Live performance and Empire State Building music-to-light show airs Dec 8th
iHeartMedia and the Empire State Building (ESB) have announced the iHeartRadio Holiday Pop Up Party With Ed Sheeran, an intimate live event to feature a five-song performance and exclusive interview, hosted by iHeartRadio on-air personalities Elvis Duran and Maxwell & Crystal at the world-famous Empire State Building on December 8th. In addition to songs from his recently released album and other fan favorites, Ed Sheeran will perform “Merry Christmas,” his new holiday song with Elton John, coupled with a special music-to-light show to premiere simultaneously atop the iconic building’s tower at 8 pm.
Fans can tune into iHeartMedia New York’s Z-100, 106.7 Lite FM and 103.5 KTU, also available on the iHeartRadio App, to listen to the song while they watch the festive light display. In addition, the entire iHeartRadio Holiday Pop Up Party With Ed Sheeran special will exclusively stream on The CW App and CWTV.com, and broadcast on iHeartMedia’s CHR and HOT AC radio stations nationwide on December 20th at 9 pm ET/6 pm PT.
“I’m thrilled to participate in this annual holiday tradition with Elton’s and my new song ‘Merry Christmas,” states Sheeran. “I’m looking forward to celebrating the start of this holiday season from atop the Empire State Building, wishing a happy Christmas to everyone in New York City and around the world.”
Fans can listen to iHeartMedia’s Z-100, 106.7 Lite FM and 103.5 KTU or visit the stations’ websites for a chance to win a ticket to this very intimate show.
The festive music-to-light spectacular will feature thousands of LED lights at the top of the famous tower, choreographed by world-renowned lighting designer Marc Brickman and his Tactical Manouvre team. The light show set to “Merry Christmas” by Ed Sheeran featuring Elton John will debut on December 8th and replay nightly from December 20th through December 25th timed to the 7 pm ET broadcast on iHeartMedia New York’s Z-100, 106.7 Lite FM, and 103.5 KTU and the station’s Facebook pages. Viewers outside of the New York City area can tune in to watch the show live via Earthcam and a video of the entire show will be posted on the Empire State Building’s YouTube channel immediately following its debut on December 20th. The Empire State Building, which celebrates its 90th anniversary in 2021, is the New York City broadcasting home of iHeartMedia.
“The Empire State Building’s and iHeart’s annual gift to New York City are a holiday staple of New York City, a tradition accessible to all who live in and visit the greatest city in the world and available around the world on YouTube,” shares Anthony E. Malkin, chairman, president, and CEO of ESRT. “This year, our annual Holiday Light show celebrates this fantastic duet by Ed Sheeran and Elton John.”
“Merry Christmas,” a new original track from Ed Sheeran and Elton John, was released on December 3rd and is available everywhere now. The British super-duo joined forces to release the latest holiday hit, which was written by Ed Sheeran and Elton John and produced by Steve Mac. During the 2021 Christmas period, Sheeran and John’s global record and publishing royalties from the single and profits from sales of the single will be donated equally between the Ed Sheeran Suffolk Music Foundation and the Elton John AIDS Foundation.
Over-the-top holiday decorations adorn the Empire State Building, from the festive window dressings and a towering Christmas tree in the Fifth Avenue Lobby to the holiday photo corner and menorah within the Observatory Experience. Visitors who pass through the Fifth Avenue Lobby from Monday through Friday will also be greeted by holiday tunes performed by professional pianists from 8 am until 7 pm.
