Gene Simmons, the co-founder and bassist of KISS, will receive the International Entertainment Buyers Association’s lifetime achievement award at its 2026 Honors & Awards ceremony. The event takes place Tuesday, Oct. 6 at The Pinnacle Nashville, capping IEBA’s 56th annual conference held Oct. 4-6.
The conference moves between two venues over three days: daytime sessions take place at Grand Hyatt Nashville, while nighttime gatherings happen at The Pinnacle. The awards ceremony serves as the final event of the conference.
Simmons’ Legacy
As KISS’s co-founder, bassist and vocalist, Simmons helped turn the group into a worldwide sensation. The band entered the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2014, and it also received the Kennedy Center Honors in 2025.
Brian Wagner, executive director of IEBA, praised Simmons in a statement. “KISS didn’t simply build a catalog of iconic music; they changed the scale and possibilities of the live concert experience,” he said. “Gene’s vision for connecting music, performance, spectacle and brand has influenced generations of artists and live entertainment professionals.”
The Hall of Fame Class
The induction ceremony will add two new members to the IEBA Hall of Fame, which was founded in 2010. The legendary entertainer Chubby Checker and the veteran talent buyer Gil Cunningham will be joining their ranks.
Checker notched two No. 1 entries on the Billboard Hot 100, with “The Twist” and “Pony Time.” “The Twist” marking his first single to reach No. 1 twice across separate chart runs, in 1960 and 1962. The track earned a Grammy Hall of Fame induction in 2000 and a National Recording Registry listing in 2012. Checker himself entered the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2025.
Wagner spoke directly about Checker’s enduring appeal. “Chubby Checker represents something that every talent buyer understands, the extraordinary value of an artist who can connect with an audience generation after generation,” he said. “His influence extends far beyond an iconic song or dance. He helped change the way audiences participate in live music.”
Cunningham’s Career
Cunningham has spent more than 37 years in live entertainment. His honors include IEBA talent buyer, event producer, festival buyer and entertainment buyer of the year, the IEBA president’s award and multiple ACM Don Romeo talent buyer of the year honors.
Cunningham held dual posts at IEBA, serving as both president and vp, and he also served the Country Music Association and the T.J. Martell Foundation. Barry Jeffrey, IEBA chairman emeritus and WME partner, detailed his approach.
“Great buyers combine knowledge and instinct with relationships, trust and a willingness to take a chance on an artist before everyone else sees what they see,” Jeffrey said. “Gil has done that throughout his career, while giving back to this organization and mentoring the people coming behind him.”
The Full Schedule
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Oct. 4-6 | IEBA 56th annual conference, Grand Hyatt Nashville and The Pinnacle |
| Oct. 6 | IEBA Honors & Awards ceremony, The Pinnacle |
A keynote conversation sits at the center of the conference, surrounded by educational sessions, industry roundtables, networking opportunities, agency parties, live performances and Agents Alley, where buyers link up directly with agents standing behind touring talent.
Across categories such as club, casino, theater, arena, amphitheater, fair/expo and festival of the year, IEBA members pick the winners. The awards also honor top talent buyers, agents, promoters, venue executives, young professionals and music and entertainment industry educators.
After three days of programming, the ceremony gathers the professionals who run the live entertainment business. It honors those who have devoted their careers to that field.
Source material: “KISS’ Gene Simmons to Receive Lifetime Achievement Award at IEBA’s 2026 Conference,” Billboard.
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