Brian O'Connell with Live Nation is flanked by members of country group Big and Rich after taking home Promoter of the Year honors. He's also pictured with singer Cowboy Troy and Kenny Loggins.
The Ryman Auditorium was once again named Venue of the Year during the International Entertainment Buyers Association Conference in Nashville, Nov. 19-22. It was the third time the venue won the award, hosted in conjunction with the Country Music Associations SRO Awards inside the new Omni Hotel, part of a downtown redevelopment that includes additions to the Country Music Hall of Fame and the new Music City Center.
“It’s always an honor to be recognized by those who help us create incredible experiences night after night,” said Sally Williams, GM of the building and the 2012 IEBA/CMA SRO Venue Executive of the Year. “We have such an intimate space and the interplay between the performer and audience has an incredible intensity. There’s something special about playing a show at the Ryman.”
In May, Williams was promoted to a corporate role at Opry and Attractions Group as parent company Ryman Hospitality Properties looked to beef up some of its brands, which include the Grand Ole Opry and the TV show Hee Haw. Sally Williams’ new title at Opry and Attractions Group is VP of business and partnership development. Williams has been the Ryman’s GM since 2008, where she continues to supervise day-to-day operations. She said some of the highlights from 2013 have been performances by The Lumineers, Mumford and Sons, Hunter Hayes, and Dave Chapelle.
The Venue of the Year award helped wrap an evening hosted by country star Kix Brooks, with Charlie Daniels Band manager, David Corlew, receiving this year’s Career Achievement Award while Nancy and George Jones were inducted into the IEBA Hall of Fame. Rod Essig with CAA won Talent Agent of the Year, and Steve Bogdanovich with Romeo Entertainment Group took home the award for Fair Buyer of the Year. Ron Sakamoto with Live Nation Canada, Gold & Gold Productions, won the International Buyer of the Year Award. David Farrar with Global Spectrum-managed Budweiser Events Center, Loveland, Colo., took home venue of the year honors. Brian O’Connell from Live Nation won Promoter of the Year
“This caps off one of the best years of my career,” said O’Connell. “Country music is stronger than ever and it’s been incredible to watch these acts really develop into world class entertainment. Let’s keep it going in 2014.”
In 2013, O'Connell produced tours for Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, Miranda Lambert, Blake Shelton, Keith Urban, Rascal Flatts, Brad Paisley, and Toby Keith. He created and produced the three-day Faster Horses Country Music Festival in Detroit and the Watershed Festival at the Gorge in George, Wash., which sold out four months in advance. He’s won IEBA promoter of the year five times.
Other awards included Festival Buyer of the Year, Gil Cunningham, Neste Event Marketing; Casino Buyer of the Year, Robyn Smith, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Biloxi, Miss.; Corporate Buyer of the Year, Randy Wright, Integrity Events; Club Buyer of the Year, Mitchell Jaworek, Birchmere in Alexandria, Va.; and Adam Brill, Agency of the Performing Arts, who took home the Rookie of the Year Award.
Contact: Sally Williams, (615) 889-3060; Brian O'Connell, (615) 346-9000
