IEBA Opens With Performances, Panels

Bob Lefsetz will give closing remarks at IEBA.

The International Entertainment Buyers Association Conference opened in Nashville last night (10/11) with showcases by Point of Grace, Heartland and others in the ballroom of the downtown Hilton, the hotel serving as headquarters for the three-day event. Later in the evening a group including Ricky Skaggs, MercyMe, and Eli Young Band was set to take over The Stage.

As the panels start today, there will be an opening keynote by leadership/management expert Dan Clark, and showcases featuring Uncle Kracker, TobyMac, Emily West, Rhett Akins, Jamie O’Neal, Mark Wills and Jeff Bates.

Tonight, the IEBA Honors at the Ryman Auditorium will be hosted by Luke Perry, with awards going to Chubby Checker, Joan Saltel & Barbara Hubbard, and others to be announced during the show. Jamey Johnson, Randy Houser, Chris Young, Jessie James, Judson Laipply, Lorrie Morgan and Brenda Lee stack the performance line-up for the awards. And The Stage will host the after-party with Miranda Lambert, Lee Ann Womack, Clay Walker, Randy Rogers Band, Wade Bowen, and more.

Among the conference panel highlights are Marcie Allen (MAC Presents) discussing sponsorship agreements with the team responsible for the Lady Antebellum/Brita partnership including Drew McGowan (Clorox Company), John Grady (Borman Entertainment) and Mary Hilliard Harrington (The Greenroom). Also on the schedule: Lang Scott of Music City Networks will share tips on music and social networking sites MySpace, iLike, Facebook and Twitter. Attorney Derek C. Crownover of Crownover Tisinger will lead a panel about payment disputes. Others on the conference line-up include Ali Partovi (iLike), Steve Lassiter (APA), John Huie (CAA), Kevin Neal (BLA), Jay Williams (WME), Greg Janese (Paradigm), and John Romero (Vector Management).

Tomorrow, the conference continues at the Hilton with closing remarks from industry blogger Bob Lefsetz and showcases by Phil Vassar, Michelle Branch and Joey + Rory, followed by the closing party “A Night at the Hotel California with Don Felder & Late Night Performance from The Wailers.” Tickets for the IEBA Honors, the closing party, and single day conference admission are available at the Hilton. Full conference details and agenda posted at www.ieba.org.