HOUSTON HOTEL presented by Sony, with additional sponsors M·A·C Cosmetics, Proflowers®, and City National Bank. “It continues to be an honor to partner with the Estate of Whitney E. Houston and we couldn’t be more thrilled to celebrate the life and legacy of the incomparable Whitney Houston,” said Jeff Straughn, Chief Branding Officer at Primary Wave Music. He continues, “We’re also extremely grateful for the continued brand support from all of our partners as we prepare to celebrate Whitney’s 60th throughout 2023!”
HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 01: Atmosphere during the Primary Wave Music And The Estate Of Whitney E. Houston Kick-off 60th Birthday Celebration Of Icon at W Hollywood on February 01, 2023 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Gonzalo Marroquin/Getty Images for Primary Wave Music and the Estate of Whitney E. Houston)
Two days of live music featured an all-star roster of talent on hand for performances that will include a medley of their hits as well as their favorite Whitney song. The lineup includes Grammy winner Michelle Williams of Destiny’s Child, acclaimed actress and Grammy-nominated singer Amber Riley, Warner Records artists Baby Tate and Teddy Swims, Def Jam Recordings’ Coco Jones, artist and songwriter Georgia Ku (Martin Garrix, Dua Lipa, Zedd), Republic Records artist Kiana Ledé, TikTok sensation and Capitol Records latest signing Natalie Jane, plus more! All performers were supported by the trailblazing musical director and guitarist, Freaky Rob Gueringer (Kendrick Lamar, Lil Wayne, Cardi B) who were accompanied by an all-star band.
HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 01: Atmosphere during the Primary Wave Music And The Estate Of Whitney E. Houston Kick-off 60th Birthday Celebration Of Icon at W Hollywood on February 01, 2023 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Gonzalo Marroquin/Getty Images for Primary Wave Music and the Estate of Whitney E. Houston)
The Grammy-week residency marks the second activity in a multi-faceted collaboration between The Estate of Whitney E. Houston, Primary Wave Music and Sony to honor Whitney’s legacy of impeccable sound.
HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 01: Atmosphere during the Primary Wave Music And The Estate Of Whitney E. Houston Kick-off 60th Birthday Celebration Of Icon at W Hollywood on February 01, 2023 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Gonzalo Marroquin/Getty Images for Primary Wave Music and the Estate of Whitney E. Houston)
In Summer 2022, select Whitney Houston catalog songs and albums were released in 360 Reality Audio on supported music streaming services, including Amazon Music Unlimited. Sony’s 360 Reality Audio is a new immersive music experience that allows listeners to immerse themselves in a field of sound – using any pair of headphones. Individual sounds such as vocals, chorus, piano, guitar, bass and even sounds of the live audience can be placed in a 360 spherical sound field, giving artists and creators a new way to express their creativity.
HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 01: Atmosphere during the Primary Wave Music And The Estate Of Whitney E. Houston Kick-off 60th Birthday Celebration Of Icon at W Hollywood on February 01, 2023 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Gonzalo Marroquin/Getty Images for Primary Wave Music and the Estate of Whitney E. Houston)
In December 2022 aligned with the launch of the I Wanna Dance With Somebody biopic, Sony released the global ad “Whitney Houston x WH-1000XM5” bringing Whitney’s world to life through Sony’s WH-1000XM5 wireless noise canceling headphones (leaning into “WH” for “Whitney Houston”), which allows fans to get lost in her iconic music. #WhitneysWorldNothingElse.
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