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18 July 2025

UK - Production Futures has announced that nominations are now open for its Breakthrough Talent Awards 2025. The awards recognise the achievements of young people across the production industries and seek to inspire future generations. With the support and sponsorship of key industry partners, the Awards cover 21 different categories, reflecting the diversity of opportunity within the production industries. Previous winners have gone on to enjoy flourishing careers with a wide range of companies or have taken up roles as in-demand freelancers with the skills and confidence to meet any challenge.

A keen sponsor of the Breakthrough Talent Awards is independent lighting, rigging, and control supplier for the UK and Europe, Neg Earth Lights, whose head of marketing Anna Gould comments: “We are delighted to be once again sponsoring the Breakth

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18 July 2025

USA/Europe - Elation has announced the launch of its new and improved website, ElationLighting.com. The completely redesigned site serves as a dynamic product showcase with an emphasis on video content, providing an engaging platform for customers and partners to explore Elation’s extensive line of professional lighting products.

Featuring a more intuitive interface, the new website delivers an improved experience across both desktop and mobile devices. With most visitors accessing the site via desktop, the updated experience has been carefully optimised to be smoother and faster with a highly responsive interface, streamlined navigation, and powerful new search functionality for faster, more precise results. Visitors also benefit from enhanced product filtering and powerful product comparison tools, making it easier than ever to evaluate and select the ri

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18 July 2025

UK - Something special has been brewing at Glastonbury’s The Glade Stage for many years now. At its heart is an adventurous spirit and a hunger for innovation. This is the place Funktion-One founder Tony Andrews chooses as the playground for the loudspeaker manufacturer’s latest technological developments – where he continues a legacy that started at the first Glastonbury Festival in 1971.

This year, 54 years later, Andrews and Funktion-One, working in collaboration with Audio Plus, continued a trailblazing ethos that has established The Glade Stage as the place for the most exciting sonic experiences at the festival. New heights were reached thanks to a sound system that delivered what Andrews described as “probably the best sonic experience of my life”.

At the heart of The Glade Stage’s setup was Vero VX – Funktion-One’s medium form

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18 July 2025

UAE - Creative Technology Middle East (CTME) has made a major investment in new lighting equipment. This follows another substantial Robe purchase earlier in 2024.

The Robe numbers on this one are 60 x iFortes, 60 x iForte LTXs, eight iForte LTX FS Cameras, 80 x iTetra2 battens, 100 x LEDBeam 350s, 12 x iBolts and four RoboSpot BaseStations (added to the four CTME already owned), making eight in total. 

Added to these are the 24 x Fortes and 80 x LEDBeam 350s in the inventory that arrived earlier in 2024 with the first batch of four RoboSpots.

Sam Connolly, CTME's head of lighting & power, explained that all this equipment is for their rental stock and is already serving the company's busy schedule of shows, events, concerts, spectaculars, and special projects across the region.

Sam highlighted that because of the near-identical

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18 July 2025

USA - Disturbed’s five-time platinum debut album The Sickness began attracting new fans to metal from the day it was released in 2000. To celebrate the album’s 25th anniversary, the band are undertaking a 51-date tour that kicked off at Ford Centre Idaho Arena on 12 February and concludes at the OVO Hydro in Glasgow on 28 October, with stops at The United Centre, Madison Square Garden, and the Kia Forum along the way.

Setting the stage for the celebration, while serving up some intensely gripping looks, was a production and lighting design by Trevor Ahlstrand and Sooner Routhier of The Playground that included Chauvet Professional Color Strike M motorised strobes and Maverick Storm 4 Profiles, which, like the rest of the rig, were supplied by Premier Global Production.

Joined by programmer Jason Giaffo and lighting director Joseph ‘Bam

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18 July 2025

Germany - At this year’s Telekom Electronic Beats festival in Berlin, lighting designer Rolf Wenzel deployed 90 GLP JDC2 IP hybrid strobes to create a striking lighting architecture at CANK, a former C&A department store in Neukölln. The fixtures were embedded in a large-format grid structure, inspired by classic 1980s disco aesthetics. The focus was on dynamically illuminated fields and a video-based display of the versatile spotlights.

The goal of the installation was to utilise the venue’s limited architectural space (3.05m of headroom and no hanging options) to create a lighting setup suitable for both DJ sets and live performance. The central element: a 30m-wide, 3m high podium rack with 90 individually controlled JDC2 IP fixtures arranged in 1 x 1m arrays – equally spaced by baffles to create a clean light pattern without glare.

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18 July 2025

The Netherlands - In the Dutch city of Maastricht, integrator Verjans AV, specialists in the hospitality sector, recently designed and supplied Coda Audio systems for three city-centre venues.

With considerable experience of both installation and live event audio, Harald Verjans first encountered Coda Audio in 2013 and has been a fan of the brand and customer of Viladco, Coda’s Benelux distributor, ever since.

“I attended a demo in Hanover and was immediately struck by the audio quality and the power coming from such small boxes. The fact that all the different cabinets share the same sonic signature was also a big plus. When the three venues in Maastricht wanted exceptional high-fidelity audio from their systems, Coda loudspeakers were the obvious choice.”

Verjans installed a new Coda Audio system for the recently opened Bar Nola. The

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18 July 2025

UK - The Morris on Thomas Street, which opened in May, is in the heart of Manchester’s Northern Quarter, a bustling area characterised by independent bars, boutiques, cafes and restaurants. Creativity is king in this area and The Morris, as a three-floor multi-concept venue, is a fine example how carefully considered design with great attention to detail can create the perfect atmosphere.

In Thomas Street’s competitive environment, The Morris’s ownership wished to gain an edge by investing in a flexible sound system which could provide high-quality audio for background music and live performance, whilst also complementing the venue’s aesthetic.

The Morris engaged experienced Salford-based integrator Hollowsphere, who provided a premium solution based on Pioneer Pro Audio CM-Series commercial audio loudspeakers. The range has quickly establish

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18 July 2025

China - On 14 July, at the grand opening of the Versatile AI Virtual Film Base and the AI Virtual Film Technology launch event in Deqing, the world’s largest monolithic LED virtual production stage was officially unveiled.

In a joint venture by Absen and Versatile, this stage features a 270-degree curved LED screen with a diameter of 50m and a height of 12m. The total floor area of the stage reaches 5,000m², with the LED display covering approximately 1,700 m² – the equivalent to four standard basketball courts.

Powered by LED virtual production technology, the recreation of complex, large-scale, and costly scenes in film and television can now be achieved through a combination of virtual environments and minimal physical sets. Scene changes can be completed within minutes, and when paired with immersive 8K LED walls and realistic lighting, the

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18 July 2025

UK - The Association of British Theatre Technicians (ABTT) has announced that Mig Walsh, senior lecturer at Guildford School of Acting, stepped down as co-chair of the ABTT on Monday 14 July 2025, following nearly four years of dedicated service in the role.

David Evans, sustainability consultant, freelance production manager and current editor of Sightline, will continue as ABTT chair, ensuring leadership continuity and supporting ABTT CEO Liz Sillett and the wider team as they pursue strategic goals set earlier this year.

Appointed co-chair in November 2021 alongside David, Mig has played a pivotal role in guiding the ABTT through the challenges of the post-pandemic period. Her leadership has been marked by a strong focus on mental health and welfare within the backstage theatre industry – areas in which she has driven meaningful and las

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17 July 2025

World - Columbian reggaeton star Maluma chose DiGiCo for his 2025 Maluma+Pretty+Dirty worldwide arena and stadium. Front-of-house engineers German Tarazona and Rudy Rosales Cuéllar chose the DiGiCo Quantum 338 with Pulse upgrade, supplied by Clair Global, for both the monitor and front-of-house positions.

Over recent years, Maluma has enjoyed major success, filling stadiums globally and massing large numbers of followers and listens across all his social media platforms. His collaborations include singles with Madonna, Shakira, Jennifer Lopez, Karol G, The Weeknd and more.

Tarazona has been working with Maluma for seven years, starting on monitors, now working at the front-of-house position, and Rosales Cuéllar joined them at the monitor position last year. The consoles provide an elegant workflow and all the audio processing the pair need

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17 July 2025

USA - From major touring productions and festivals to high-stakes corporate events and high-profile permanent installations, Las Vegas-based 3G Productions LLC has spent more than 20 years delivering audio, lighting, video, and rigging solutions. Now, some of that same professional-grade equipment is available for purchase through the launch of 3G’s new website: UsedGear.com.

“The production industry runs on trust - in your equipment, team, and suppliers,” says 3G Productions CEO Keith Conrad. “With UsedGear.com, we’ve created a marketplace where audio, lighting, video, and rigging professionals can access the same calibre equipment used on major productions at prices that respect the realities of budgets. Top-notch, tour-ready gear, professional service, and reasonable prices are the genesis and hallmarks of UsedGear.com.”

The new site f

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17 July 2025

USA - Every year, KultureCity, a leading nonprofit for sensory accessibility, hosts KultureBall, a black-tie evening where celebrities and philanthropy walk hand-in-hand to promote acceptance, inclusion, and raise funds for individuals with invisible disabilities.

Recently, the organisation marked its 10th anniversary with an evening filled with inspiration, surprise performances, and sensory-inclusive design, powered by a JBL Professional audio system provided by longtime partner Epic.

The gala featured a mix of content, including a full orchestra, multiple presenters, ASL interpreters, a centre-stage extension, and live performances from Arnel Pineda of Journey, Orianthi, and American Idol winner Taylor Hicks.

The event called for a sound system with the power and clarity of a touring rig, but with the elegance and intelli

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17 July 2025

USA - For years, Church Unlimited has sought to create powerful worship experiences that resonate with every person in the room. But as its Corpus Christi, TX campus grew, the church found itself working around the limits of a 20-year-old PA system that could no longer deliver the clarity, consistency or impact needed for modern worship.

Determined to overcome those challenges and elevate the experience for its congregation, Church Unlimited turned to its long-time integration partner, Messenger AVL, and ultimately found the solution with an Eastern Acoustic Works’ (EAW) ADAPTive sound system.

Messenger AVL, a Georgia-based design-build integrator specialising in worship spaces, knew that traditional systems would struggle to meet the church’s goals without compromising aesthetics, budget or coverage. EAW’s ADAPTive technology offered a uniquel

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17 July 2025

Mexico - The new Lavo restaurant in Mexico City marks another collaboration between 1 Sound and Tao Group, with this project and the recent Lavo Las Vegas coming to life around the same time. As the group expands globally, that audio has become a brand standard - one that prioritises clarity, design, and the guest experience. 1 Sound systems help bring this to life.

For this space, integrator NTX turned to the Cannon Series for distributed coverage. A total of 30 Cannon C5i loudspeakers were installed throughout the venue, chosen for their high output in a compact form and their ability to deliver clean, intelligible sound even at low levels. Cannon C4s were also added to smaller areas that required a little less throw.

Thanks to their sonic clarity and lack of distortion, the music at LAVO doesn’t fight the conversation - it fills the room in a wa

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17 July 2025

Europe/Saudi Arabia - Zeynep Kepekli’s desert experience inspired her when creating an enchanting lighting design for Thikra: Night of Remembering. Kepekli spent time in the Saudi Arabian desert when preparing her design for this compelling production created by multi-award-winning choreographer Akram Khan and Wadi AlFann, in collaboration with artist Manal AlDowayan, and featuring an original score by Aditya Prakash.

“This piece was originally made in the desert,” said Kepekli, noting that the premiere took place outdoors on a starry night at Wadi AlFann in Saudi Arabia against the dramatic cliffs of a desert canyon.

“On our first research trip to AlUla, we all met in the desert at 4am, and stayed there for a few hours until the sun came up,” she recalled. “We wanted to see the darkness and the changing light as sunrise approach

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17 July 2025

UK - An energetic, capacity crowd rocked out in front of the Serious Stellar stage for the Deftones Crystal Palace Park concert at the end of June.

Festival Republic’s production team, led by production manager Alice James, delivered the sound and visually strong show, for the 15,000 fans on the venue's Italian Terrace, where the undercard featured Qendresa, Health, Hi Viz and Weezer.

The 20m Stellar concert stage, flanked by video-screen goalposts, created a 35m frontage. Serious also installed four speaker towers relaying sound to the whole crowd on the long, narrow site, along with two x three storey front-of-house towers for lighting and audio engineers and a raised assisted viewing platform.

The stage was designed and manufactured by Serious Stages in the UK, by project manager Andrew Ridler, who was on site to supervise the build.

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17 July 2025

South Africa - Following Plus Audio’s involvement in several recent high-profile events, the brand continues to gain momentum. Multi-Media is the latest company to make a significant purchase of multipurpose point source loudspeakers from the Stage Audio Works Group brand.

Specialists in event design and production, Multi-Media partners with a variety of brands to provide technology solutions for everything from live concerts to corporate events. Now, Multi-Media has invested in 24 Plus Audio MPS12A loudspeakers, giving them a trusty new arsenal of high-performance gear for a busy schedule of both national and international productions. Loudspeaker bags from Stage Audio Works’ Stage Plus range of premium protective cases were also purchased.

“This move underscores our company’s continued commitment to delivering high-end technical production

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17 July 2025

Europe - Clear-Com recently celebrated the successful implementation of its Equip intercom system at Merlin Theme Parks, enhancing ride operations, safety, and guest satisfaction through improved team communication. As a long-standing trusted technology partner, Tyrell introduced Merlin to Clear-Com’s Equip system, a hands-free, full-duplex intercom solution designed to streamline real-time conversations between ride operators, loaders, and platform staff.

From the outset, Tyrell worked closely with both Merlin and Clear-Com to scope the technical requirements, facilitate product demonstrations, and ensure each deployment was tailored to the unique footprint of individual attractions.

Kiran O’Connor, continuous improvement lead at Merlin Theme Park, highlights the communication challenges the park faced: “People would stand at a phone or a poin

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17 July 2025

Europe - Yamaha has launched the YCM705, a condenser microphone which delivers professional-quality sound for voice, vocals and music production.

Expanding Yamaha’s range of studio microphones for content creators, streamers and bloggers, the YCM705 is a bigger, more professional sibling of the entry-level YCM01, which has been a popular solution for content creators since its launch in 2023.

The new YCM705 is primarily aimed at musicians who want to showcase themselves and their instruments to their best advantage. Designed to flawlessly reproduce the sound of the popular acoustic guitar/vocals, singer-songwriter setup, Yamaha’s long experience of manufacturing traditional instruments means it is equally impressive with other instruments, from strings to percussion.

At the heart of the YCM705 is its condenser capsule, featuring a gold-sp