(Billboard) – Lionel Richie will be named a Legend of Live at the 2014 Billboard Touring Awards, to be held November 20 at the Edison Ballroom in New York City. The reception is the culmination of the annual Billboard Touring Conference & Awards, now in its 11th year.
Billboard’s highest accolade in the touring space, the Legend of Live award honours individuals or bands who have made significant and lasting contributions to live music and the touring industry. Beyond success at the box office, the Legend of Live recognises professionalism and steadfast commitment to the art and craft of live performance and reaching fans through the concert experience.
Previous honorees are promoter/producer Michael Cohl, promoter Jack Boyle, Sir Elton John, pioneering agent Frank Barsa-lona, The Allman Brothers Band, Ozzy Osbourne, Rush, Journey, Neil Diamond, and George Strait.
From his early days performing on the R&B circuit with the Commodores and his breakout as a solo performer up until his current blockbuster All The Hits, All Night Long tour, Richie has built a reputation for professionalism and delivering crowd-pleasing performances.
Richie has sold more than 100 million records and charted a wealth of the most beloved Billboard hits in history, but his musicianship and charismatic live performances have also played a critical role in the longevity of his career.
“Though he has received countless awards for his albums and songs, Lionel Richie has never been honoured specifically for his contributions to live music, so we are thrilled that Billboard will be able to do just that at the Billboard Touring Awards in November,” says Ray Waddell, Billboard’s executive director of content and programming for touring and live entertainment. “Mr Richie is an international superstar whose talent transcends musical trends. His fans span generations, and he is committed to making his live shows the best possible experience, and, as such, he personifies a Legend of Live.”
The 2014 Billboard Touring Awards honour the concert industry’s top artists, venues and professionals for the year, primarily based on the Billboard Boxscore chart and actual box office performance between October 1, 2013 and September 30, 2014.
The awards reception culminates the two-day Billboard Touring Conference taking place at Roosevelt Hotel in New York City on November 19-20. The conference unites today’s top touring professionals to discuss the current state of the industry.
