KISS’ Paul Stanley & Gene Simmons Join Doc McGhee Pophouse CEO Jessica Koravos For Pollstar Live! 2026

Pollstar Live! attendees, prepare to rock and roll all night and party every day. KISS legends Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons will take the stage along with longtime manager Doc McGhee and Pophouse CEO Jessica Koravos for the can’t-miss session “KISS Forever: How Pophouse Defines the Next Era Of KISS in Vegas.”

The Rainmaker panel, which is sure to be a highlight of the first day of the conference, will break down how KISS will bring its incendiary live performances into the virtual era in Las Vegas in partnership with Pophouse, the entertainment and music investment firm that specializes in music catalog investments and the creation of innovative, immersive experiences that bring those catalogs to life.

“Bringing together Doc McGhee with rock legends Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons is a major moment for Pollstar Live!,” said Ray Waddell, Chief Content Director, OVG Media and Conferences. “Their history and vision for the future of KISS in Las Vegas offers the kind of deep industry insights and legendary stories that our attendees won’t want to miss.”

The 2026 edition of Pollstar Live! takes place at Loews Hollywood Hotel in Los Angeles April 14-16, marking a return to the spring timeslot and an expansion to a third full day. This is in response to demand for more sessions, conversations, and opportunities to learn, connect, and grow – with the first day of Pollstar Live! running alongside the powerhouse Production Live!

Pollstar Live! is the world’s largest gathering of live entertainment professionals and the flagship event for Pollstar. The conference once again promises visionary speakers, unparalleled networking and standout panels covering talent booking, ticketing, sponsorships, sustainability, marketing and fan engagement. The event also includes the 37th annual Pollstar Awards, the only peer-voted live entertainment industry awards.

Scheduled April 14, Production Live! features one day of panels and keynote conversations dedicated to lighting, rigging, audio, tech, transportation, staging and other topics related to how production brings the magic of live shows to life, led by the industry pros who dominate the scene backstage.

Charles Attal, partner in C3 Presents, and Kevin Shivers, EVP & Managing Executive, The•Team, were previously confirmed to take part in a Rainmakers conversation called “Austin To Arenas” in which they’ll share stories from the trenches and the lessons learned along the way, breaking down the forces reshaping dealmaking and artist development across the global touring ecosystem. The duo will also discuss how mentorship has shaped their own paths and why investing in the next generation of live-music professionals is essential to the industry’s future.

Peter Shapiro will take part in a Rainmaker conversation with OVG’s Waddell. Shapiro is the visionary behind the Wetlands, Brooklyn Bowl, Lockn’ Festival, Fare Thee Well, the Rock and Roll Playhouse and the rebirth of the Capitol Theatre.

Saumil Mehta, Global President at Ticketmaster, was announced as the keynote speaker for a discussion examining AI’s next chapter in live, “From Big Tech to Box Office.”

Last week, Jarred Arfa of Independent Artist Group, Zack Borson of CAA, Paul Davis of MGM Resorts International, Mike Luba of LIve Nation / Forest Hills Stadium, Rob Markus of WME and Lesley Olenik of Live Nation were confirmed as speakers for the Pollstar Live! panel “So 2026 is Booked: What Does ’27(!) Look Like?”

CAA’s Allison McGregor, WME’s Sara Williams, Live Nation’s Fabi Kulick, The•Team’s Sam Alpert, Legends Global’s Brittany Herndon and NS2’s Sarah Madalinski will take part in the Pollstar Live! panel “Marketing to Today’s Live Music Fans.” These speakers are some of the industry’s top marketers and are all nominees for Pollstar’s Marketing Executive of the Year Award.

Danny Wimmer Presents’ Chamie McCurry, WME’s Josh Kurfirst, C3 Presents’ Huston Powell, CAA’s Allyna Sanchez, Sixthman’s Darby Moeller and Capital One City Parks Foundation Summerstage’s Erika Elliott were announced as speakers for the panel “From Headliners to Fine Print: Putting the Festival Puzzle Together.”

Additional speakers include First Avenue Productions’ Dayna Frank, Ineffable Music Group’s Thomas Cussins, Independent Artist Group’s Nick Storch, Entourage Talent Associates’ Wayne Forte, High Road Touring’s Frank Riley, CAA’s Lindsey Myers, MGM Grand Garden Arena’s Scott Preston, and Soundcheck Live’s Ben Ikwuagwu.

The 2026 Pollstar Awards, which will be held at the Loews Hollywood Hotel on April 15, honor the top tours, venues, live music executives, agencies, production companies and more in over 40 categories. Renowned iHeartRadio personality Valentine will return as the evening’s host, as iHeartRadio continues its partnership with the Pollstar Awards, bringing its vast reach and deep connection to music fans to the esteemed industry event.

The 2025 Pollstar Awards included appearances from an array of top artists, including Stevie Nicks, Missy Elliott, Jelly Roll, Eddie Vedder, Bob Weir, John Mayer, The Strokes’ Albert Hammond, Jr. and Ryan Ray and Rusty Anderson of Sir Paul McCartney’s band.

Registration is open for Pollstar Live!, here. Registration options include registering for Production Live! only ($565.00) or the three-day Pollstar Live! ($1,550), which includes a ticket to the 37th Annual Pollstar Awards. A subscription bundle is also available.