Gene Simmons to Receive IEBA Lifetime Achievement Award in Nashville
The International Entertainment Buyers Association (IEBA) will present KISS co-founder Gene Simmons with its Lifetime Achievement Award at the IEBA 2026 Honors & Awards Ceremony. The ceremony takes place on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, at The Pinnacle Nashville.
The awards presentation will close out IEBA’s 56th annual conference, which runs from October 4 through October 6 across the Grand Hyatt Nashville and The Pinnacle.
- Ceremony date: Tuesday, October 6, 2026, at The Pinnacle Nashville
- Conference dates: October 4 to 6, 2026, at Grand Hyatt Nashville and The Pinnacle
- IEBA membership: more than 2,200 professionals across the live entertainment industry
What IEBA Said About Honoring Gene Simmons
Brian Wagner, executive director of IEBA, said the honor fits Simmons’s career. “Gene Simmons embodies the kind of lasting impact the IEBA Lifetime Achievement Award was created to recognize,” Wagner said. “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.”
BTE, Inc., the California talent agency that represents Simmons, shared news of the award on social media. The agency called it one of its proudest moments across more than 20 years in business and noted its long-standing relationship with IEBA.
Gene Simmons’s Path From Haifa to KISS
Simmons was born in August 1949 at Rambam Hospital in Haifa, Israel, to Jewish immigrants from Hungary. His mother, Flora Klein, survived the Holocaust, while his father, Feri Witz, left the family before they later moved to the United States.
Simmons met Paul Stanley in 1970, and the pair first played together in a band called Wicked Lester. In the winter of 1972, Simmons and Stanley formed KISS alongside original members Peter Criss and Ace Frehley.
KISS’s Legacy in Music and Merchandising
KISS has sold more than 100 million CDs and DVDs worldwide and has filled stadiums and arenas on tours spanning five decades. Simmons was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2014 after receiving a star with the rest of the band on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1999.
Beyond music, KISS has put its name on more than 5,000 licensed and merchandised products, generating more revenue merch and other licensing deals than any other band in music history. Simmons has also branched into other ventures, most recently launching Gene Simmons MoneyBag soda, a line of drinks made with natural flavors, natural coloring and pure cane sugar sold in painted bottles.
More Info
- GENE SIMMONS To Be Honored With Lifetime Achievement Award At IEBA 2026 | Blabbermouth
- GENE SIMMONS Of KISS To Receive Lifetime Achievement Award At 2026 Annual IEBA Conference | bravewords.com
- Gene Simmons To Receive IEBA Lifetime Achievement Award In October | musicrow.com
Related Stories
Pink Floyd to Press ‘Meddle’ on Orange Marble Vinyl for National Album Day 2026
Pink Floyd will mark National Album Day 2026 with a San Tropez Orange Marble vinyl pressing of ‘Meddle’ and a restored high-resolution cut of the ‘Echoes’ sequence from ‘Crystal Voyager.’
Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson Introduce Neil Peart Documentary at TIFF Premiere
Rush’s Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson took the stage at the Toronto International Film Festival to introduce “Neil Peart: No One’s Disciple,” a documentary on their late bandmate set to air on CBC on September 23, 2026.
Sammy Hagar Fires Back at Alex Van Halen Over ‘Complete Idiot’ Jab
Sammy Hagar addressed Alex Van Halen calling him a “complete idiot,” defending the sales success of his Van Halen years and asking his former drummer to explain what’s really bothering him.
Billy Joel Is Alive: Publicist Debunks False Google Death Listing
A Google search info box briefly claimed Billy Joel had died on September 17, 2026. His publicist quickly shot down the false report, and Google blamed vandalism of a public data source.
Keith Richards Covers Jimmy Reed’s ‘Bright Lights, Big City’ for GTA VI Soundtrack
Keith Richards has put his own spin on Jimmy Reed’s 1961 blues staple ‘Bright Lights, Big City’ for the upcoming Grand Theft Auto VI soundtrack, one of six songs Atlantic Records shared on September 17, 2026.
The Heartbreakers Reunite For First Time Since Tom Petty’s Death
The original lineup of Tom Petty’s Heartbreakers took the stage together for the first time since Petty’s death, with Chris Stapleton singing lead during a tribute set at the Americana Honors & Awards.
David Byrne Marks ‘Who Is The Sky?’ Anniversary With Deluxe Edition, Four New Tracks
David Byrne released a digital deluxe edition of ‘Who Is The Sky?’ on September 16, 2026, adding four bonus tracks to mark the album’s first anniversary as his world tour winds down.
Bob Dylan Announces 39-CD ‘Rolling Thunder Revue: The 1976 Live Recordings’ Box Set
Bob Dylan is releasing a 39-CD box set covering the second leg of his 1976 Rolling Thunder Revue tour, arriving November 6, 2026 with hundreds of previously unreleased recordings.
Brian May Reverses Course on AI, Still Torn Over ABBA Voyage-Style Queen Avatar Show
Brian May tells Absolute Radio he has reversed his once-relaxed view of artificial intelligence, and explains why he stepped back from a Queen avatar show modeled on ABBA Voyage.