Whitney Houston's Legacy Meets AI in New Concert Experience

Reviving a Legacy: Whitney Houston’s Voice Returns Through AI Technology

The estate of the late, great Whitney E. Houston has embarked on an ambitious project to bring her voice back to the stage. In collaboration with Primary Wave Music and Park Avenue Artists, the team is preparing for a seven-city tour that will showcase Houston's music in a unique and immersive way. By leveraging AI stem separation technology from Moises, the estate has been able to extract Houston's vocals from original recordings, allowing for live orchestral performances that honor her legacy while introducing her work to new audiences.

This innovative approach involves isolating individual instruments and vocals from Houston’s recordings, resulting in near-studio quality audio. The final product enables the creative team to deliver a performance that not only meets high artistic standards but also respects the emotional depth of Houston’s music. The tour will feature full symphony orchestras, creating a powerful blend of live instrumentation and Houston’s iconic vocals.

"This project demanded exceptionally high-caliber stem separation, something Moises leads the industry in achieving," said Geraldo Ramos, CEO of Moises. "We had to isolate Whitney's vocals from fully mixed recordings without compromising the emotional power of her performance. A concert like this simply wouldn't have been possible five years ago, before stem separation technology reached the precision and fidelity we're now able to deliver."

Pat Houston, executor of the estate, emphasized the importance of getting the project right. “Moises and our partner Park Avenue Artists elevated the idea with the heart, care, and creative excellence that Whitney always embodied. The result is something truly special: a gift for longtime fans and a powerful introduction for a new generation discovering her voice.”

Ross Michaels, co-president of Park Avenue Artists, added, “This project demonstrates how legacy artists and their estates can create meaningful experiences for music lovers through the thoughtful use of AI technology. The Voice of Whitney is the first of several planned collaborations that will use AI to illuminate new dimensions of an artist's work. It's a powerful example of how AI can honor artists' legacies while enriching the audience experience in beautiful and respectful ways.”

Tour Dates and Locations

• September 20 – 21: Cincinnati Pops (Cincinnati Music Hall)
• October 11: Wilmington, NC (Wilson Center at Cape Fear Community College)
• October 25: Thousand Oaks, CA (Bank of America Performing Arts Center)
• November 08: Carmel, IN (The Palladium at Allied Solutions Center)
• November 15: Waukegan, IL (The Genesee Theatre)
• November 21: Palm Desert, CA (McCallum Theatre)
• November 22: Mesa, AZ (Mesa Arts Center)

New Leadership at NPR Music

NPR has announced the appointment of Sonali Mehta as executive director of NPR Music. She will begin her role on September 22 and will be based in New York. Mehta brings extensive experience in artist partnerships, content strategy, and business development. Her responsibilities include developing and implementing the overall strategy for NPR Music.

"I'm thrilled to join the incomparable NPR Music team," said Mehta. "NPR's music properties, and the people behind them, serve as a masterclass in moving culture and breaking artists. As a fan of platforms like Tiny Desk, I am so excited to be in the room where it happens."

Mehta previously worked at YouTube, where she supported over 800 artists in growing their audiences. She later joined Arista Records, where she executed over 50 global campaigns to promote artist discovery and music consumption. Most recently, she served as the chief of staff at ADA, part of Warner Music Group.

Industry Moves and New Collaborations

William Gruger, former TikTok music lead, has joined Duetti as DSP and partner marketing lead. His role will involve spearheading initiatives to maximize artist visibility and catalog success by working closely with platforms and partners.

Concord Music Publishing has signed acclaimed singer and songwriter Amy Wadge to a worldwide publishing deal. The agreement covers Wadge’s newly released cuts and future compositions, including new singles from FKA Twigs, Jonas Brothers, Noah Cyrus, Halestorm, and more.

Wadge has worked on 16 Grammy-nominated projects and won song of the year at the 2016 Grammy Awards for co-writing Ed Sheeran's "Thinking Out Loud." She is currently developing three original musical theatre projects, marking her entry into the world of Broadway and stage. Additionally, she has collaborated on songs for major Film & TV projects, showcasing her growing influence in film and visual storytelling.

Kim Frankiewicz, EVP Worldwide A&R at Concord Music Publishing, commented, "Amy is a formidable writer, and we are absolutely thrilled to welcome her to the Concord family. Her passion for songwriting is truly infectious, and we couldn't be more excited to partner with her on this next chapter of her career."

Anna Carpenter, Senior Director A&R at Concord Music Publishing, added, "Amy is one of the most creative, driven & energetic writers I've ever worked with. Her talent speaks for itself and I'm very proud to be on her team for this next chapter of her career."