France - L-Acoustics has announced its strategic investment in French-based MagREEsource. It has also established exclusive partner rights in the professional audio industry for sustainable and sovereign, European-based rare earth magnets critical to loudspeaker manufacturing.

This forward-looking partnership introduces a breakthrough circular economy model for the professional audio industry through innovative magnet recycling and manufacturing technology, says L-Acoustics. By investing in MagREEsource, L-Acoustics is supporting a start-up partner that will allow the loudspeaker manufacturer to significantly reduce its environmental footprint while diversifying its supply sources for neodymium magnets essential to loudspeaker manufacturing. This strategic mov

India - Hi-Tech Audio & Image LLP, the exclusive India partner and distributor for DiGiCo, has officially completed the Indian launch of the DiGiCo Quantum 852 at Palm Expo 2025. At the event, SNL Pro, one of India’s leading live sound and production rental companies, became the first in the country to invest in this console.

“The Quantum 852 represents a shift not just in technology, but in mindset,” says Manish Mavani, director of SNL Pro. “With an already robust inventory featuring two DiGiCo SD10s and a Quantum 338, SNL Pro’s acquisition of the Quantum 852 marks a significant milestone, bringing the seventh and most advanced flagship console into its portfolio.

“This strategic investment underscores the company’s unwavering dedication to delivering world-class audio production and further solidifies its leadership within India

UK - Production lighting for the vibrant and diverse Park Stage at the 2025 Glastonbury Festival was once again supplied by Bristol, UK-based SWG Events. A design by Mat Spencer – also chief LX for the project – which included nearly 70 Robe moving lights, helped deliver the lighting for a lineup including Anohni and the Johnsons, Haim, Caribou, Beth Gibbons, The Maccabees and Gary Numan.

SWG has been the technical production partner for The Park Stage since it was launched in 2007, offering a full package – lighting, audio, video, and rigging. At Glasto 2025, it was one of the largest and most prominent of eight stages in which the company were involved, deploying approximately 60 crew site-wide, explained SWG project manager Joe Bailey.

SWG also has a lot of Robe products in its rental inventory, so it was a natural choice for The Park, where

UK - One of the most recognisable names in British retail, Matalan has a network of more than 270 UK and international stores and caters to upwards of 10m shoppers in-store and online each year. The company’s headquarters in Knowsley, near Liverpool, features an entire ‘mock shop’ and a large-scale conferencing space for staff training, awards ceremonies and other gatherings.

A recent audio upgrade package – supplied by Liverpool-based AV and production specialists MSP – saw an Audio-Technica 3000 Series wireless system installed for use across a variety of locations, as MSP’s general manager Ritchie Neild explains: “We have a long-standing relationship with Matalan, so we tend to have a clear idea of their requirements and use-cases when it comes to AV. When it came to a new wireless solution, to be used for everything from sales training to o

UK - When Siyan MD Mark Baruch and his colleagues first saw GLP’s new JDC Burst 1 at last autumn’s LDI expo in Las Vegas, they knew this evolutionary strobe hybrid would make a significant impact on the lighting rental company’s inventory. Furthermore, they wanted to be at the front of the queue for delivery.

GLP fulfilled that wish, with Kerry Tymms in the UK office going the extra mile to get the first 100 heads landed, racked and into the Royal Albert Hall for a performance by Adriatique. In so doing, this high-profile show became the first deployment of the Bursts anywhere in the UK.

“Since that event they’ve hardly been in the warehouse,” Baruch admits. Recently, Radio 1’s Big Weekend in Liverpool saw 40-plus units (many edging the front of the stage) as part of the house rig on the New Music Stage, which saw a surprise ap

UK - Disguise has unveiled X1, a portable version of its designer software. X1 lets creators run 4K visuals directly from their own laptop or hardware - no proprietary media servers required. It’s the first time Disguise’s powerful production engine has been made available in a flexible, software-only format, giving production teams total freedom to design, map and deliver wherever their vision takes them.

Developed for professionals delivering small-to-medium live events including concerts, theatre productions and corporate brand experiences, X1 works by providing users with convenient, on-the-go access to the same, trusted software used to pre-visualise, sequence and control headline shows across the globe.

The portable new solution has already been used on several live events during an exclusive pilot, including Bullet For My Valentine at Rock

Europe/USA - ETC has announced a new addition to the Eos Apex family with the launch of the Eos Apex FP. Featuring the same programming surface and software as an Apex 5, minus the built-in display, the Apex FP is designed for those seeking a console that is just as powerful as it is adaptable.

The Eos Apex FP allows users to incorporate their display, using the two 16mm (5/8 in) baby pin ports to mount accessories such as monitors, tablets, laptops, and cameras. Alongside the flexible design is an array of features including customisable OLED Target keys for direct selects, reconfigurable inputs and outputs, six encoders, and one bank of RGB-backlit target keys.

Apex consoles are built with flexibility in mind, allowing you to mix and match your DMX and show control ports on a per-show basis using customisable widgets. In addition to standard etherC

Europe/USA - Elation has launched ‘a new era of high-impact beam lights’ with the Proteus Radius, a compact, high-intensity IP66 Beam FX fixture powered by a LILI (Laser Illuminated Lighting Instrument) light engine.

LILI is new technology that offers benefits such as a tighter, sharper and brighter beam, improved energy efficiency, better light quality, and increased adaptability. The Proteus Radius’s laser-based LILI light engine produces a remarkably bright, concentrated beam of light that can span impressively long distances. The ultra-narrow beam cuts through as a solid column of dense light, adding attention-grabbing impact. Highly efficient with little heat produced, the LILI engine boasts a long life of 10,000 hours without significant degradation in brightness or quality, keeping replacement and maintenance costs low.

Eric Loader, Elat

featured content

ETC Halcyon Silent

High End Systems Halcyon Silent builds on ETC’s legacy of fanless automated fixtures by incorporating features from the highly sought-after Halcyon family. Halcyon Silent perfectly balances silent operation with brilliant output of 18,400 lumens and high-impact features. 

For more information visit us at www.etcconnect.com

UK - Live Technology has announced two significant appointments as the business bolsters its team to support customers across the live events sector, following its launch last month.

Tim Haskell joins the dedicated live events distributor as product specialist – professional lighting, bringing more than 15 years of industry expertise with a focus on the film, TV, and broadcast sectors. Tim will be supporting Live Technology’s professional lighting team, helping to expand its presence in these markets following the addition of Sumolight and Elation to its portfolio, alongside Martin Professional, Robert Juliat, Macula, and StageSmarts.

Tim joins from Rotolight, where he played a key role in developing both sales and customer relationships in the UK and several major international markets.

Stuart Down has been appointed head of audio and wi

USA - Neutrik Group celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Neutrik brand with a dynamic and heartfelt event at the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, NC, just minutes from the company’s Americas headquarters.

Held on 10 July, the milestone gathering brought together numerous attendees, including employees, customers, partners, dealers and distributors from across the region. With a theme inspired by speed, performance and innovation, the evening blended nostalgia, gratitude and forward momentum.

A centrepiece video and photo montage honoured Neutrik’s 50-year legacy, highlighting breakthrough innovations, key partnerships and the dedicated people who shaped the company into a global connectivity leader. Among the evening’s highlights were the NASCAR Hall of Fame venue and bringing all of the company’s top partners together for one e

UK - Audient has announced its partnership with Jet Stream Audio for the sales and support of mixing consoles in the UK. Based in London, Jet Stream is headed up by Bryn Wildish, former UK market manager for Audient.

Bryn says: “Jet Stream is proud to distribute the Audient ASP range of consoles in the UK. Having worked with Audient for nearly a decade previously, and overseen the installation of hundreds of their consoles around the country, this was an easy fit for both of us. It provides a consistent and easy transition for Audient customers.

“Jet Stream and Audient share a customer-first ethic and we genuinely hold Audient, their products and the team in the highest esteem. I look forward to a renewed and ongoing partnership.”

Audient CEO Simon Sinclair says: “When approached by Jet Stream Audio, the decision to collaborate was st

USA - dBTechnologies has debuted its dBTechnologies Academy, delivering the first-ever stateside VIO Operator Level 1 and Level 2 certifications.

Hosted by The Rave, a multi-room Milwaukee venue and recent adopter of multiple dBTechnologies VIO systems across its performance spaces, the two-day event welcomed audio professionals from across the Midwest for immersive training with dBTechnologies’ road-ready VIO series - a modular system designed for both complex installations and demanding live environments.

Attendees included technical teams and leadership from The Rave, AudioBiz - the dBTechnologies USA reps for the region - and sound companies, with participants ranging from system techs and engineers to sales and support staff, all eager to deepen their knowledge of system design, deployment, and performance using dBTechnologies

Italy - K-array has announced the launch of its new online e-learning platform, enabling accessible access to training on K-array products and technologies. The courses are AVIXA certified, meaning learners can collect Certified Technology Specialist (CTS) Renewal Units, required for maintaining their continuing professional development. 

“The launch of our e-learning platform is a natural evolution of our commitment to increasing skills and knowledge within our industry,” explains Daniele Mochi, customer support director at K-array. “Aimed at systems integrators, sound designers and everyone involved in audio design and installations, our courses provide learners with an accessible toolkit to empower their work and get the very best out of K-array products in various environments.”

A full portfolio of courses will be available on the e-lear

UK - Sound designers, engineers, and industry friends gathered at London’s Tileyard last week to raise a glass to the launch of the new TiMax Spatial Studio – the TiMax London HQ, R&D space, and training facility, designed to inspire the next chapter of spatial audio innovation.

In a brief toast, pioneering TiMax founders Robin Whittaker and Dave Haydon welcomed guests to “the space we’ve always wanted to build for the TiMax community”. The duo, who brought the concept of spatial audio to market over 25 years ago when they developed TiMax – still recognised as one of the most powerful spatial audio rendering platforms available – thanked the Focusrite Group for the care taken with the company, and spoke of their confidence in stepping back, knowing a formidable new development team is now at the helm.

They handed over to product and

Bulgaria - The annual BG Radio Music Awards ceremony took place at Sofia’s Arena 8888, with a sold-out show seeing Bulgaria’s biggest names perform in an immersive video environment, driven by Green Hippo Hippotizer Media Servers.

The stage consisted of 10 individual LED media surfaces, forming a highly modular and immersive visual environment. The centrepiece was a wide, curved LED wall, complemented by additional vertical and horizontal LED elements integrated into the set. All LED surfaces were controlled via six Hippotizer Boreal+ MK2 Media Servers.

“Delivered in a fully tour-ready rack system, the servers allowed us to achieve extremely fast setup times - the system was ready to operate within minutes,” says Sebastian Huwig, aka Huwi, managing director at trust event group, which delivered content design, operation, server system special

UK - White Light (WL) supported the latest immersive production from The Lost Estate - Paradise Under the Stars. Set in a reimagined 1950s Havana, this Cuban cabaret experience has transformed a “secretive” venue in London’s Earl’s Court into the Tropicana Club since March 2025.

Lighting designer Peter Small, a long-standing creative partner of The Lost Estate, was once again tasked with shaping the visual world of the production. To realise his ambitious lighting concept, he partnered with WL to supply a comprehensive lighting package, including a substantial amount of period-authentic fixtures.

With a setting steeped in rhythm, romance, and rich folklore, Small’s approach was rooted in capturing the explosive energy of 1950s Havana through light. “The vision was to create a transportive, immersive atmosphere - one that celebrat

Brazil - After a career spanning over six decades, Brazilian music legend Gilberto Gil is midway through a farewell tour titled Tempo Rei. This is taking him through sports palaces and stadiums in nine Brazilian cities – including the 42,000-cap Ligga Arena in Curitiba and the Farmasi Arena in Rio di Janeiro – and is scheduled to run until November.

At all but one of the shows he has been playing through an evergreen Martin Audio MLA loudspeaker array, provided by partner Gabisom Audio Equipment.

Responsible for the sound system design, optimisation and recording is Martin Audio devotee, the eight times Latin Grammy award-winning Daniel Carvalho, who has regularly mixed through MLA – a popular presence in Brazil since it first appeared at the famous Rock In Rio festival.

“Farmasi Arena [aka the Jeunesse] is not an ea

China - The Dongting Lake Museum in Yueyang City has taken its visitor experience to new heights with a full-scale sound system installed across all exhibition areas, including its immersive underground ‘5D Theatre’. Designed by Wharfedale Pro's consultant Marko Jovanović and installed by Minghe Group, the system delivers immersive-ready audio that complements the theatre’s array of visual mapping, water effects, moving machinery and lighting.

Covering an expansive 50,864 sqm, the Dongting Lake Museum showcases the rich history and biodiversity of Dongting Lake. At the heart of the museum's underground level is an advanced 5D theatre, which spans 900 sq.m and accommodates approximately 200 guests. This space significantly enhances visitor engagement by integrating motion, visual effects, and interactive environmental elements.

Changsha-based

UK - Formed in 1947 above a butcher’s shop in the town centre, Macclesfield Amateur Dramatic Society (MADS) was created with one main purpose – to foster and promote theatre in Macclesfield by giving local people the opportunity to perform on stage. Fast forward almost 80 years and the Society is still going strong, having now produced over 250 main season productions, along with several one act shows, studio pieces as well as festival entries.

Since 1954, MADS’ home has been a purpose-built ‘Little Theatre’ situated on Lord Street and has been upgraded accordingly over the years; now even boasting a bar and lounge area. Following a mechanical inspection conducted by Solutions On Stage, the company was asked to carry out some remedial works within the theatre’s main performance space – to ensure it was safety compliant.

Solutions On Sta

Capital News - A series of concerts by global stars is likely to benefit London's economy and showcase the city as "the undisputed capital of music", the mayor of London has said. International acts Beyoncé and Billie Eilish have played multiple dates here and home-grown performers Oasis and Coldplay are due to do the same. About 630,000 people are expected to attend Oasis' concerts at Wembley Stadium this summer - bringing a financial boost of nearly £500m.

According to UK Music, an estimated 7.5m people attended concerts and festivals in London last year, accounting for £2.7bn of the country's total £10bn revenue generated from the live music industry. The Mayor of London Sir Sadiq Khan said: "Our world-renowned venues are drawing more than 3.6m people to enjoy unforgettable experiences and boost our hospitality indust

UK - After more than 60 years in the business, UK distributor John Hornby Skewes & Co (JHS) is to cease operations. The JHS business comprises of a property company and a trading company, both majority-owned by family trusts set up by the late John H. Skewes, the settlor of those trusts who stated that after his death, the companies should be sold.

While primarily a musical instrument and accessory distributor, JHS has worked with and for various pro audio brands over the years, including HK Audio (now distributed in the UK through Polar).

A JHS company statement reads: “Steps have been taken over the last few months to try and secure a buyer to take John Hornby Skewes & Co. Ltd. forward under new proprietorship. This has thus far not been possible.

“Therefore, the trustees, shareholders and board of John Hornby Skewes & Co. L

Latest Issue. . .