Portugal - Lightware Visual Engineering has announced a new partnership with Sound and Light Systems (SLS), a leading Portuguese distributor of event audio solutions.  

Sound and Light Systems will act as a distributor for Lightware’s AV products, from extenders and matrix switchers to AV over IP technology. 

Sound and Light Systems boasts over 30 years of experience in the audiovisual sector, offering innovative and high-quality sound, light and technology solutions for live events with equipment that delivers impactful experiences.

“We are proud to join forces with Lightware, a company recognised for its technological excellence and innovation in the professional AV industry,” says Rui Nunes, CEO of SLS. “This partnership allows us to expand our offering with reliable, future-oriented solutions that meet the evolving needs of the

USA - 3G Productions has acquired Main Light’s 70,000sq.ft location in Nashville as part of its ongoing initiative to expand into a coast-to-coast, full-service production and systems integration provider.

3G Productions has taken over Main Light’s Antioch neighbourhood building, its full inventory, and all seven employees, who have now joined the 3G team. The shop’s complement of industry-leading lighting equipment is broad and deep, including brands like Robe, MA, Ayrton, Martin, Elation, Chauvet, Astera, and Tyler Truss, among others.

“The Nashville market has been a key focus as we execute our strategy of growing into a national full-service production company,” says 3G Productions CEO Keith Conrad. “With the acquisition of Main Light’s Tennessee branch, we get a world-class production warehouse, an experienced team of experts in th

USA - LEA Professional has announced its partnership with Audio Visual Associates (AVA), a manufacturer’s representative based in Missouri. This partnership promises to bring LEA’s technology catalogue to Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, and Southern Illinois customers.

This partnership will bring LEA Professional’s Network Connect series of professional amplifiers and companion Dante Connect series featuring Dante and AES67 connectivity to AVA’s customers. These series allow integrators to utilise cloud-based remote control, monitoring, notifications, and more from any internet-enabled device, allowing them to stay connected anywhere in the world.

“We’re excited to bring LEA Professional’s intelligent amplifier technology to our customers throughout the Midwest,” said Ben Shipman, president, AVA Reps. “Our team focuses on represen

UK - TiMax Spatial Studios, based in London’s Tileyard, is the new HQ and studio space for TiMax. As the company celebrates the opening of its audio hub, TiMax can also announce its collaboration with Sonosphere. Together the two companies will provide a flexible, multi-purpose, immersive audio London hub to demonstrate, educate, promote and deliver immersive audio systems, workflow and content.

The suite offers a 26.4.6 TiMax mixing studio, featuring TiMax SoundHub and its powerful spatial audio and show control capabilities. TiMax Tracker D4 is installed with an eight-sensor system, and the studio also offers opportunities to work with TiMax panLab, as well as being configured as a 9.1.6 Dolby Atmos studio, which will be certified by Dolby in due course.

Completing the equipment roster are solutions from the wider Focusrite Group sister brands, i

Central Asia - Avail Distribution, an international distributor of professional AV technology, has added Martin Audio to its portfolio of AV brands, after reaching an agreement to handle the brand in key Central Asian territories. Initially this will include Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, with a later review further down the line.

Headquartered in Dubai, with offices in Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, this strategic partnership reinforces Avail’s commitment to expanding its portfolio. Martin Audio’s systems - including portable, touring, and installed solutions - will now be available to dealers, system integrators, and rental companies across Central Asia countries through Avail’s regional expertise.

Pavel Shemiakin, business development manager at Avail Distribution, said: “We are proud to be a member of the Martin Audio family and bring

USA - Audinate Group, developer of the Dante media networking platform, has announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Iris Studio Inc, a leading US company specialising in AI-powered, cloud-based camera control technology.

Iris offers a control-first video production platform that enables users to seamlessly manage cameras remotely, providing features like AI-driven auto tracking, real-time colour correction and cloud recording, all from a single, cloud-based interface. The Iris platform is brand-agnostic and is currently enabled on a wide range of PTZ cameras on the market. Beyond cameras, the Iris software platform is also applicable to a variety of AV products, including encoders, decoders, vision mixers and more.

The acquisition of Iris strengthens Audinate’s video platform capabilities while also accelerating its broader visio

South Africa - DWR Distribution has announced its appointment as the official Epson distributor for South Africa. The agreement was finalised in June, following a visit to DWR’s offices by Epson’s Lee Harrison and Darren Caithness.

To further strengthen the support DWR provides to both the system integration market and the rental and staging industries, the company also welcomes Timothy Wilson, who will officially join the team at the start of the month.

“I’m excited to have DWR on board as our distributor in South Africa,” commented Lee Harrison, head of video projector sales for Epson’s high-end projector range across Turkey, the Middle East, and Africa. “It’s a perfect partnership. Your strapline, ‘It’s all about the people,’ aligns with my philosophy. For me, it’s about working with people who can bring our products to lif

UK - With less than a month to go, the Fete stalls, Manor House and karting teams are all sold out, and Backup Tech’s Fabulous Village Fete is shaping up to truly live up to its name.

The Parish Council judges (LSi’s Claire Beeson, Stewart Hume from TPi, Chris Barratt from AAA, ABTT’s Elysia Moore and PLASA’s Peter Heath) are sharpening their pencils and refining their taste buds to pick the Best Fete Stall, Best Dressed Fete’r, Best Fete Stall Game, the Cake Off and Veg Off, plus winners will be declared for the Catching Flies (fly fishing) and Pheasant Shooting competitions.

There’s also the chance to enter the DJ Off, which is being held in memory of DJ Adam Fabulous and will be judged by DJ Asad, who will also be taking to the decks to entertain Fete-goers throughout the afternoon. Taking us into the early evening will be Fab Cab’s

USA - Paramount Recording Studios, one of the most storied recording facilities in the music industry, has chosen the AKG K371 as its standard headphone across all rooms, citing the model’s exceptional accuracy, comfort, and reliability in high-demand studio environments.

Located in the heart of Hollywood, Paramount Recording Studios has served as a creative hub for the world’s top recording artists since 1969. Serving major labels, independent artists, and film/TV productions, the studio is known for its cutting-edge creative work and relentless pursuit of sonic excellence.

“There hasn’t really been a standard headphone across studios in our tenure in the industry,” said Eli Smith, general manager of Paramount Recording Studios. “The K371s are a breath of fresh air.”

With a closed-back design and neutral frequency response, the

Japan - Brompton Technology has expanded its service network in East Asia through a strategic partnership with Ark Ventures, an LED systems integrator within the Symunity Group. This development enables Brompton's advanced Hydra measurement system to be available through local certified service partners in Japan and South Korea for the first time, following Ark Ventures’ successful partnership with ROE Visual.

Brompton's Hydra calibration technology now provides regional clients with premium recalibration services, eliminating the logistical challenges and expenses previously associated with shipping LED panels overseas. By establishing this local service infrastructure, Brompton has significantly reduced downtime and maintenance costs for operators of high-end LED display systems across East Asia.

“We work with a select group of leading manufact

USA - DPA Microphones’ US team, a partner of Wisycom SRL, is hosting a free webinar focused on Wisycom’s innovative RF distribution technology for wireless audio, and its integration with professional microphone systems.

The sessions will take place on Tuesday, 1 July 2025 at 9 a.m. EDT (3:00 p.m. CEST) and 3:00 p.m. EDT (9:00 p.m. CEST), and are open to all audio professionals and enthusiasts eager to deepen their understanding of next-generation RF performance.

Hosted by DPA Microphones’ Geoff Baynard, the brand’s US-based business development manager, wireless, this online event will provide insight into the flexible, high-performance solutions that Wisycom has developed for today’s most demanding broadcast, corporate, live sound, theatre and sports event applications. Designed to educate and empower audio engineers, system designers and

Singapore - Stage 4 AV, a busy rental and technical production supplier working primarily in the high-end corporate, social and lifestyle sectors, has recently invested in Astera QuikSpot wireless LED spotlights, with the purchase of 24 fixtures from Singapore distributor, Total Solution Marketing.

These were added to the company’s general lighting rental inventory because they were “the right product for our markets,” explains S. Ramesh, Stage 4 AV’s managing director, who is also responsible for equipment procurement and key client management.

Ramesh specifically wanted luminaires that looked neat and elegant and could be used effectively for tasks like illuminating tables at a gala dinner event and in scenarios where they could be deployed quickly and accurately and run without any light spillage.

QuikSpot was specifically devised

Canada - Vertus Group, a division of Jonas Software, has acquired CAST Group of Companies.

CAST is an Emmy award-winning developer of software and hardware solutions for the entertainment, special events, and meetings industries. Its flagship products include the industry-leading WYSIWYG lighting design and pre-visualisation suite, and the real-time tracking platform, BlackTrax. These tools have earned the trust of top professionals around the world to design and execute complex productions with precision and impact.

“After more than 30 years of building, growing, inventing, and leading CAST, it was time to pass on the torch,” said Gilray Densham, founder of CAST. “We found the perfect home in Vertus Group. They will continue our legacy and drive the company forward through innovation, the very thing that makes CAST an industry leader.”

UK - The ABTT Theatre Show 2025 attracted increased visitor numbers, record-breaking engagement and international draw.

There were over 3,200 people on the show floor this year, making the ABTT Theatre Show at Alexandra Palace busier than ever. With a 15.6% increase in unique attendees, a 16% increase in revisits on Day 2, this year’s event confirmed its growing importance as a central hub for live performance professionals.

The show welcomed over 200 global brands, featured a vigorous seminar programme, and hosted hands-on workshops led by renowned industry figures – all aimed at advancing careers, showcasing innovation and facilitating powerful new connections. 

ABTT CEO Liz Sillett commented: “My first ABTT Theatre Show as CEO was a whirlwind of excitement and brilliance. The buzz was incredible, coming from such a talented and insp

Australia - Harman Professional Solutions has announced the consolidation of its audio and video control distribution in Australia. Effective 1 August 2025, MadisonAV will become the exclusive distributor for the complete Harman Professional audio and video portfolio across the region. Distribution of the Martin Professional lighting portfolio will continue with Show Technology.

“The Harman Professional portfolio is evolving in a way that R&D investments in new hardware and software platforms are reshaping the portfolio and our business,” said Amar Subash, vice-president and general manager, Harman Professional APAC. “As we look to the future, there are great benefits in consolidating distribution as it will allow us to leverage the full potential of the investments made to the portfolio, and I’m pleased that MadisonAV will carry us forward.”

UK - Broadwick Group has announced a partnership with East London venue Troxy. This new chapter will see Broadwick and its group of companies come together to build on Troxy’s existing legacy, while shaping its future.

Troxy is renowned for hosting a wide spectrum of events. Music will remain at the heart of the building, and this partnership will establish a broader and more ambitious programming and commercial vision. The venue will expand its offering across brand activations, cultural showcases, film and TV production, corporate events, and creative hires.

Troxy will continue to operate as an independent brand, with its core identity, team and legacy preserved, backed by Broadwick’s deep experience in operating venues including the likes of Magazine London, Printworks and Landing 42. The group will invest in Troxy’s future while retainin

USA - Brompton Technology has successfully deployed its Hydra advanced measurement system, through its partner Red Rock OPS, to revitalise Rentex's LED panel inventory. The Las Vegas-based consulting firm Red Rock OPS, which specialises in live overlays, colour calibration, and broadcast services, used Brompton's calibration technology to enhance the performance of the nationwide AV rental provider's existing LED panels and dramatically extend their lifespan.

Hydra is an award-winning, all-in-one measurement system custom-designed for LED panels and exclusive to Brompton Technology. It enables the use of Brompton’s groundbreaking Dynamic Calibration technology, which allows LED panels to achieve significantly higher brightness and a wider colour gamut than traditional calibration methods while maintaining uniformity.

This system is also the foundat

UK - Rise AV, the advocacy group championing gender diversity and professional development in the AV sector, has announced the launch of the Elevate Programme, a leadership accelerator designed exclusively to ‘fast-track the careers of mid-level women professionals working in AV, residential AV, and live events sectors’.

Following the success of the inaugural Rise AV Mentoring Programme, which demonstrated the tangible impact of targeted support and community-building, the Elevate Programme marks the next strategic step in empowering women to take on senior leadership roles across the AV industry.

Running from October to December 2025, this intensive six-week hybrid programme blends virtual and in-person sessions, real-world leadership challenges, and group mentorship from senior AV leaders. Limited to 35 delegates acro

Germany - The Sennheiser Group achieved sales of €492.3m in the fiscal year 2024. Despite volatile market conditions, the company says it was able to consolidate its position in the professional audio market and drive forward key future projects with innovative solutions and strategic investments. “In the year of its 80th anniversary, Sennheiser is thus continuing to fulfil its promise of creating unique sound experiences for customers around the world,” says a statement. Earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) amounted to €35.8m.

“2024 was a challenging year for us, as it was for many companies in our industry,” explains co-CEO Andreas Sennheiser. The company recorded a slight decline in sales across all regions, totalling 6.6 percent compared to the previous year. “But especially in a dynamic environment, it is crucial to remain a reliable

India - Robe’s Indian distributor Integrated Entertainment Solutions (IES) enjoyed a busy, proactive and productive PALM Expo 2025 in Mumbai. The show was staged over three days at the Bombay Exhibition Centre (BEC), the largest privately owned permanent exhibition centre in India, and highlights included Robe’s iBolt winning an award for ‘Outstanding Innovation’ in the Professional Lighting Solution category.

This year, the IES took a prime position booth in the new Hall – Hall 6 – added specifically to host and showcase major pro lighting and audio brands and new technologies. Those working with lighting and audio equipment enjoyed demonstrations and the chance to examine the kit close-up here, as IES dedicated over half of the floorspace to Robe Group businesses – Robe, Avolites, Anolis, LSC and Artistic Licence.

Rasesh Pare

UK - The live events sector continues to demonstrate the dedication and commitment of its professionals, with Backup partners exemplifying this community spirit. This year has seen Backup Tech expand its partnership network with two new companies and has introduced Core Pro Audio and TMB as its newest partners.

Each Backup partner brings its own motivation and story to the partnership, yet all share a common goal: supporting the vital work Backup undertakes to assist industry professionals during their times of greatest need.

The first new partner is Core Pro Audio, a professional audio sales company and used equipment specialist headquartered in the UK, with international trading capabilities.

The partnership was cemented following the successful Core Pro Show 2025 at the Mount Hotel, Tettenhall in January, which attracted over 200

China - As part of its newly expanded headquarters in Pingshan, Shenzhen, ROE Visual has recently opened the doors to its dramatically upgraded showrooms. The immersive, application-driven spaces highlight the full creative and technical potential of ROE’s latest LED technologies, with Brompton Technology’s Tessera LED video processing playing a pivotal role throughout.

Now three times larger than the original facility, the showrooms feature purpose-built environments that allow visitors to experience ROE Visual’s LED products in real-life scenarios, from touring and live events to broadcast, fixed installation, and virtual production. Brompton’s 4K Tessera SX40 LED video processors, paired with Tessera XD 10G data distribution units, power many of the key installations, enabling flawless system control, consistent colour reproduction, and the dynami

Puerto Rico - Clair Global has expanded its footprint with the opening of a new location in the US territory of Puerto Rico, bringing onboard the experienced team from Wichie Sound Performance, an established local audio services provider.

Fernando 'Wichie' Martínez, founder and owner of Wichie Sound, will continue to lead the Puerto Rico operations under the Clair Global banner. His guidance, combined with his team's expertise and dedication, will be integral to delivering the high-quality service to which Clair Global clients are accustomed.

The new location further strengthens Clair Global's commitment to the region by combining local talent with global resources to better serve touring and live events customers throughout the Caribbean.

"Wichie is well-respected not just in Puerto Rico, but throughout the Caribbean Sea region, and his ta

Austria - SRS Group has added Signal to its growing family of distributors. “With their well-established presence in the Austrian market, we look forward to expanding our reach and building a strong, productive partnership in the years ahead,” says SRS.

“After numerous discussions, in-person meetings, and company visits, the decision to move forward with Signal Sound & Light Distribution came naturally. Their impressive portfolio of globally recognised partner brands caught our interest – but what truly sealed the deal was the exceptional dedication and flexibility demonstrated by their team throughout the entire process.”

Matthias Reinthaler, general manager at Signal, shares his perspective on the new collaboration: “As the Austrian Robe distributor, Signal has a global network within the industry. Some of these partners are already

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