Cher to Honor Warner Records’ Tom Corson at City of Hope Gala

The City of Hope’s annual Spirit of Life gala, set for October 15th, will feature a special moment as the legendary Cher presents the 2025 Spirit of Life Award to Tom Corson, the co-chairman and COO of Warner Records. This esteemed event will take place at the Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood, California.

Tom Corson, a key figure in the music industry, has made significant contributions through his leadership at Warner Records, which is evident in his collaborations with top artists, including the immensely popular 2023 holiday album by Cher, titled Christmas. This album marked her first venture into original material since 2013 and showcased the fruitful partnership between the artist and the executive.

Alongside the award presentation, the gala will be enlivened with a performance by Michael Bublé, a fellow Warner Records superstar. Additionally, it is anticipated that other label mates such as Linkin Park will also join the evening, further highlighting the close-knit community within the label.

City of Hope, established in 1013, is a cornerstone in the fight against cancer, being one of the leading research and treatment centers in the United States. The Spirit of Life gala not only celebrates achievements in the music industry but also raises vital funds for City of Hope. Over the past five decades, the Music, Film and Entertainment Industry group of City of Hope has raised nearly $170 million, demonstrating the profound impact and dedication of the music industry to this cause.

Upon the announcement of his award in May, Corson expressed his gratitude and reflected on the synergy between his work and the mission of City of Hope: “At Warner Records, we focus on the artist beyond the music, mirroring City of Hope’s approach to treatment that centers on the individual. I am deeply honored to receive this recognition and to support City of Hope’s life-saving efforts, which embody the transformation and hope we strive to achieve in the music industry.”

Previous recipients of the Spirit of Life Award include notable figures such as Jay Marciano, Lyor Cohen, and Quincy Jones, underlining the prestigious nature of this acknowledgment within the industry.