T.J. Martell Foundation Honors Seth England

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Pictured (L–R): Hardy, Morgan Wallen, Seth England, Craig Wiseman and Ernest attend the T.J. Martell Foundation 49th Annual New York Honors Gala. Photo: Michael Coppola/Getty Images for the T.J. Martell Foundation

The T.J. Martell Foundation, the music industry’s leading foundation that provides funds for innovative cancer research, hosted its 49th Annual New York Honors Gala last night (Sept. 17) at Cipriani 42nd Street. The star-studded evening honored Big Loud Partner/CEO Seth England, who received the Lifetime Music Industry Award. It also broke the foundation’s record as the most successful gala in more than 20 years, raising $2.6 million.

Pictured (L–R): Joey Moi, John Esposito, Seth England, Craig Wiseman and Steve Gawley attend the T.J. Martell Foundation 49th annual New York Honors Gala. Photo: Mike Coppola/Getty Images for the T.J. Martell Foundation

The evening featured a special writers’ round performance by Big Loud hitmakers Morgan Wallen, Hardy and Ernest. Hardy performed his No. 1 hit “Truck Bed,” while Wallen and Ernest serenaded the room with “Flower Shops.” Wallen also gave attendees an early listen to an unreleased song titled “Love Somebody.”

“When I asked Seth England to be this year’s Honoree, he didn’t hesitate, he didn’t need to check his schedule, he just said yes, because that’s the kind of person Seth is. He truly cares, understood the gravity of our cause and he jumped in with both feet. Seth’s only question was, ‘How do we make the most impact?’ Because Seth always thinks big,” said Steve Gawley, T.J. Martell Foundation Chairman-Elect of the Board of Trustees, during his remarks.

He went on to share that the following day, England’s wife and fellow music business executive Rakiyah Marshall kicked off the campaign with a quarter million dollar personal donation. Soon after, the Big Loud and T.J. Martell teams planned a kickoff breakfast in Nashville which raised over $1.1 million.

Hardy, Morgan Wallen and Ernest perform onstage at the T.J. Martell Foundation 49th annual New York Honors Gala. Photo: Mike Coppola/Getty Images for the T.J. Martell Foundation

“Our fundraising work continued full speed into the summer and that’s when I received a call from Craig Wiseman, Seth’s other partner at Big Loud,” Gawley said. “What Craig made clear to me was simply the enormous pride he took in having mentored Seth for his entire career. Craig asked me ‘How much do you need to go over the two million dollars—I’m giving you $300,000 today, we’re breaking the record today and now go on and get even more for cancer research my friend.’ I was pretty stunned.”

When England took to the podium, he continued to highlight the life-changing work of the foundation.

“None of us would be here without the incredible work of the historic T.J. Martell Foundation. This year, I’ve had a massive learning curve about all that this organization means to folks—learning about the people it’s helped save and the money raised that continues to go to cancer research,” England shared. “The work that the T.J. Martell Foundation has done has touched countless lives, and being a part of that legacy is beyond humbling. I’m honored to be able to contribute to this mission in tonight’s small way.”

Pictured (L–R): Brianne Deslippe, Eric England, Candice Watkins, Greg Thompson, Patch Culbertson, Joey Moi, Seth England, Austen Adam, Craig Wiseman, Kimberly Gleason Sara Knabe and Paul Logan attend the T.J. Martell Foundation 49th annual New York Honors Gala. Photo: Mike Coppola/Getty Images for the T.J. Martell Foundation

Referring to Wallen, Hardy and Ernest, he added, “I like to always remind the three of them and anyone else who will listen that this business is what you do, it’s not who you are. Tonight, I couldn’t be more proud of those three in particular who showed up for me, showed up for this foundation and for cancer research because that’s who they are as people.”

The evening also included a fundraising auction, and Archie Davis, Def Jam’s Chief Creative Officer/EVP who received the New York Honors Gala Rising Music Superstar Award in 2023, announced an important new initiative that will continue to raise awareness of early screening and testing.

The event was hosted by Gawley and the Gala Co-Chair committee including Ben Adelson, Tyler Arnold, Scott Borchetta, Tom Corson, Archie Davis, John Esposito, Clint Higham, Lynn-Anne Huck, Monte Lipman, Avery Lipman, Rakiyah Marshall, Debbie Martell, Joey Moi, Brian O’Connell, Andre Stapleton, Julie Swidler, Greg Thompson, Candice Watkins and Wiseman.

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