IEBA Honors 2026 Industry Award Winners & Hall of Fame Inductees

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Gil Cunningham. Photo: Ed Rode

IEBA celebrated its honorees Tuesday night (Oct. 6) during its 2026 Honors & Awards at The Pinnacle Nashville, closing out the organization’s sold-out 56th Annual Conference.

Hosted by comedian Derrick Stroup, the evening recognized excellence across the live entertainment industry, honored Gene Simmons with IEBA’s Lifetime Achievement Award for a touring career spanning more than five decades and his enduring impact on live entertainment, and welcomed Chubby Checker and legendary promoter Gil Cunningham into the IEBA Hall of Fame.

The program also celebrated the professionals working behind the scenes at IEBA’s annual Industry Awards, voted on by the association’s membership, recognizing outstanding achievement among venues, talent buyers, agents, promoters, festivals, fairs and other leaders throughout the business.

Photo: Ed Rode

The ceremony introduced the Barbara “Mother” Hubbard Mentorship Award as well, named in honor of longtime industry leader and IEBA Hall of Fame member Barbara Hubbard. The award recognizes the essential role mentorship plays in developing future generations of live entertainment professionals and honors Hubbard’s extraordinary legacy of opening doors, sharing knowledge and helping young people build careers in the industry.

“Tonight represents what IEBA is all about—the people who make live entertainment happen,” says Brian Wagner, Executive Director of IEBA. “From legendary artists and industry pioneers whose careers have helped shape our business to the professionals doing exceptional work in venues, agencies, festivals, fairs and markets around the world today, this year’s honorees represent both the history and the future of live entertainment. It was especially meaningful to celebrate them together here in Nashville as we closed an incredible 56th Annual Conference.”

IEBA also officially unveiled its new Hall of Fame exhibit Sunday during the organization’s 56th Annual Conference at the Grand Hyatt Nashville, bringing together six decades of IEBA history and the people who helped build and shape the modern live entertainment industry. IEBA members, Hall of Fame inductees, past presidents, board members and industry leaders gathered for a ribbon-cutting ceremony in the Grand Foyer to formally open the exhibit. The new installation begins with IEBA’s founding in 1970, and traces the evolution of the live entertainment business decade by decade, from the independent promoters, agents and talent buyers who built regional touring circuits, to the rise of national touring, the concert boom, an increasingly global business, the emergence of the experience economy, and today’s interconnected live entertainment marketplace.

Photo: Ed Rode

The exhibit highlights generations of IEBA Hall of Fame members whose influence can be seen across every corner of the business. Early industry pioneers including Bette Kaye, Buddy Lee, Dave Douds, Dick Blake, Harry “Hap” Peebles, Don Romeo and Henry Ade helped establish the relationships and business practices upon which the touring industry grew. Later generations represented in the exhibit include influential agents, promoters, talent buyers and execs including George Moffett, Tony Conway, Billy Deaton, Ron Baird, Jack McFadden, Barbara “Mother” Hubbard, Bonnie Brosious, Chuck Morris, Alex Hodges, Louis Messina, Rod Essig, Erv Woolsey, Mike Smardak and Paul Moore, among others.

IEBA Industry Award Winners:
Club of the Year: The Pinnacle Nashville
Casino of the Year: Yaamava’ Resort & Casino
Theater of the Year: ACL Live
Arena of the Year: Madison Square Garden
Amphitheater of the Year: The Gorge Amphitheatre
Fair/Expo of the Year: Minnesota State Fair
Festival of the Year: Bourbon & Beyond
Club Buyer of the Year: Sonia Grover, First Avenue
Casino Buyer of the Year: Drew Dixon, Yaamava’ Resort & Casino
Corporate Buyer of the Year: EastCoast Entertainment
International Buyer of the Year: Jim Cressman, Invictus Entertainment
Fair/Expo Buyer of the Year: Lisa Sexton, OC Fair
Festival Buyer of the Year: Tom Hoppa, Danny Wimmer Presents
Venue Executive of the Year: David Kells, Bridgestone Arena
Young Professional of the Year: Spencer Zubrow, Pinnacle Entertainment
Music & Entertainment Industry Educator of the Year: Ed Traversari, Point Park University
Boutique Agency Agent of the Year: Heath Baumhor, Reliant Talent
Major Agency Agent of the Year: Becky Gardenhire, WME
Promoter of the Year: Rich Schaefer, AEG Presents

Gene Simmons. Photo: Ed Rode

Photo: Ed Rode

David Kells. Photo: Ed Rode

Heath Baumhor. Photo: Ed Rode

Becky Gardenhire. Photo: Ed Rode

Chubby Checker. Photo: Ed Rode

Lorie Hollabaugh
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