Events

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26 March 2025

Europe - ETC is gearing up to return to Frankfurt for Prolight + Sound 2025, taking place from 8-11 April at Messe Frankfurt. In celebration of its 50th anniversary, the company will be showing a series of new and established products, showcasing its commitment to advancing technology and lighting solutions.

ETC European marketing manager Rosi Marx comments: “ETC’s 50th anniversary marks a major milestone in the company’s history. We’ve continued to evolve and develop new products, and this year’s show will reflect this with our new offering. We are incredibly proud of the journey ETC has been on over the last 50 years, and we’re looking forward to celebrating this achievement with our customers and partners at Prolight + Sound.”

In Frankfurt, ETC will present its latest product releases and celebrate its 50th anniversary throughout the

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26 March 2025

USA - PPDS, global provider of Philips Professional Displays and complementary solutions, has announced its debut attendance at Seatrade Cruise Global 2025 (Miami, 7-10 April) – the world’s largest cruise ship exhibition – signalling the company’s latest business expansion.

Located inside the 500,000sq.ft Miami Beach Convention Centre in Florida, Seatrade Cruise Global – celebrating its 40th anniversary – brings together the global cruise community, allowing industry leaders to discover the cutting-edge strategies and technologies designed to advance the cruise industry.

The global team from PPDS, showcasing on Philips booth 4405, will join over 600 other exhibitors and an anticipated 11,000 visitors from around the world to demonstrate a range of display solutions spanning every area for cruise ships and luxury/super ya

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25 March 2025

Europe - Fresh for 2025, Showlight is introducing a new attraction - an enticing programme of informative, interactive Workshops guaranteed to get the creative juices flowing! These will take place on the afternoon of Wednesday 21 May 2025 and will be open to all delegates on a first come, first served basis, with a strong emphasis on student attendance.

The Workshops will be conducted by leading experts in their field and offer unprecedented insights into subjects from the latest technology to personal development. Numbers are limited so delegates will be encouraged to sign up for their choice of workshop via the Whova App when it goes live closer to the date.

Here’s the lowdown on Showlight’s inaugural Workshop presentations:

Workshop 1: Colour and Light

Led by lighting designer, author, and co-founder of Studio School of Design

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25 March 2025

Germany - On 19 and 20 March 2025, LEaT X 25 turned the Ofenwerk Nuremberg into a central meeting place for the event technology industry. With over 1,000 participants, over 100 brands and a mix of networking and inspiration, the event was a complete success, say the organisers.

“The response to LEaT X 25 was overwhelming. The combination of an exclusive setting, a targeted trade audience and first-class exhibitors struck a chord with the industry,” says John Weltersbach, head of event operations at LEaT and new to the team since the beginning of the year.

The 38 exhibitors at LEaT X 25 offered visitors an opportunity to exchange ideas directly with leading industry representatives, establish new business relationships and discuss current market developments. The informal atmosphere of the LEaT X formats makes it possible to establish valuable co

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25 March 2025

Copyright Matters - Heads of high-profile arts organisations, including the Royal Shakespeare Company and English National Opera, have written to demand greater protection on copyright for creatives. Tamara Harvey, Daniel Evans and Andrew Leveson of the RSC, as well as ENO’s Jenny Mollica and the Royal Ballet and Opera’s Alex Beard have all signed a letter expressing concern over the effect the government’s plans to "diminish creative copyright" could have on "a fragile ecosystem" for artists.

The leaders, who also include in their ranks regional venue leaders such as Bristol Old Vic chief executive Charlotte Geeves, Tiata Fahodzi boss Chinonyerem Odimba and the Donmar Warehouse’s Henny Finch, all oppose an envisaged exemption to copyright law for AI companies looking to train their technology.

The government’s eagerness to unleash the pote

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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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19 March 2025

Italy - The entertainment world is gathering in Rimini from 23-25 March for the new edition of MIR – Multimedia Integration Expo, dedicated to technological innovation in the live events and audiovisual industry.

This year, Claypaky returns to the stage to showcase its most innovative lighting technologies in the Audiosales Live Experience Area. This space in Hall C2 will host the Claypaky Product Show, where visitors can see Claypaky’s latest innovations in action.

“In recent years, Audiosales and Claypaky have organised a series of events to introduce and provide hands-on experiences with new technologies and products, starting with the Experience Days, which welcomed hundreds of lighting professionals to Claypaky,” explains Stefano Rocchi, CEO of Audiosales. “For this year’s MIR, we have embraced an innovativ

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18 March 2025

Next Generation - A major entertainment centre is fundraising to invest £20m into a new academy to develop the next generation of musicians. The Glasshouse in Gateshead is aiming to support young musicians throughout their education and help them build a career in music. Over the next two years, the academy will open four ‘music learning hot spots’ in Middlesbrough, Carlisle, Sunderland and Kendal.

The organisation said the scheme had been designed to ensure young musicians could take their next step in developing their talent, whether that be picking up an instrument for the first time or pursuing a career.

Glasshouse CEO Abigail Pogson said the centre, previously called The Sage, had worked for the last 20 years to be a place people of all ages could make and experience music. She said: "The Glasshouse Academy builds on this f

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17 March 2025

UK - Adlib returned to the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Hall stage earlier this month for the largest annual music industry careers event for young people in the North of England. The team engaged with attendees to discuss career paths and showcase the inspiring roles available in the live events industry.

Over 700 people attended the 2025 Liverpool Philharmonic Music Industry Careers Fest, which was delivered in partnership with Universal Music, Spotify, UK Music, PLASA, LIPA, Revere Arts, and LIMF Academy.

Adlib has a long-standing tradition of supporting the next generation of talent through regular open days at Adlib HQ, as well as providing work experience, apprenticeship opportunities, and participation in Early Careers events.

Lisa Mitchell, training and development, Adlib comments: "We’ve been delighted to support the Liverpool Phil

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17 March 2025

China - On 13 March, Absen hosted its Spring Launch event, to present its latest innovations for the ProAV market. The event, themed Pioneering Pixels: Shaping the Future, brought together more than 70 clients and partners from around the world to connect, gain valuable insights into emerging trends and showcase Absen's latest innovations and strategic vision for the future.

The event kicked off with keynote speeches by Absen’s senior leadership team, outlining the brand’s positioning and strategy for the coming year. The team emphasised Absen's commitment to pioneering advancements in pro AV technologies with an in-depth introduction to the company's latest product launches.

The new products pre-launched included the Absen X V2 Series, featuring all-in-one LED display solutions for conference and corporate applications with 2K+

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13 March 2025

Europe - The deadline for Showlight’s new Emerging Professionals Bursary/Scholarship Scheme has been extended to Monday 31 March 2025.

Aimed at early career freelance professionals to help make attendance more affordable, this is a fantastic opportunity to win a ‘scholarship’ that gives you access to some of the most creative minds in the entertainment lighting industry.

Successful applicants will have free access to Showlight 2025’s full schedule of activities (ticket price normally €580.00) including the Papers Sessions, Workshops, Exhibition, Welcome Reception (in Dijon’s ornate, historic Salle des États), Company Dinners and the grand Conference Dinner in a glamorous, as yet undisclosed location! A hotel room will also be included with the bursary and we hope to offer some assistance with travel costs too.

“Showlight wants

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13 March 2025

USA - TVNewsCheck’s Women in Technology Awards is taking place at NAB this year, “celebrating outstanding achievements and paving the way for the next generation of women driving innovation in media and entertainment technology”.

During the 14th annual awards ceremony on Tuesday, April 8, three women will be honoured for their contributions to the future of media technology. Swati Karkun Sen, Jacqueline Voss of Riedel, and Nina Walsh of Amazon Web Services will each receive the Women in Technology Futurist Award on the West Hall Main Stage at the Las Vegas Convention Centre.

Sen has played a key role in keeping NBC News, MSNBC, and CNBC at the forefront of breaking news and development of new consumer solutions. With a deep passion for media and a strong foundation in technology, she has introduced transformative operational s

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11 March 2025

Remember Monday - The UK's Eurovision entry for 2025 will be the female country-pop trio Remember Monday, the BBC has announced. The group, who previously reached the quarter finals of The Voice, will head to Switzerland this May with a song called What The Hell Just Happened?

Calling themselves "pop girlies with a little bit of yeehaw", the band was formed by school friends Lauren Byrne, Holly-Anne Hull and Charlotte Steele in 2013. In a press release, they said: "We're going to be the first girlband to represent the UK since 1999, which feels like such a crazy honour. We're going to bring loads of fun, energy and hopefully do something that you won't have seen before on the Eurovision stage."

Citizens’ Return - A revival of Tennessee Williams’ The Glass Menagerie, a production of Douglas Maxwell’s a

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10 March 2025

USA - Adamson’s new VGt flagship line array and VGs powered subwoofer were on display at the NAMM show in January this year, with a special demonstration event.

Audio professionals, engineers, and enthusiasts were invited to the exclusive demonstration event given by Adamson personnel at the City National Grove in Anaheim.

The event offered attendees an up-close look at the VGt and VGs along with an opportunity to network with industry peers while enjoying drinks and appetisers.

“Adamson is proud to introduce the Vergence Group to the NAMM community,” says Brian Fraser, head of product and technology at Adamson. “The VGt and VGs are the result of years of innovation and engineering, aimed at delivering superior sound quality and operational efficiency. These products are a testament to our commitment to pushing the boundaries of what

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07 March 2025

UK - Backup Tech’s annual summertime day of fun and frivolity, this year renamed The Fabulous Village Fete in celebration of Adam Taylor, aka Adam Fabulous, DJ and long-time supporter of the event, will once again take place at Surrey’s Daytona Sandown Park on Thursday 10 July.

With shooting brakes, feather boas, picnic blankets, cake creations and voluminous veg to the fore, the industry is invited to enjoy the event’s perennial favourites, including Best Dressed Fete’r, the hugely popular Bake Off and Veg Off, The Straw Stage for live entertainment and workshops, Peasant laser clay Shooting, the Food and Craft Fest stalls and some new additions, to be announced later in the build-up to the day.

“The fete stalls proved incredibly popular last year, and even more companies want them this year so,

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06 March 2025

Europe - The preparations for the Showlight Quadrennial in Dijon (19 - 22 May 2025) are gathering speed with the programme of speakers almost complete and logistics rapidly falling into place.

Key to the spirit of Showlight is the support received from the generous sponsors and exhibitors without whose valuable contributions Showlight, as an entirely voluntary organisation, could not take place.

“We are excited to welcome no less than 22 sponsors and 30 exhibitors to Showlight 2025, with more still to come, bringing their products and their presence to enrich the event over the three exciting days,” say the organisers.

The Exhibitor Hall is the centre of the networking space, where all delegates and speakers mix in between Papers Sessions to exchange ideas, meet colleagues and make new contacts. The emphasis is on networking, and talk rev

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06 March 2025

UK - The Association of British Theatre Technicians has announced the launch of its one-day Automation Foundation CPD Course and ABTT Silver Award for Theatre Automation Technicians, adding to its already diverse training programme.

The new one-day ABTT Automation Foundation CPD is an entry-level course designed and created to introduce attendees to this sector of the industry, giving them an understanding of the key components and applications for automation within theatre and live events, as well as an understanding of how automation teams operate.

This continuous professional development (CPD) course gives the candidate something to show future employers or training providers, demonstrating that they have invested time and know the rudimentary basics of automation.

It will also enable attendees to progress on to the ABTT Silver Award for T

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06 March 2025

South Africa - DWR Distribution hosted the much-anticipated annual International Rigging Course from 27 January to 1 February, presented by Ruud de Deugd, founder of T&E Support. As the only training programme of its kind in the country, the course drew delegates from across South Africa, Namibia, Ghana, Zambia, and Mauritius, ranging from novices to experienced professionals.

Ruud, renowned for leading these training sessions globally, provided insights into the rigging industry. Over six days, participants covered vital topics such as safety protocols, maintenance practices, lifting materials, force calculations, and load tables. Attendees were expected to have a solid understanding of mathematics, as the training blended practical skills with technical theory.

“It feels like the family is back together,” Ruud shared upon his return to Sout

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06 March 2025

UK - Martin Audio, along with sister brands, Optimal Audio, TiMax, Linea Research and OutBoard, are again joining forces for their open day programme – showing the best of what the Focusrite Pro brands have to offer.

This will take place over three days, from 11-13 March. However, such is the momentum of these twice-a-year networking and demonstration events that the first day is already fully booked.

Martin Audio will be running separate stage monitor, point source, constant curvature and line array demonstrations (with selective on-demand listening sessions). In-depth training will be provided for DISPLAY and VU-NET software.

TiMax will showcase immersive audio solutions across TiMax panLab, TiMax SoundHub and TiMax Tracker.

Optimal Audio will provide an engaging multi-zone commercial audio demonstration, including new products, a

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05 March 2025

UK - The Olivier Awards 2025 with Mastercard have announced that the recipients of this year’s Industry Recognition Awards are Bryan Raven, Rupert Bielby and Sue Uings.

Bryan Raven is recognised for his ‘transformative impact on the theatre sector’, from leading White Light for over 25 years, to championing sustainability, and facilitating and training a new generation of technicians through his support for TheatreCraft and White Light’s apprenticeship programme.

Rupert Bielby has ‘37 years of outstanding leadership in West End theatre operations’, shaping some of London’s most iconic venues. His dedication, particularly in guiding LW Theatres through the challenges of Covid and reopening, has left a lasting impact on the industry.

Sue Uings is recognised for her ‘exceptional contributions to theatre marketing and ti

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04 March 2025

Creative Consent - Organisations including the Society of London Theatre and UK Theatre, Equity and the Writers’ Guild of Great Britain are urging the government to ensure creative work cannot be mined by artificial intelligence unless its creator has given express consent.

The government is consulting on targeted protections for the arts following a backlash against its controversial new plans, under which AI would be able to train easily on content unless its creators forbade it. But unions have warned that “the clock is ticking” to put safeguards in place against the “industrial-scale theft” they claim is already unfolding.

Equity and the WGGB have now demanded an opt-in model for creative workers, under which they must give permission for their work to be used by AI, as well as fair remuneration for artists where their content is used,

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28 February 2025

USA - Pharos Architectural Controls will once again be joining the lighting industry at this year’s LEDucation, where they will be showcasing a host of new product updates.

LEDucation is the largest LED-only tradeshow in the United States, offering the opportunity for industry professionals to discover solid-state innovations and access professional development sessions.

Pharos will be on stand GB-706, unveiling updates to its most popular products and services. This includes the next significant release of Expert software, that will add support for the Pharos RIO G4 – a four-port network gateway for DMX distribution.

Expert software version 1.2 launches with support for two new capacity variants of Expert Control: Expert Control 4 and Expert Control 6. The four-universe Expert Control 4 has a capacity of 2,048 DMX channels and the Expert

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27 February 2025

UK - Production Futures has announced that its next On Tour event will take place at the AO Arena, Manchester on Monday 28 April. The venue is one of the largest of its kind in the UK, and will host a Production Futures event for the second time, following the success of last year’s arena debut.

Set to attract a wide range of young people from across North-West England and beyond, this free-of-charge event will promote employability, transferable skills, diversity, free training, networking, and will present paid work opportunities to newcomers across the live event and broadcast production industry.

Manufacturers, supply and production companies, venues and distributors will have representatives present at the event to provide advice, information and insights, and discuss specific job and training opportunities. Production Futures also wo

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26 February 2025

Germany - At the 30th edition of Prolight + Sound (8-11 April 2025), the trade fair will present a significantly expanded ProAudio area. With innovative formats, optimised education and networking opportunities, and a focus on future-oriented technologies, the area will become a central hotspot for professionals and young talents, say the organisers.

Music and audio technology have always been essential elements of the event industry and are deeply rooted in the DNA of Prolight + Sound. In 2025, the trade fair will expand its offering for audio engineers, DJs and producers.

A number of well-known companies from the Pro Audio sector have already confirmed their participation in 2025, including Amate Audio, Babbel & Haeger with various sales brands, DAS Audio, Harmonic Design, HK Audio (Music & Sales professional GmbH), Kling & Freitag, KV2