HOPE FLOATS

A who’s who of industryites turned up at Ron Fair and Stephanie Ridel’s L.A. crib Thursday night for Songs of Hope. The gathering was the most successful in the event’s 12-year history, with an estimated take north of $300k earmarked for vital City of Hope cancer, diabetes and HIV/AIDS research and treatment. The auction proceeds are expected to be major, with items donated by Paul McCartney, Billy Joel, Paul Simon, Imagine Dragons, Garth Brooks, Taylor Swift and Shawn Mendes now up for bid.

Fittingly, the Clive Davis Legend in Songwriting Award was presented to Pharrell Williams by His Cliveness himself. Mike Posner, who performed, received the Pandora Trendsetter Award. Jungle Book composer John Debney was presented with the Electronic Arts Composer Award by EA’s Steve Schnur

The principals gathered in this high-end photo op are (l-r) Ron Fair, event co-chairs David Renzer, Steve Schnur and Evan Lamberg, Clive Davis, Pharrell and event co-chair Doug Davis, all of whom successfully avoided having to make small talk with the HITS staffers in attendance.