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21 March 2025

USA - Opened in 2024, Urban Dog Bar in Nashville features a pet-friendly patio and a doggy play area. They also offer ‘dog-centric events’ throughout the year, including their aptly named New Year’s Eve Ball Drop, which involves dropping tennis balls from the roof – much to the delight of canine attendees.

Before opening, venue staff contacted Joseph Hazelwood, founder of Hazelwood Laboratories, to design an audio system for their indoor and outdoor areas. The bar wanted audio capabilities for a wireless handheld mic, background music, and TV audio, with local zone control for specific areas like the bar and outdoor play area. Future accommodation for DJs to be able to play live music was also a necessity. Hazelwood knew Connect Series amplifiers from LEA Professional were more than up to the task.

“I use LEA amplifiers for every p

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21 March 2025

USA - The 2025 edition of The Maine’s 8123 Fest transformed the Mesa Amphitheatre in Arizona into an electrifying experience enhanced by ADJ Lighting’s Jolt Panel FX, Jolt Bar FX, and 32 HEX Panel IP fixtures. Utilised to extend the video elements of the show across the entire stage, these fixtures played a crucial role in production/lighting designer Carlos Katsurayama’s rig, creating an immersive visual spectacle for fans of the alt rock band.

Founded in 2007, The Maine is associated with a variety of rock music genres, especially alternative, pop punk and emo. The band has built a dedicated following through their heartfelt anthems and strong fan engagement, which reaches its zenith at their very own festival, 8123 Fest. First held in 2017, to celebrate the band’s 10th anniversary, 8123 Fest has become a biannual gathering of The Maine’

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21 March 2025

UK - TSL Lighting has introduced three key additions to its team: Matt Farquhar, Jamie Wells, and Luke McCreary. Each of them brings considerable industry experience and knowledge, fresh perspectives, and a shared commitment to enhancing the efficiency and quality of operations.

Farquhar joined TSL in June 2024 as head of operations, overseeing IT, transport, warehouse, assets, and projects. With over 50 members of staff under his leadership and five managers, including Wells and McCreary, reporting directly to him. Farquhar plays a crucial role in driving operational efficiency and keeping TSL’s business operations aligned with growth targets.

“It’s always a bit unnerving not knowing what kind of team you’re coming into, but I’ve loved starting at TSL,” says Farquhar. “It’s been fantastic – I’ve been made to feel welcome and the

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20 March 2025

South Africa - StageOne has announced its appointment as the official South African distributor for DJ Power stage effects equipment. The distribution deal was finalised during ISE 2025 in Barcelona this past February.

DJ Power is known for its stage effects, including fog machines, flame effects, and confetti solutions, all backed by innovative technology and over 200 international patents. Adding DJ Power to StageOne’s portfolio enhances the company’s ability to offer comprehensive and affordable solutions for live events, concerts, and installations across South Africa.

Peter Berry, managing owner of StageOne, comments: "DJ Power's reputation for reliability and innovation is impressive, and their product range fills a gap in the market for high-quality yet affordable stage effects. We’re thrilled to bring these solutions to South Africa and

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20 March 2025

South Africa - Norwood Productions has recently bolstered its audio capabilities with the acquisition of premium d&b audiotechnik equipment from distributor Stage Audio Works.

This recent investment has expanded the scope of Norwood Productions' involvement in the live events sector, allowing them to serve larger audiences and meet the high international standards of touring artists. Behind these recent investments is an inspirational journey and a story of growth and adaptability, backed by a strong ongoing relationship with Stage Audio Works.

“I started Norwood Productions in 2018 out of my garage with just a small PA system of two tops and two subs. Back then, I was catering largely for corporate events,” recalls Chris Norwood, founder and director at Norwood Productions. “We steadily built the business, adding in some visual elements su

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20 March 2025

USA - L-Acoustics has announced that it has been named for the third time in Fast Company's annual list of the World's Most Innovative Companies of 2025, reaching #2 on the list of top innovative companies in the events, concerts, and live experiences industry, recognised specifically “for changing the way Broadway shows sound.”

The 2025 list celebrates companies that consistently drive innovation and shape the future of their industries – a principle that has guided L-Acoustics since its founding, from pioneering line array technology to today's cutting-edge immersive sound solutions.

"Being recognised by Fast Company as a top innovator for the third time in six years is both an extraordinary honour and a testament to the ongoing commitment to innovation at L-Acoustics," says Laurent Vaissié, CEO at L-Acoustics. "This recogn

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20 March 2025

USA - A ‘groundbreaking entertainment destination’ is set to debut in late 2025. The journey to VAI Resort’s highly anticipated opening night is already underway, with TAIT engineers actively transforming the vision into reality at the Glendale, AZ resort through the cutting-edge infrastructure of the VAI Amphitheatre.

This venue is now open for artist bookings. Designed with the artist’s experience at its core, VAI’s amphitheatre stage – engineered by the live entertainment innovation pioneers at TAIT – ensures that every artist’s needs are met to the highest standard.

Audiences can look forward to ‘an unparalleled connection to live entertainment’, with sweeping views of the stage from the comfort of their luxury hotel suites. Artists will experience a venue built specifically for A-list performances, complete with state-of-the-

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20 March 2025

USA - Australian-born singer-songwriter Leah Martin-Brown, now a solo artist signed to Frontiers Records, explores pop territory without sacrificing the hard-rock energy of her formative work. Her voice is channelled through Audix microphones – the OMX series (especially the OMX-E) onstage and the A231 for studio recording. Just after hosting the video premiere of her third single Shush, she spoke with Audix about her musical roots and her new favourite microphones.

“I didn't know that I was a good singer until maybe fifth grade, when we had this assignment at school where each of us had to get up and sing,” she begins. “I sang the part, and my teacher reacted, ‘Oh, so you’re a singer?’ I was, like, ‘I am? Why yes, I am!’

“I had always been aware of the Audix brand, starting with knowing they made great drum mics,” Mart

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20 March 2025

Poland - The Mazowsze National Folk Song and Dance Ensemble was established in 1948 and is dedicated to the preservation and performance of traditional Polish folklore. In 2024, the venue completed extensive audio upgrades, with major changes to the sound system in the concert hall, designed by sound designer, Krzysztof Polesiński.

Powering the upgrades are two DiGiCo Quantum 852-T consoles and two further DiGiCo Quantum338 consoles, also equipped with Theatre software and Pulse upgrades for touring use, all supplied by Polsound, DiGiCo’s Distributor in Poland.

The Mazowsze Auditorium is housed in the Karolin complex, which offers a full cultural experience. There is everything from hotels to education on site, with the ensemble performing dance, drama and music, also exhibiting artwork, running arts and crafts workshops and much more. Ja

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20 March 2025

USA - Motown is a good distance from Music City (533 miles, to be exact), but inspiration has a way of transcending geographical space. It was on a trip back home to Detroit for the holidays that Alexandra Kay's lighting designer, Corbin Alvae saw a stylised heart in an advertisement. It struck him with a vision for the set piece for his client's current 30-city Cupid's A Cowgirl tour.

"The concept for this design really came when AK talked about this being the start of a new phase of her career," said Alvae. "We called it the Lover Girl Era. So, when I was designing this with her and her management, I really wanted something to stand out as a good centre prop to bring this show together. One day visiting home in Michigan for the holidays, I drove by a massive red heart, and it just hit me with a lot of inspiration to tie together not only

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20 March 2025

Japan - Operating in Southeast Asia, and with a presence in Malaysia and the Philippines, Symunity Group encompasses brands such as ARK Ventures, Takenaka, and, most recently, SolidWater. As a partner of Brompton Technology and a key strategic partner of ROE Visual, Symunity Group’s projects span multiple sectors, including virtual production, broadcast, corporate, and live entertainment.

An ambitious growth trajectory, including moving its Takenaka Nagoya sales office to Nakamura Ward, Kamejima due to business expansion, and establishing SolidWater in Manila, Philippines, means it is more important than ever for the Group to maintain a high level of service across all brands. In line with this, Brompton Technology’s Tessera LED processors are the preferred solution for its rental, system design and integration needs.

“With our roots dating bac

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20 March 2025

India - The Urban Foundry is a popular all-day bar and eatery in the the NIBM area of the Indian city of Pune. The industrial theme of the venue creates an ambience in which customers enjoy a wide range of local and international cuisine. Music plays an important part in maintaining the atmosphere in The Urban Foundry’s always busy setting, and the venue’s management recently enlisted the services of distributor Generation AV and Pune-based integrator Audio Groove, to supply and install a quality sound system for the venue.

An HH Audio system based on the company’s Tessen Series of installation speakers was the right choice according to Kishore Shetty of Urban Foundry: “Both Generation AV and Audio Groove have been exceptional partners in every aspect of this project. From the outset their team did a fantastic job of recommending a system that suited

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20 March 2025

UK - Poole’s Lighthouse staged its first Work Experience Day last weekend as 15 Year 10 pupils from local schools got a taste of life at one of the country’s largest multi-venue arts centres.

As well as hearing about the different jobs that make Lighthouse work, the young people were able to learn about how the different performance spaces are used and how sound and lighting function in them.

“I just wanted to thank you for the amazing opportunity today, I thoroughly enjoyed it,” said one young person.

“I also wanted to thank you for the sugar-free sweets and chocolate, it was really touching to feel my needs considered and I'm very grateful. I definitely learned a lot today and enjoyed learning from the best.”

The Work Experience Day was organised in response to the unprecedented number of requests Light

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20 March 2025

UK - Optimal Audio has introduced a new advanced level online course in its Optimal Audio Academy, ringing the bell for installers to earn the highest stage of certification. The Optimal Audio Academy’s doors are always open for installers to obtain any of the three level certification modules available from anywhere in the world at the most convenient time.

Simple to navigate, the Optimal Audio Academy complements the ethos of the brand so that system integrators and installers learn how to best maximise the portfolio and most importantly, WebApp. One of the benefits of the online Optimal Audio Academy is that installers are taken through standard installation scenarios so that everything flows as expected for a swift and trouble-free installation. The courses also prompt those extra ideas – the ‘nice to haves’ that customers might not realise will

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20 March 2025

Hungary - Lightware has announced the launch of the Taurus UCX-1x1-C40 – a docking station designed to transform hybrid collaboration. As organisations continue to embrace hybrid work environments, ensuring seamless communication between in-office and remote teams is more critical than ever. The Taurus Smart Dock provides a powerful, flexible solution to enable high-quality video, audio, and control signals to flow effortlessly between devices, regardless of the user's location.

The Taurus Smart Dock offers ‘exceptional performance’, enabling smooth video conferencing, high-definition media sharing, and intuitive device integration for teams working both in-office and remotely. Designed with reliability in mind, it ensures that meetings run without technical disruptions, contributing to greater productivity and streamlined communication. Its plug-and-p

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20 March 2025

Italy - Nexo has announced the appointment of Andrea Fantini as Italian sales manager. Fantini takes over the role from his father Gianni, the familiar face of Nexo in Italy who leaves the company on 1 April.

Also like his father, Fantini joins Nexo from Joint Rent, which Gianni co-founded in 1990. During his 17-year stint with the AV technology and production services specialists, Fantini has gained extensive front-line experience in the sales, rental and deployment of Nexo systems from early Alpha and Geo T right through to the latest Geo M line array and P+ point source products.

“My time at Joint Rent has given me a great sense of the evolution of the Nexo brand and I’ve really enjoyed providing sales and technical support to customers,” comments Fantini. “Now I’m really excited to take on this new role and to draw on my experience to h

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19 March 2025

Canada - Fulcrum Acoustic has appointed DataVisual as exclusive distribution partner for Canada. DataVisual Marketing will carry the wide portfolio of products and solutions from Fulcrum Acoustic, from high-performance loudspeaker ranges, through immersive systems and hybrid acoustic panels.

“DataVisual is the perfect representative for Fulcrum Acoustic in Canada,” says Val Gilbert, director of business development for export at Fulcrum Acoustic. “We couldn’t hope for a more skilled and customer-dedicated team to drive growth in the North American market. We’re excited for future developments together in the region.”

York Kislich-Lemyre, VP of sales at DataVisual, adds: “Fulcrum Acoustic is a key addition to our product range. The innovative technology within the company allows us to offer a unique and competitive solution to the Canadi

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19 March 2025

USA - Harman International has announced that it has become a NASCAR technology partner aimed at delivering premium audio experiences for racing fans through future racetrack audio upgrades.

This partnership enables NASCAR to design and implement high-quality integrated audio systems using Harman Professional Solutions brands, including JBL Professional loudspeakers, Crown amplifiers, BSS digital signal processing, and more.

“JBL and NASCAR are two iconic brands that were founded just two years apart in the 1940s, and will now work together to enhance one of the most thrilling and widely attended sports in the world,” said Brian Divine, president of Harman Professional Solutions. “On any given day, thousands of fans around the world experience audio through a JBL system, and we are excited to collaborate with NASCAR through this technology part

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19 March 2025

Germany - One of Sennheiser’s best-known microphones, the MKH 416 P48 shotgun microphone, celebrates its golden jubilee this year. For 50 years, the MKH 416 has accompanied broadcasters, filmmakers, voice-over artists, and content creators; it has been used in studios and in the field. Mounted onto a boom pole, a stand or a camera, its job has been to stay outside the camera angle while gracefully capturing sound with clarity and impact.

To celebrate its golden jubilee, this classic mic is offered with a 15% anniversary discount at participating Sennheiser dealers and – where available – the company’s website in April.

Time travelling to the 1970s, the name of Manfred Hibbing is firmly linked with this milestone product. When the young engineer joined Sennheiser, his first task was to design the MKH 416 P48 on the basis of the MKH 415 T. The

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19 March 2025

UK - With only one week to go until ISCVEx 2025, industry professionals and enthusiasts still have the chance to register for this premier event.

Taking place on Tuesday 25 March and Wednesday 26 March 2025 at Coombe Abbey Hotel, ISCVEx promises a blend of networking, education and product discovery for sound engineers, audio-visual professionals, consultants and system integrators.

Day one - Tuesday 25 March kicks off with the Members' Day and AGM, featuring an inspiring presentation by Andy Dockerty, founder of Adlib Audio, followed by the Networking Dinner. This is an excellent opportunity to connect with peers, share insights and build lasting professional relationships.

Day two - Wednesday 26 March centres on three engaging seminars and an exhibition that brings together the industry's leading manufacturers and distributors.

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