IEBA held its annual conference virtually for the first time in its 50-year history on Monday, October 12 and Tuesday, October 13. Now, anyone can access content from the conference free on demand at www.ieba.org/iebavc.

Highlights include the Award Winners Power Panel, featuring IEBA Industry Award winners reflecting on how this unprecedented year impacted their businesses and lives, with panelists Darin Lashinsky, NS2 (Promoter of the Year); Amy Madrigali, Troubadour (Club of the Year); Josh Moore, The Bowery Presents (Club Buyer of the Year); Stacy Vee, Goldenvoice / MTG (Festival Buyer of the Year); and moderator David Kells, Bridgestone Arena (Venue Executive of the Year).

Also available to watch is the panel New Terms & Conditions In Response to the Pandemic, discussing urgent legal issues including COVID cancellation, weather payment, and indemnity and liability limitations, with panelists Jason Bernstein, AEG Presents; Brent Daughrity, Anderson Benson; Tim Epstein, Duggan Bertsch, LLC; Berkeley Reinhold, Business & Law Office of Berkeley Reinhold; and moderator Pam Matthews, IEBA Executive Director.

“As a trade association, our role is to trumpet live entertainment’s cultural significance and role as an economic multiplier,” said Matthews. “Our business is built on celebration and the shared human experience. When that is lost, the world becomes a poorer place. The question of when—and how—live music will return is agonizing the entire entertainment business as well as wider society. At IEBA’s 2020 virtual conference, we provide answers to those when and how questions.”

IEBA’s virtual conference included sessions with talent buyers, promoters, and venue operators from Europe, Latin America, Asia and the Pacific, and across the United States. In two days, nearly 3,000 online attendees have viewed the 2020 conference programming.

IEBA’s 51st annual conference is scheduled for October 3-5, 2021 at the Omni Nashville.

Pam Matthews, IEBA Executive Director.

Jeffrey Hasson

UTA has announced that music agent Jeffrey Hasson has joined the leadership team in its Nashville office, while Matt Meyer has joined UTA’s Los Angeles office.

Hasson comes to UTA from Paradigm and got his start in the music industry at Monterey Peninsula Artists in 2005. He has worked with artists spanning a wide range of genres including Young The Giant, Tori Kelly, Surfaces, Jamey Johnson, Dashboard Confessional, Dayglow, Blues Traveler, Coin, and Ruston Kelly, among others.

“I’m so excited to join the UTA team, and a music department with such great momentum. The company’s perseverance and navigation through these trying times has been very admirable,” said Hasson. “I can’t wait to share all of UTA’s incredible cross-department resources with my clients to help elevate their business.”

Meyer has worked with an extensive roster of superstars and rising talent, including Halsey, Machine Gun Kelly, Lil Dicky, Don Toliver, Tinashe, Yungblud, Cash Cash, Eden, and The Knocks, among others. He is credited with fostering Halsey’s development from an opening act to a festival and arena headliner. He also comes to UTA from Paradigm. He got his start in the industry as an agent at electronic dance music agency AM Only, which was later acquired by Paradigm.

“I am grateful to be joining the team at UTA during a time when they have showcased real innovation and done amazing work on behalf of their clients,” said Meyer. “Everyone has been extremely supportive of this next chapter in my career and I am looking forward to collaborating with my new colleagues to both expand my clients’ passions outside of music and creating a great touring business.”

“Jeffrey and Matt have impeccable track records of identifying and developing emerging artists and creating unique opportunities for their clients,” said David Zedeck, Co-Head of UTA’s Music department. “Jeffrey is well-respected within the Nashville music community, and Matt has his finger firmly on the pulse for the next generation of hitmakers. We are thrilled to welcome both of them to our team.”

In September 2019, UTA signed a lease to relocate the Nashville headquarters to a historic, three-story building at 225 Polk Avenue. UTA’s Nashville team represents a roster of established headliners including Toby Keith, Clint Black, Trace Adkins, Craig Morgan, and Clay Walker, and has furthered the careers of upcoming stars such as Blanco Brown, High Valley, Jimmie Allen, Matt Stell, JoJo Mason, and Logan Mize. In August 2020, they signed country music singer-songwriter Easton Corbin, who has won three ACM Awards and has released seven Billboard top 10 singles, including the No. 1 hits “A Little More Country Than That” and “Roll With It,” over the course of his career.