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International Entertainment Buyers Association Recognizes Live Entertainment Industry Leaders at 2008 Annual Honors Dinner

Posted on: Thursday, 16 October 2008, 12:00 CDT

The 2008 Annual International Entertainment Buyers Association (IEBA) Honors Dinner was held tonight at the Hilton Ballroom in Nashville, TN to celebrate the live entertainment industry's top buyers, agents, promoters, venues, festivals and artists. Guests enjoyed music from Mandy Barnett and host Joe Piscopo prior to the presentation of several peer-voted awards including Gil Cunningham as Entertainment Buyer of the Year and Kevin Neal as Talent Agent of the Year. In a tie, AEG Live! and Red Mountain Entertainment were both recognized as Concert Promoter of the Year. Music City took top honors in both the Venue and Festival of the Year categories, which were won by Nashville's Sommet Center and CMA Music Festival, respectively. Entertainer awards went to Sugarland for Small Venue Artist and Kenny Chesney for Large Venue Artist.

IEBA also presented several special awards this evening. Presenter Kix Brooks surprised Steve Moore, senior vice-president of AEG Live, with IEBA's Humanitarian Award for his extensive work with under-privileged children in Guatemala. The prestigious IEBA Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Loggins & Messina, who performed several of their best-loved hits this evening, including "House at Pooh Corner" and "Danny's Song." John Saunders was awarded the President's Award by IEBA President Carey Harveycutter. IEBA also honored the Country Music Association's 50th Anniversary at the awards dinner with performances by Crystal Gayle, Joe Nichols, and Diamond Rio. In addition, Agency for the Performing Arts (APA) received the previously announced Agency of the Year Award, presented by Rick Springfield.

The complete list of this year's winners is as follows:

Entertainment Buyer of the Year: Gil Cunningham, Neste Event Marketing Talent Agent of the Year: Kevin Neal, Buddy Lee Attractions Agency of the Year: Agency for the Performing Arts (APA) Concert Promoter of the Year (TIE): AEG Live! Red Mountain Entertainment Venue of the Year: Sommet Center, Nashville, TN Festival of the Year: CMA Music Festival, Nashville, TN Small Venue Artist: Sugarland Large Venue Artist: Kenny Chesney Humanitarian Award: Steve Moore Lifetime Achievement Award: Loggins & Messina President's Award: John Saunders

About IEBA and IEBA Honors

The annual IEBA conference is attended by over 500 talent buyers, promoters, agents, managers, media, artists, producers and other related professionals. IEBA offers a first look at the hottest talent for the next season through showcases from top artists and rising stars produced by the major agencies. IEBA, by-far, showcases the most talent of any conference in the live entertainment industry.

Attendees are educated on the latest industry issues through lively roundtable discussions and informative panels that share the latest trends in sponsorship, marketing, new business models and anything that shapes entertainment buying. Educational segments are kept intimate for maximum impact and attendees walk away with tools to help them implement what they have learned.

On the closing evening of the conference, IEBA pays tribute to the trailblazers of entertainment at the IEBA Honors dinner. We salute those that have shaped where we are and those that continue to reinvent the entertainment industry. Past honorees have included: ZZ Top, Patti Page, Loretta Lynn, Lou Rawls, Brenda Lee, Cheap Trick, Alice Cooper, Wayne Newton, Barbara Mandrell, Styx, Porter Wagoner, LeAnn Rimes and numerous others.

Photos available for this release: Loggins & Messina were awarded with IEBA's Lifetime Achievement Award. Diamond Rio poses with Humanitarian Award winner Steve Moore and Lifetime Achievement Award winners Loggins & Messina. L-R: Dana Williams, Jimmy Olander, Jimmy Messina, Steve Moore, Kenny Loggins, Marty Roe, Dan Truman. AEG Live SVP Steve Moore was honored with the Humanitarian Award for his extensive work with under-privileged children in Guatemala. L-R: IEBA President Carey Harveycutter, Steve Moore, IEBA Executive Director Tiffany Davis.

To view photos, go to www.enr-corp.com/pressroom and enter Release ID: 171324

Source: Business Wire

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