Lionel Richie to ne Named Legend of Live

Billboard names iconic recording artist and performer Lionel Richie its "Legend Of Live" for the 2014 Billboard Touring Awards – honoring the concert industry's top artists, venues and professionals – November 20 in New York City. He will accept the honor among industry peers being recognized for their outstanding work at a ceremony at The Edison Ballroom, a culmination of the two-day Billboard Touring Conference & Awards.

The annual Billboard Touring Conference & Awards, in its 11th year, is for the first time split between two venues, The Roosevelt Hotel and The Edison Ballroom, in order to accommodate expansion. The bulk of conference activities will take place at The Roosevelt Hotel, November 19 and 20.

Billboard's highest accolade in the touring space, the Legend Of Live award honors 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 recognizes professionalism and steadfast commitment to the art and craft of live performance and reaching fans through the concert experience.

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 honored 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."

Previous Legend Of Live honorees are promoter/producer Michael Cohl, promoter Jack Boyle, Sir Elton John, pioneering agent Frank Barsalona, the Allman Brothers Band, Ozzy Osbourne, Rush, Journey, Neil Diamond, and George Strait.

The Billboard Touring Awards honor 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.

More about the 2014 Billboard Touring Conference & Awards to be announced closer to event date.

www.BillboardTouringConference.com