KISS Legend Gene Simmons to Receive IEBA Lifetime Achievement Award
Gene Simmons, the iconic co-founder of KISS, will be honored with the International Entertainment Buyers Association's (IEBA) lifetime achievement award at the 2026 Honors & Awards ceremony on Tuesday, Oct. 6, at The Pinnacle Nashville. The ceremony caps IEBA's 56th annual conference, running Oct. 4-6, with daytime sessions at Grand Hyatt Nashville and evening events at The Pinnacle.
Simmons, who co-founded KISS as bassist and vocalist, helped turn the band into a global rock phenomenon. KISS entered the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2014 and received the Kennedy Center Honors in 2025.
“Gene Simmons embodies the kind of lasting impact the IEBA Lifetime Achievement Award was created to recognize,” said Brian Wagner, executive director of IEBA. “KISS didn't simply build a catalog of iconic music; they changed the scale and possibilities of the live concert experience. Gene's vision for connecting music, performance, spectacle and brand has influenced generations of artists and live entertainment professionals, and we are incredibly proud to celebrate that legacy at IEBA 2026.”
Chubby Checker and Gil Cunningham to Enter IEBA Hall of Fame
The ceremony will also induct the 2026 IEBA Hall of Fame class, honoring legendary entertainer Chubby Checker and veteran talent buyer Gil Cunningham. Established in 2010, the IEBA Hall of Fame recognizes individuals whose lasting contributions have shaped the live entertainment industry.
Checker scored two No. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100: “The Twist” and “Pony Time.” “The Twist” became the first single to top the chart in two separate runs, in 1960 and 1962. It entered the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2000 and the National Recording Registry in 2012. Checker was voted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2025.
“Chubby Checker represents something that every talent buyer understands, the extraordinary value of an artist who can connect with an audience generation after generation,” said Wagner. “His influence extends far beyond an iconic song or dance. He helped change the way audiences participate in live music, and more than six decades later, that connection remains at the heart of what makes live entertainment so powerful.”
Gil Cunningham: A Career of Championing Talent
With over 37 years in live entertainment, Cunningham has earned recognition from both IEBA and the Academy of Country Music. 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 awards, including his fifth in 2025.
Cunningham has served as both president and vice president of IEBA, and has contributed to the broader industry through leadership roles with the Country Music Association and the T.J. Martell Foundation.
“Gil Cunningham represents the very best of the talent-buying profession and of IEBA,” said Barry Jeffrey, IEBA chairman emeritus and WME partner. “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. Gil has done that throughout his career, while giving back to this organization and mentoring the people coming behind him. His impact can be seen in the artists he has championed, the events he has helped build and the professionals whose careers he has influenced.”
What Else Happens at IEBA 2026?
The Honors & Awards ceremony recognizes outstanding achievement across the live entertainment business. IEBA members select winners in categories including club, casino, theater, arena, amphitheater, fair/expo and festival of the year, as well as awards for leading talent buyers, agents, promoters, venue executives, young professionals and educators.
The ceremony wraps three days of programming that brings together the professionals driving the live entertainment industry. IEBA 2026 features keynote conversations, educational sessions, industry roundtables, networking, agency parties, live performances and the association's signature Agents Alley, where buyers connect directly with hundreds of agents representing touring talent.
For more information about IEBA and the 56th annual conference, visit the IEBA website.