From Billboard · Paul Grein · · 1m
Gene Simmons Gets IEBA Lifetime Achievement Award
KISS co-founder Gene Simmons to receive IEBA lifetime achievement honor at 2026 ceremony
In brief
KISS co-founder Gene Simmons to receive IEBA lifetime achievement honor at 2026 ceremony Gene Simmons will get IEBA lifetime achievement award for KISS's impact on live entertainment Originally reported by Billboard.
Gene Simmons' Legacy
KISS co-founder Gene Simmons will receive IEBA's lifetime achievement award at the 2026 Honors & Awards ceremony in Nashville
“Gene Simmons embodies the kind of lasting impact the IEBA Lifetime Achievement Award was created to recognize”
KISS's Impact
KISS helped transform live concerts into global spectacles and was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2014
“KISS didn't simply build a catalog of iconic music; they changed the scale and possibilities of the live concert experience”
2026 IEBA Ceremony
The ceremony will honor KISS and the 2026 IEBA Hall of Fame class on October 6 in Nashville
“Gene's vision for connecting music, performance, spectacle and brand has influenced generations of artists”
Chubby Checker
Chubby Checker, known for 'The Twist', was inducted 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”
Gil Cunningham
Gil Cunningham, a veteran talent buyer, earned multiple IEBA and ACM honors including his fifth ACM buyer of the year in 2025
“Gil has done that throughout his career, while giving back to this organization and mentoring the people coming behind him”
IEBA Hall of Fame
The IEBA Hall of Fame recognizes industry professionals who have shaped live entertainment since 2010
“Great buyers combine knowledge and instinct with relationships, trust and a willingness to take a chance on an artist”
The big picture
Gene Simmons will get IEBA lifetime achievement award for KISS's impact on live entertainment
