Sound Investment - The British music industry invested nearly £500m in new music in 2014, with the signing up of new artists by major labels up 30%, according to data released by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) and Music Publishers Association (MPA). The number of new acts signed by major labels last year hit a five-year high of 156, the figures say.

The 156 new artists signed by Sony Music, Universal Music and Warner Music was 26 more than in 2013, and just 12 fewer than the recent peak in 2009 of 164 new deals. Geoff Taylor, chief executive of the BPI and Brit Awards, said, "It's no fluke that 2014 was such an outstanding year for British music. Alongside the artists themselves, the passion and commitment labels show in unearthing, nurturing and developing the next wave of talent is one of the main reasons our music is the envy of the world right now."<

USA - Audinate has announced the immediate worldwide availability of its new Dante Via software. Having already revolutionized the delivery of audio-over-IP with its widely adopted Dante networking solution, Audinate now makes it even easier for end-users, integrators, consultants and sound engineers across a wide range of markets to experience the advantages of Dante-based networking.

The Dante Via software connects any audio application or device from your computer to a Dante network. Dante Via enables USB, FireWire or Thunderbolt devices - including microphones, legacy mixing consoles or I/O boxes - to join any Dante audio network. The new software also allows a Dante network to be created without the need for dedicated Dante hardware, providing a straightforward approach to routing audio using only computers. Sporting an intuitive, easy to use 'drag and drop'-style interface

Papua New Guinea - Optical Audio is a boutique provider of high-end audio processing, communications and control equipment working out of Melbourne, Australia. Technical Director Jason Read heads up a full time team of three employees, working with a team of regular contractors on the big gigs.

"We supply a service, managed within our current staffing, that ensures we deliver the product," explained Jason. "We're there from quote, to design, to delivery and we're the guys on the ground doing the job. When we started eight years ago, we were supplying backbone PA equipment like drive gear and processing. Communications became a natural progression from our work on fireworks and show control systems. Comms came naturally to us, and we've stared to specialise, and take on high profile projects."

Optical Audio has chosen equipment from Clear-Com to fill their c

Canada - Ottawa's Centrepointe Theatre has become the first Canadian venue to permanently install a Meyer Sound Leopard linear sound reinforcement system. The system is the third generation of Meyer Sound systems to be installed in the 954-seat theatre, which has relied on the durability and longevity of Meyer Sound since its opening in 1988.

"The coverage of Leopard is incredibly uniform," reports Neil Collier, senior project manager for Ottawa-based Wall Sound, Inc., which designed and installed the system. "With the same evenness in the upper and under balcony as in the rest of the house, every seat is a great seat. In addition, the flown 900-LFC low-frequency control elements have opened up sightlines for extreme front row side seats that were formerly obstructed by stage-stacked subwoofers."

According to Matt Lamarche, production supervisor for Centrep

Germany - Audio and video play a key role in the new Medical Simulation Centre at Technical University Munich in Germany. The new facility has been designed for the training of physicians and healthcare staff and realistically recreates the critical situations they will encounter in their professional lives.

The training takes place in fully equipped medical rooms and is carried out on modern simulation dummies, in which bodily functions such as breathing, heart rate and blood pressure can all be measured. The dummies can even talk, being connected to the microphone of a tutor. The tutors provide instruction from separate control rooms with audio and video links. These links also allow recording for later debriefing sessions.

The AV equipment for the project was supplied by prodyTel Distribution GmbH, who worked closely with the technical staff at the university to design a sy

UK - The Shure Distribution UK Systems Group provided leading AV Integrator Snelling with technical support and product expertise for a major upgrade of the installed audio system at Reading University's G10 Theatre.

As the sole AV integrator for the University, Snelling has consolidated Reading's AV systems and standardised on Shure and QSC for audio, along with Dante for network audio. The university was previously using a mix of analogue products across the estate that were limited in their ability to change frequency due to interference from other channels/external factors. These limitations were compounded by the high level of maintenance and licensing management required by the system.

Snelling worked alongside the Shure UK Systems Group to configure a scalable and resilient networked audio system comprised of Shure ULX-D Digital Wireless System, QSC DCA cinema amplifier

Europe - Panasonic is set to release the world's lightest and most compact 3-Chip DLPTM laser projector featuring beyond 4K resolution.

First previewed at ISE 2015, the 10,000 lumens PT-RQ13K has a Quad Pixel Drive that produces detailed, film-like, 4K+ images.

The optical axis of the projector is shifted both horizontally and vertically at a high frame rate of up to 240 Hz, to create four different pixels from a single pixel - effectively quadrupling the pixel density of the image.

A new generation of detail clarity processors analyses the requirement for extra pixels and optimise the output for fluid, detailed, high-contrast images, says the company.

Hartmut Kulessa, European projector product marketing manager at Panasonic, said, "Panasonic has traditionally been very popular with the rental and staging market because of the build quality and compact nature of its

UK - After the genuinely remarkable success in the last few years of their single-channel, standalone REDDI valve Direct Box especially among bass players, A-Designs now offers the dual-channel REDDI v2 model in a 19 inch 2U rack mountable cabinet. With exactly the same circuitry as the REDDI, the v2 model uses a single 6N1P dual triode tube for each channel along with a gigantic, custom-wound Cinemag output transformer.

Inside the all-steel case is an overspecified toroidal transformer within a shielded and regulated power supply section, with both valves securely mounted in ceramic sockets. The front panel has a Switchcraft 1/4" Thru jack, gold-pinned Neutrik XLR output and Combo input jacks. The rear panel houses the IEC power socket and a ground lift switch.

With the same Ampeg sound as the original REDDI unit, it's 1 meg-Ohm input impedance preserves the sound of gu

USA / Switzerland - Audio over IP pioneer Barix announces that Music Matters, a New York City-based custom music provider for luxury lifestyle brands, is among the first customers to deploy its groundbreaking SoundScape IP distribution and management platform. The initial deployment covers hospitality clients including Commune Hotels + Resorts, Hyatt and IC Hotels with additional rollouts to luxury retail and hospitality brands to follow.

SoundScape is a fully integrated, subscription-based software-as-a-service (SaaS) for streaming business music and advertising over IP networks. The complete platform brings together cloud-based content management, reliable end point players and global, centralized monitoring capabilities. Quick to deploy and infinitely scalable, users enjoy dynamic content scheduling, system-wide reporting and monitoring, remote device management, and high-qua

USA - Willow Creek Community Church in Chicago recently celebrated its 40th anniversary at the 20,500-seat United Centre in Chicago. Audio production was a major undertaking, deploying nearly 350x Nexo STM modules, used in the round - the largest single use of STM in the US to date, and the first use of the new Yamaha Rivage PM10.

Audio production was spearheaded by the light and sound division of Morris Light & Sound (Nashville, TN) with the assistance of Reach Communications (Champlin, MN), TC Furlong (Lake Forest, IL), and Yamaha Professional Audio, headquartered in Buena Park, CA.

With all of the requirements for this huge task, company crews were on hand to assist, measure, test, and train staff when necessary. Fusion Productions, Inc. of Algonquin, IL, handled the production under the direction of company owner Todd Elliott, who acted as production manager for the annive

USA - Shure Incorporated has announced today that president and chief executive officer Santo (Sandy) LaMantia intends to retire, effective 1 July, 2016. As part of a planned succession, he and Mrs. Rose L. Shure, chairman, will appoint current executive vice president of global operations, marketing, and sales and chief operating officer Christine (Chris) Schyvinck to succeed him as president and CEO. On 1 January 2016, Schyvinck will take on the added title of president, and will serve in this role until her appointment as president and CEO on July 1, 2016.

LaMantia joined Shure in November of 1995 as vice president of engineering and was later appointed president and CEO in May of 1996. For 20 years, LaMantia has contributed significantly to the company's strategic growth, solidifying its global leadership as one of the most respected and recognized audio companies worldwide.

New Zealand - Pacific Simulators, a flight simulator design and manufacturing company based in Christchurch, New Zealand, has adopted Allen & Heath's compact ZED-10 and ZED-14 analogue mixers as standard in its products.

As part of the company's ongoing research and development, it recently underwent an audio design upgrade, which included the Allen and Heath mixers.

The company's training simulators, certified as official flight crew training machines in many countries, use the ZED-14 mixers, where 2 auxiliary sends are required to facilitate authentic flight crew training. Meanwhile ZED-10 mixers are now installed in the commercial 'Flight Experience' simulators, available from the company's global store network, which aim to provide a realistic experience of flying a passenger jet.

"Prior to working at Pacific Simulators, I was a sound and recording engineer for 30 y

China - Created by famed director Franco Dragone, The Han Show in Wuhan, China is thrilling capacity audiences of 2,000 with water-based spectacles supported by a massive and complex Meyer Sound system.

Designed by Vikram Kirby of California's Thinkwell Group, the system comprises 359 self-powered loudspeakers that are processed, distributed, and matrixed by the largest D-Mitri digital audio platform assembled to date, comprising 53 frames.

The system is inordinately complex because, in addition to requirements dictated by a world-class entertainment spectacular, the loudspeaker configurations must adapt to a dual-mode auditorium. During the performance, the upper seating area drops down and the lower seating area splits and rotates to the sides to reveal a vast pool for the water-based elements of the show. Because the entire seating layout changes, the show requires t

Ireland - Audient has announced a new and exclusive sales agent for the Republic and North of Ireland: Enda Quealy. Taking on the brand with immediate effect, Quealy is keen to get moving.

"With Audient's great-sounding analogue mixing consoles, audio interfaces and preamps already gracing a number of Irish colleges and studios, we are off to a good start," says Quealy with confidence. "I look forward to building upon these beginnings and developing this award-winning brand to its fullest potential."

His background in the distribution industry in Ireland started in 1999, but Quealy's passion for music, drumming and musical instruments stretches back to the late 80s when he was a teenager.

Chris Wright, Audient's UK market manager comments, "Enda comes with a strong, complementary portfolio of music technology and pro audio products which puts him exa

UK - The latest Bond movie, Spectre, received a sumptuous World Premiere at London's Royal Albert Hall (RAH) in the presence of their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry on Monday 26October.

Sony Pictures Releasing (UK), the films distributors hired event specialists Andy Peat Associates to manage the auditorium transformation and Nibbs Events to produce the 'Red Carpet', press and VIP arrivals on the South Steps. These two companies, who worked together successfully on the previous Bond films Die Another Day and Skyfall (that also had their World and Royal premieres at the Royal Albert Hall) had a very tight time frame in which to work, given the fact that Bob Dylan performed in the Hall the night before.

Technical director Andy Peat explained, "The film's producers Michael G Wilson and Barbara Brocolli are very clear

UK - Sound Technology has announced its appointment as distributor of Tempest wireless intercom products in the UK and ROI. Tempest systems are designed for broadcast, live sound production, theatre, sports coaching and installed audio applications.

Tempest is designed to offer a wired-intercom feature set with the convenience, flexibility and freedom of wireless operation. Tempest is fully compatible with all major 2-Wire and Matrix intercom systems and provides a transparent, reliable RF interface to the wired world.

The Tempest 2400-EU system operates in the 2.4GHz ISM band. Advanced digital wireless transmission technologies allow users the ability to operate up to 11 BaseStations and 55 full-duplex BeltStations in the same RF space at the same time with no license requirements and no frequency coordination.

Gary Rosen, global manager for Tempest, commented on the announ

Italy - A 40,000-strong crowd recently filled the huge square in front of Milan cathedral for a concert staged on the church's steps, featuring the 500-member Italian Gospel Choir, the 12-piece Italian Big Orchestra, guest director US songwriter, producer, composer and recording artist Donald Lawrence and Scots MC Malcolm Charlton (aka Nick the Nightfly), one of Italian FM radio's top personalities, a recording artist on his own right and artistic director of Milan's Blue Note Club.

To ensure the inspired music's intelligibility for the crowd, audio, lighting and stage/support system contractor Cipiesse s.r.l. of Rezzato (Brescia) deployed a setup comprising two main hangs of 12 Outline Butterfly enclosures, flown one on either side of the 50m wide 'set' and 16 Outline Eidos positioned along the cathedral steps (which doubled as main stage) on front-fill duty. Four Outline Subte

UK - Situated on the site of the world's first railway station, built in 1830, The Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester is a large museum devoted to the development of science, technology and industry, with emphasis on the city's achievements in these fields.

Also based in the north-west, system integrators Pure AV, who had already carried out past work for the client, were again introduced to provide a sound reinforcement in one particularly challenging area within the Power Hall, and turned to a Martin Audio O-Line solution, as they have many times in the past.

They were tasked with providing an audio system in a giant, loud ambient room within the Power Hall used for presentations to the general public. The area shows a locomotive with the side cut away while the presenter explains the workings of a steam engine. The audience is positioned in a viewing area opposite

UK - On Thursday, 12 November 2015, at the Annual Music Industries Association Awards Ceremony held in London, JHS & Co Ltd Chairman, John Hornby Skewes, was presented by the NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants) with a Lifetime Achievement Award.

John Hornby Skewes & Co. Ltd. has been a member company of the USA trade Association, NAMM, since the 1970's. This honour follows a previous Lifetime Achievement Award made to John Skewes by the British Association, MIA, in 2005.

This year JHS & Co. Ltd. achieved 50 years in business. The company was started in 1965 by John and Madge Skewes, and by hard work, perseverance and business skills, they have built the family owned company into one of the largest independent suppliers of musical merchandise and pro audio equipment in the UK.

(Jim Evans)

USA - Janet Jackson embarked on a major world tour at the end of August, hitting the road on the initial North American leg with audio production provided by VER Tour Sound, including a pair of DiGiCo SD7 consoles at front-of-house and monitors. At the end of September, StubHub announced that the early dates, in support of Jackson's new No. 1 album, Unbreakable, placed the tour among the top 10 hottest concerts of the fall season based on sales through the online ticket marketplace.

The non-stop Unbreakable show, which features over 30 songs in just over 90 minutes, generates 109 inputs, including Pro Tools tracks, to the two DiGiCo desks. Even with all those sources, Kyle Hamilton, Jackson's FOH engineer since her previous tour, in 2011, has no need for additional outboard effects. "I've always stayed away from using extra outboard stuff, just because I don't need i

UK - PLASA members are invited to attend a joint PLASA/UKTI round-table event taking place on 3 December in London. "The focus will be on trading overseas, the impact on your business and overcoming perceived barriers. Come and find out how UK Trade & Investment can help you, whether you are just starting to think about exporting or want to do more," says PLASA.

The event kicks off with a networking lunch followed by an address by Richard Parry, who has been involved in export promotion for over 20 years in a variety of roles. Parry will inform attendees about UKTI and outline what they are doing currently to help UK businesses. This will be followed by Matt Lloyd of GDS and Chris Murphy of Velta talking about their experiences using UKTI services and the benefits exporting has brought to them.

There will be plenty of time to ask questions, share knowledge and, hopef

France - Allen & Heath has confirmed Algam as the new exclusive distributor of its products in the French market. Algam is a leading distributor of MI and professional audio, video and lighting products in France and the Benelux.

"Algam is proud to add such a fantastic brand to its catalogue," says Benjamin Garnier, Algam managing director. "This partnership will enhance our portfolio, and open up new possibilities to further strengthen our standing in the French audio market. We are sincerely excited to develop the Allen & Heath brand in France."

To best serve the wide variety of Allen & Heath customers, which ranges from aspiring musicians to audio professionals, the sales operation will be divided between Algam Entreprises, which will manage sales to rental and staging companies and installers, and Audia, which will represent Allen & Heath to MI stores a

UK - British company Formidable Audio is all set to unleash their MkIII Turbosound Flashlight system to the live arena.

Since previous a/b testing took place at Millennium Studios' A Stage in private, further modification and improvements have been made and the system is now ready to thrill listeners at Troxy, 490 Commercial Road, London on 23 November.

The new "3 wide" fly bar designed and manufactured by Formidable will also get an airing. This will facilitate the ability to fly a narrower horizontal dispersion system whilst still maintaining the ability to provide extended vertical dispersion if required.

The event will take the format of an a/b shootout between the upgraded Flashlight system and an independently supplied and set up line array system.

The emphasis of the event will be to give listeners the opportunity to decide which system they believe delive

France - Tributes are being paid throughout the concert touring community to the victims of the Bataclan terror attacks in Paris on Friday. Among the 89 people killed at the venue were two well-known to members of the touring community: Nathalie Jardin, the 31-year-old lighting and stage manager, and 36-year-old British man Nick Alexander, who was touring with Eagles of Death Metal, selling merchandise.

Immediately following the attacks, Nathalie's father Patrick told French media that although he knew she had been working at the venue, he had been unable to locate her. It later transpired that Nathalie had died of gunshot wounds. "It seems that my daughter is dead," he later told French media.

Nathalie, who was nick-named 'Natalight', had worked at the venue since November 2011. A Facebook page has been set up f

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