Women of Live Hall Of Fame: Pam Matthews

Pam Matthews
Former Executive Director | IEBA

“Pam is a remarkable force in live music, making lasting contributions that inspire and empower future generations.” — Barry Jeffrey | Partner, WME

It was tough enough to sum up Pam Matthews’ enduring accomplishments in a recent four-page Q&A, let alone in 500 words. During her 45 years in the music business, she’s taken on a variety of roles and made her mark as the industry has evolved, including working in ticketing, on the accounting teams for KISS and Ozzy Osbourne, spending a dozen years with The Judds and Wynonna (in her last position with them as vice president and treasurer of their corporations) and on the venue side as part of the Pace Concerts team that designed, constructed and managed Starwood Amphitheatre.

She also helped revitalize Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium during her eight years as general manager of the historic venue, as it received its National Historic Landmark status and went from hosting 18 shows a year to 220, becoming one of the top grossing theaters in the world.

She recently announced her retirement, hanging up her hat as executive director of the International Entertainment Buyers Association after 12 years at the helm. During her time at IEBA she helped the organization more than triple its membership, which has become more inclusive and diversified. During her tenure, IEBA established in 2017 the Educational Outreach Fund, which annually awards up to 50 scholarships to students in music business programs across North America.

From working in the box office as a runner at Mid-South Concerts she learned “the urgency of every show and every ticket” and she continued embracing the joy of learning new skills as part of the Pace Concerts team that opened the aforementioned Starwood, which was the first of Pace’s buildings to open with electronic ticketing.

Throughout her journey she’s always welcomed change.

“The move from the regional promoters to consolidation and having a front-row seat to the birth of Live Nation. … It was crazy to watch it all change,” she said. “I’m sure record company people felt the same way. … You just have to adapt.”
As for what she’ll miss most about IEBA and the industry in general, Matthews says, “Just the people in the business. Everybody’s just the best. I have had the best time of my life, oh my God, I’ve been everywhere— Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, everywhere. I rode in a helicopter with Sting and Nick Mason from Pink Floyd for two hours. I’ve hung out in a limo with Bono. I’ve hung with Chrissie Hynde, just her and me, which was great. I’ve had the time of my life.”

Throughout her career, Matthews has always valued and embodied “the importance of just being nice. Sometimes you have to bring the hammer and sometimes you have to say the thing that you have to and embrace the awkward, but there’s a way to be kind with truth. You have to tell the truth in business, but you can do it with grace and dignity. Be as kind as you can always.”

In her personal Hall of Fame, Matthews names Laurie Jacoby [of BSE Global] and Shannon Casey [of Wasserman Music], Ali Harnell at Live Nation, Naomi and Wynonna Judd, and Ticketmaster’s Angela Miles-Powell.

“For all their accomplishments and success, they are as humble and kind as they were when I first met them 30 years ago. Ali Harnell, for all the things! Naomi and Wynonna Judd – their tour grosses were comparable to The Rolling Stones and the Grateful Dead. Angela Miles-Powell (at Ticketmaster) because she navigates her high pressure job with a smile. Seriously, she’s the happiest woman in the music business.”

There’s no doubt that plenty of people count Matthews in their own personal Hall of Fame. We sure do.