Whitney Houston sings the National Anthem before a game with the New York Giants taking on the Buffalo Bills prior to Super Bowl XXV at Tampa Stadium on January 27, 1991 in Tampa, Florida.
George Rose/GAn early demo recording by Whitney Houston at age 17 is now the highest priced NFT auction item on the Tezos blockchain ever after being sold for $999,999.
OneOf, the green music NFT platform backed by Quincy Jones, announced the unreleased full-length demo recording would be up for auction earlier in December during its two-day immersive art, music and NFT experience during Miami Art Week. The winner of the NFT song auction, which ended Tuesday (Dec. 14), not only has personal access to this recording in their OneOf Vault, but they also have a digital artwork and videos created by another 17-year-old prodigy, artist and photographer Diana Sinclair.
“Being able to collaborate with her music and her family really transformed the way that I saw her in her music videos. I feel more connected to the person that she was. Some of the messages that I put across in my artwork as well, they’re very similar,” Sinclair said in a video from Houston’s NFT collection landing page. She also emphasized how crucial it was to have Black women behind and in front of the cameras for her creation to mirror the way Houston championed Black women on her team. “Working with her voice on something like this really tied me to that time and her in a way that I wouldn’t have had before.”
The rest of the Whitney Houston OneOf NFT collection separates items into different tiers, with gold and platinum items including rarely-seen archival photos of Houston’s early life and career with new, scrapbook-like colorful and vibrant animations (that are still available) and the diamond tier featuring Sinclair’s video artwork inspired by Houston’s discography and “The Greatest Love of All” and “I Will Always Love You” music videos.
Proceeds from the sale of the collection, which has generated more than $1.1 million in sales, will benefit the Whitney E. Houston Foundation, a non-profit organization that furthers the Grammy-winning artist’s work of inspiring and empowering the youth and creating opportunities for their success.
“I’m excited to see Whitney’s legacy and her wonderful music expand into bold new technology of this era,” said Pat Houston, executor of Houston’s estate, in a press release. “It was a joy partnering with 17-year-old Diana Sinclair and watching the artistry of Whitney’s music influence a new generation.”
After finally coming out of the vault in 2021, nine years after the legendary singer’s death, the NFT “represents the genesis of a creative legend,” according to the video on the NFT page.
“Whitney is an icon for the ages,” said Joshua James, OneOf co-founder. “We couldn’t be more excited to be releasing this historical song from the very beginning of her journey as an artist.”
Maroon 5 officially launched the second weekend of American Express presents BST Hyde Park with a headline performance on London's Great Oak Stage on Friday, 3 July 2026. Taking a short break from their ongoing global Love Is Like tour, the multi-platinum American pop rock band delivered an energetic sold out concert for thousands of fans. The milestone performance reflected just how far the group has come since making its London debut at the intimate Barfly venue in 2005.
Frontman Adam Levine guided the six member band through an uninterrupted set packed with worldwide hits, kicking things off with "Harder To Breathe" after an opening audio tribute to The Beach Boys. The energy stayed high as the group launched into fan favorites including "Animals" and "One More Night," with Levine making his way along the runway to connect with fans gathered at the front of the stage. As the evening sky over London began to glow, "Sunday Morning" provided one of the night's standout moments, featuring an extended guitar showcase from lead guitarist James Valentine. The audience then joined together for huge singalongs to "She Will Be Loved" and the Cardi B collaboration "Girls Like You." The main performance wrapped up with the instantly recognizable whistle melody of "Moves Like Jagger," before an encore featuring "Payphone" and "Sugar" brought the night to an unforgettable finish.
The main stage also welcomed a crowd pleasing set from pop rock band OneRepublic during the late afternoon. Frontman Ryan Tedder performed a string of beloved hits spanning nearly twenty years, including "Stop and Stare," "Apologize," and the hugely successful European streaming favorite "Counting Stars." He also treated fans to a solo medley highlighting songs he has written for artists including Beyoncé and Adele.
Earlier in the day, Jess Glynne attracted a huge audience with spirited performances of chart hits "I’ll Be There" and "Hold My Hand," while R&B singer Ella Eyre impressed with powerful renditions of "Space" and a soulful take on "Crazy." The day's varied lineup also featured opening rock performances from Reading quartet Only The Poets, along with dynamic alternative sets by Bradley Simpson, Pedro Santos, and electronic pop duo VOILÀ across the festival site.
Photo credit: Sienna Lorraine Gray
