Empire State Building And iHeartMedia To Honor 90 Years Of Iconic Music From Tony Bennett With Light Show And Art Exhibit

NEW YORK, Aug. 1, 2016 /CNW/ -- Empire State Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE: ESRT) and iHeartMedia today announced their partnership in a celebration honoring 19-time Grammy® Winner and legend Tony Bennett's contribution to American music over the last 90 years on Wednesday, August 3, 2016.

The festivities include a dynamic Empire State Building music-to-light show, an honorary Empire State Building tower lighting ceremony with Tony Bennett featuring a rare appearance by Grammy® Award-winning singer/songwriter Lady Gaga, and an engaging window display featuring Tony Bennett's original artwork dedicated to his legacy within the Empire State Building's Fifth Avenue Lobby from August 3 through September 6.

The Empire State Building events will take place in conjunction with a star-studded soiree at the celebrated Rainbow Room at 30 Rockefeller Plaza, at which Lady Gaga will be "flipping the switch" to kick off Bennett's very own music-to-light show.

Designed by world-renowned lighting designer Marc Brickman, the light show will be synced live to a mix of some of Tony Bennett's most famous hits on iHeartMedia's 106.7 LiteFM at 8:45 p.m. EST. The medley includes:

• "Because of You"
• "Steppin' Out (With My Baby)"
• "I Left My Heart In San Francisco"
• "Cheek to Cheek" (featuring Lady Gaga)

Following the live performance, the official video of the entire light show on the Empire State Building's YouTube page by accessing the following link: www.youtube.com/esbnyc.

These events provide locals, visitors and fans around the world the opportunity to revel in Tony Bennett's decorated career as the Empire State Building lights up the New York City skyline in honor of one of America's most beloved entertainers.

"We always look forward to a good reason to share one of our magnificent music-to-light shows with New York City and the world," says Anthony E. Malkin, Chairman, and CEO, Empire State Realty Trust. "Tony Bennett is surely a great reason for show, and we are thrilled to team once again with iHeartMedia and Marc Brickman to help amplify this occasion with our own spectacular celebration of his phenomenal contribution to the world."

"Growing up in New York City, it is an absolute thrill to have the Empire State Building celebrate my musical career and to have this beautiful presentation of lights and music taking place on such a special day in my life," says Tony Bennett.

About the Empire State Building
Soaring 1,454 feet above Midtown Manhattan (from base to antenna), the Empire State Building, owned by Empire State Realty Trust, Inc., is the "World's Most Famous Building." With new investments in energy efficiency, infrastructure, public areas and amenities, the Empire State Building has attracted first-rate tenants in a diverse array of industries from around the world. The skyscraper's robust broadcasting technology supports major television and FM radio stations in the New York metropolitan market. The Empire State Building was named America's favorite building in a poll conducted by the American Institute of Architects, and the Empire State Building Observatory is one of the world's most beloved attractions as the region's #1 tourist destination. For more information on the Empire State Building, please visit www.empirestatebuilding.com, www.facebook.com/empirestatebuilding, @EmpireStateBldg, www.instagram.com/empirestatebldg, http://weibo.com/empirestatebuilding, www.youtube.com/esbnyc or www.pinterest.com/empirestatebldg/.

About Empire State Realty Trust
Empire State Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE: ESRT), a leading real estate investment trust (REIT), owns, manages, operates, acquires and repositions office and retail properties in Manhattan and the greater New York metropolitan area, including the Empire State Building, the world's most famous building. Headquartered in New York, New York, the Company's office and retail portfolio covers 10.1 million rentable square feet, as of March 31, 2016, consisting of 9.4 million rentable square feet in 14 office properties, including nine in Manhattan, three in Fairfield County, Connecticut and two in Westchester County, New York; and approximately 724,000 rentable square feet in the retail portfolio.

About iHeartMedia
With 245 million monthly listeners in the U.S., 87 million monthly digital uniques, over 75 million social followers and 196 million monthly consumers of its Total Traffic and Weather Network, iHeartMedia has the largest reach of any radio or television outlet in America. It serves over 150 markets through 858 owned radio stations, and the company's radio stations and content can be heard on AM/FM, HD digital radio, satellite radio, on the Internet at iHeartRadio.com and on the company's radio station websites, on the iHeartRadio mobile app, in enhanced auto dashes, on tablets and smartphones, and on gaming consoles. iHeartRadio, iHeartMedia's digital radio platform, is the No. 1 all-in-one digital audio service with over 700 million downloads; it reached its first 20 million registered users faster than any digital service in Internet history and reached 70 million users faster than any other radio or digital music service and even faster than Facebook. The company's operations include radio broadcasting, online, mobile, digital and social media, live concerts and events, syndication, music research services and independent media representation. iHeartMedia is a division of iHeartMedia, Inc. (OTCBB: IHRT). Visit iHeartMedia.com for more company information.

About Tony Bennett
No one in popular American music has recorded for so long and at such a high level of excellence as Tony Bennett. The 19-time Grammy Award winner has transcended generations, and is a significant contributor to the canon of influential American songs of the 20th century. His chart-toppers include "Because of You," "Rags to Riches," and his signature song, "I Left My Heart in San Francisco." His artistry and popularity spans seven decades, among the longest tenures in American music. His 2006 and 2011 releases of Duets and Duets II, respectively, included performances with Barbra Streisand, James Taylor, Billy Joel, Elton John, Paul McCartney, Stevie Wonder, Michael Bublé, Bono, Lady Gaga and the late Amy Winehouse. Mr. Bennett was honored with the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2001 and became a Kennedy Center honoree in 2005. A celebrated painter, three of his original works are housed in the Smithsonian Institution's permanent collection. Born in Queens, N.Y., in 1926, Mr. Bennett served in the Army during World War II and marched with Martin Luther King Jr. in Selma during the civil rights movement. A dedicated humanitarian, he has raised millions of dollars for the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation. In 1999, he and his wife, Susan Benedetto, founded Exploring the Arts to strengthen the role of the arts in public education. Today, ETA has partnerships with 33 public high schools in New York City and Los Angeles and established the Frank Sinatra School of the Arts in Tony's hometown of Astoria Queens in partnership with the NYC Department of Education. Tony Bennett celebrates his 90th Birthday on August 3rd, 2016.

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release includes "forward looking statements". Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as "believes," "expects," "may," "will," "should," "seeks," "approximately," "intends," "plans," "pro forma," "estimates," "contemplates," "aims," "continues," "would" or "anticipates" or the negative of these words and phrases or similar words or phrases. The following factors, among others, could cause actual results and future events to differ materially from those set forth or contemplated in the forward-looking statements: the factors included in (i) the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, including those set forth under the headings "Risk Factors," "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations," "Business," and "Properties" and (ii) in future periodic reports filed by the Company under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. While forward-looking statements reflect the Company's good faith beliefs, they are not guarantees of future performance. The Company disclaims any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement to reflect changes in underlying assumptions or factors, or new information, data or methods, future events or other changes after the date of this press release, except as required by applicable law. For a further discussion of these and other factors that could impact the Company's future results, performance or transactions, see the section entitled "Risk Factors" in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 and other risks described in documents subsequently filed by the Company from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Prospective investors should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which are based only on information currently available to the Company (or to third parties making the forward-looking statements).

SOURCE Empire State Realty Trust, Inc.

Alex Chernin, 212.736.3100, [email protected]; Stacey-Ann Hosang, 212.736.3100, [email protected], http://www.esbnyc.com