Spain - Integrated Systems Europe 2024 was the most successful edition in its 20-year history. Taking place at the Fira de Barcelona Gran Via venue, the show’s organisers have reported that it attracted 73,891 unique verified attendees from 162 countries, a record since the show’s inception in Geneva in 2004. This represents an increase of 27% on the 2023 edition. On the Wednesday (31 January) the show had 51,617 visitors, the highest number ever in a single day beating the previous record by almost 22%. The total number of registrations reached 95,396 with 172,627 visits across the four days. Attendee numbers for the Friday were at 24,528, a record for the show since it went to a f
UK - Stage Electrics Group has acquired specialist mechanical inspection and testing company, Just Rigging & Inspections Scotland. The acquisition strengthens the group's existing mechanical inspection, maintenance, testing and reporting capabilities across the UK and enhances the services it provides to the education, entertainment and events sectors. On sharing the news with colleagues, Dave Coull, chief executive officer of Stage Electrics Group, told them, "Additional to our continuing, solid growth as a group organically, I'm delighted to announce the acquisition of Just Rigging & Inspections Scotland, which further accelerates our growth trajectory. “The addition of Just Rigging & Inspections Scotland not only complements the existing services we're able to provide our valued customers, but it also represents an opportunity to expand the services
Germany - At the centre of the career and training opportunities on offer at Prolight+Sound (19-22 March) will be the Future Hub. Divided into Campus, Career Centre, Start-up Area and Networking Lounge, the area is promoted as ‘a contact point for the professionals of today and tomorrow’. Designed to conserve resources and powered by green electricity, it also sends out a clear signal in favour of energy efficiency and sustainability. The latter is also the driving force behind a joint project with the Lycée Francais Victor Hugo in Frankfurt. Plants used as decorative and meta-story elements in the Future Hub will be given a permanent place in the school's garden after the show. With this campaign, Prolight+Sound is emphasising its efforts to constantly promote the topic of sustainability in the sector through creative projects. Another aim is to convey the diversity a
USA - Meyer Sound, founded in 1979, is celebrating 45 years of innovation with a new logo ‘that underscores its commitment to the future of sound’. The loudspeaker specialist has been a driving force in audio since John and Helen Meyer set up shop in Berkeley, CA four-and-a-half decades ago. Since then, Meyer Sound’s technologies, including trapezoidal loudspeaker cabinets, self-powered loudspeakers, processor-controlled loudspeaker systems, curvilinear arraying, and source-independent measurement systems, have become industry standards. The company’s inventions have earned more than 100 patents and numerous awards, including TEC Awards, Parnelli Awards, and the R&D 100 Award. “Scientific innovation, engineering excellence, an unwavering commitment to quality, and constant evolution - this is our legacy, and our future,” says Meyer Sound senior vice pr
UK - Rise, the advocacy group for gender diversity in the broadcast media technology sector, has announced its 2024 global mentoring programme. This year's mentoring initiative will span the UK, Europe, ANZ, APAC, India, and North America, aligning with Rise's mission of fostering inclusivity and diversity in the industry on a global scale. The 2024 activity will build on the successful delivery of two mentoring programmes in 2023, which supported 125 mentees globally. Each regional cohort will follow a shared agenda, with the incorporation of tailored enhancements to ensure its relevance to the unique dynamics of the local territory. The schedule will feature a combination of scheduled masterclasses and networking events, as well as the inclusion of responsive content based on feedback from participants. The participants will also have the opportunity to connect with
UK - The Association for Lighting Production Design announced the winners of their 2023 Awards at the New Technology Showcase at Royal Central School of Speech and Drama yesterday, 1 February. This event, jointly hosted by White Light, the ALPD and RCSSD is an opportunity for lighting professionals to explore and compare the latest lighting technology available on the market. The Michael Northen Award sponsored by Go Live Theatre Projects, ETC and Vectorworks is this year awarded to Morgan Moroney, a lighting and video designer working across theatre, opera, dance and installation. A graduate of the National Institute of Dramatic Art, Morgan received the 2020 APDG Emerging Designer for Live Performance Award for his design on Ghosts directed by Priscilla Jackman (NIDA). He has been nominated three times for a Sydney Theatre Award in Best Independent Lighting Design an
Europe - Leading audio technology companies d&b audiotechnik and L-Acoustics have joined forces in a collaboration to advance technologies and tools for the benefit of the industry. The first result of this alliance is a project to jointly develop an innovative software platform designed to revolutionise the configuration and management of Milan AVB networks. In a departure from traditional competition, born from the companies’ shared commitment within the Avnu Alliance, L-Acoustics and d&b audiotechnik are co-designing a new software platform that addresses some of the challenges which currently discourage widespread adoption of Milan AVB technology. The software will be a neutral, free-to-use solution that eliminates any branding affiliations to help foster universal acceptance. This collaboration reflects the two manufacturers’ commitment to removing barriers
UK - PLASA has acquired BPM, the UK’s only dedicated trade event for the DJ sector. The annual show is set to take place at Birmingham’s Cranmore Park from 12-13 October 2024, spanning the mobile, radio, club and karaoke DJ markets. The event offers a unique opportunity for professionals and enthusiasts to get hands-on with pro equipment and discover services available to support a successful DJ career. The show’s acquisition by PLASA means that BPM will now align with the association’s market-leading trade events for live entertainment technology: PLASA Show and PLASA Focus Leeds. These events span the entire live entertainment technology sector, ranging from pro audio and lighting to AV technology, staging and rigging. PLASA Show has been the UK’s flagship event for over four decades, welcoming 6,500+ visitors and 200+ brands each year. Meanwhile PLASA Focus Leeds
UK - Production Futures has confirmed that its next On Tour event will take place at the AO Arena, Manchester on Tuesday 30 April. The venue, recently underwent a £50m makeover, making it one of the most cutting-edge facilities (and the largest) of its kind in the UK. As its first Arena outing, this will be Production Futures’ largest and most ambitious On Tour event to date. Set to attract a wide range of young people from across the North of 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
Europe - Claypaky continues its efforts to improve its environmental performance with the CP Green project launched in 2022. The company has already implemented several aspects of the long-range project, which is constantly revised to make Claypaky’s sustainability strategy more effective and efficient. The main objective of the project is reducing Claypaky’s impact on climate change and mitigating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. To achieve this goal, the first and most important step is calculating GHG emissions, since it is not possible to improve what is not measured. For this reason, for the second consecutive year Claypaky obtained in November 2023 the ISO 14064 certification, which calculates impact on climate change at the organizational level for the year 2022. This study, performed with the support of Spinlife, spin-off of the University of Padova, has b
Spain - #WeMakeEvents BikeFest returned to Spain with the 18-strong team cycling over 360km towards ISE in Barcelona. Together, they have so far has raised £16,000 for industry charity Backup Tech but are hoping to reach £20,000 with your donations. This year, the BikeFest team included representatives from AELTC, Autograph Sound, AVIXA, Clair Global, Equipson, FLUX Creative Consultancy, PLASA, Reclaim Audio, Sharp, Stage One Creative Services, and Wonder Works. Furthermore, due to the strong community element of the event, BikeFest is now seeing familiar faces returning each year, including Backup Tech chair Piers Shepperd who was cycling for the second year running. Starting in Valencia, the team cycled along the Mediterranean coast, stopping off in Valencia, Peñíscola and Tarragona. On day three, the exhausted riders finally arrived at Fira de Barcelona ready
Grammy Debut - Joni Mitchell will make her Grammy Awards performance debut at this year's show on 4 February. The singer-songwriter is nominated for best folk album. She has previously won nine Grammys and received a lifetime achievement award in 2002. The 80-year-old only recently returned to performing after suffering a near-fatal brain aneurysm in 2015. In June, she played her first headline show in more than 20 years after she re-learnt how to walk, talk and play guitar. Billed as a ‘Joni Jam’, Mitchell performed for nearly three hours and was accompanied by famous admirers like Annie Lennox, Marcus Mumford and Brandi Carlile. In 2002, when collecting her lifetime award at the Grammys, she was described as "one of the most important female recording artists of the rock era" and "a powerful influence on all artists who embrace diversity, imagination and integrity." Ov
USA - Bandit Lites recently held its Annual General Meeting to launch 2024, celebrating the previous year’s accomplishments and revealing the company’s new goals and updates. Following a ‘wildly successful 55th year’, Bandit chair Michael T. Strickland offered remarks and insight on Bandit’s successes and its continuing goals in the New Year. Milestone awards were handed out, with multiple Bandits celebrating decades at the company. Arie Zaky, Scott Wesson, Chris Noll, Jacob Edge and Mark Scherer accepted accolades for five years. Andy Reese was honoured for 10 years, and John Jenkinson, Erich Hudgens and Chas Albea were recognised for 15 years. “I cannot thank each of these individuals enough for their countless contributions to making Bandit what it is today,” offered Strickland. “Each of them contributes at a high level in their own way and all are
UK - Build solutions specialist Star Live has invested in a QC-Check safety inspection system from Data Strategy following its recent investment from LDC, part of Lloyds Banking Group. QC-Check embeds safety into the processes of Star’s new lifting division which underpins the safety and compliance issues for the company’s four pillars of business. QC-Check streamlines the process of professional electrical appliance and cable testing in bulk, with full electrical-safety test records referenced to an individual asset level. For Star Live’s purposes however, QC-Check’s ability to facilitate the equivalent tracking and maintenance of data from the new heavy duty mechanical testing equipment, made it a pivotal part of the plan. Star Live technical director, Roger Barrett, maintains, “QC-Check has absolutely transformed our testing capabilities here. It’s been
The Netherlands - TEC Audio, based in Landgraaf, has invested in DMT's Alpha Series LED panels and hardware in order to expand its services. They have purchased a significant number of Alpha Series A2.6i - Indoor and the necessary rigging to create a complete set for corporate events and dry hire. These panels are designed to meet the demands of diverse events, offering clarity and vibrant colours. The A2.6i panels are very versatile, making them a suitable choice for corporate events and dry hire setups. To ensure a seamless and dynamic display, TEC Audio has acquired eight Case for eight DMT Alpha Series, five DMT Double Rigging Bar for Alpha Series, one DMT Single Rigging Bar for Alpha Series, 16 DMT Stacking Brackets for Premiere and Alpha Series LED screens, and a Front Service Vacuum Tool. TEC Audio has also invested in a Novastar VX1000 all-in-one video pr
UK - The Association of Motion Picture Sound (AMPS) has announced The Zone of Interest as the winner of the Excellence in Sound for a Feature Film 2024. The winning sound team comprises Johnnie Burn, Tarn Willers, Mateusz Stasiak and James Ogden AMPS chair Andrew Wilson said: “The Zone of Interest is a compelling piece of filmmaking and a truly remarkable achievement in the artistry of film sound. The grotesque picture of happy family life next to the horror of Auschwitz is stark, disturbing, and visceral, and it is here that the power of the soundtrack excels. The sonic storytelling is of the highest standard, and the film’s narrative is driven by its creative and crafted sound. AMPS is delighted to recognise the work of Johnnie, Tarn, Mateusz, James and their teams. “The Association of Motion Picture Sound is proud to have one of 2024's most diver
Spain - Audinate Group announced at ISE 2024 that it now has reached 50 manufacturers licensing Dante AV technology to build networked video devices. Kramer, Blustream, Magewell, Kiloview, Zenwin, Aavara, and Infobit AV are a few of the most recent partners that have joined the Dante AV ecosystem. There are now over 60 products available or soon to launch, including cameras, encoders, and decoders. AMX by Harman, Lumens, Antrica, Bolin, Laiatech, Avonic, and Alfatron are announcing Dante AV-H video endpoints at ISE 2024, while Kramer, Netvio, and Tight AV are launching Dante AV-A encoders and decoders. Adtechno is also launching Dante AV Ultra HDMI and SDI encoders and decoders at the show. These products are all designed to seamlessly integrate into Dante workflows. “The professionals responsible for installing and maintaining AV systems in organizations continue t
Europe - PRG is expanding its extensive sound reinforcement portfolio with several LD Systems MAILA XXL systems including accessories. In Germany, PRG is represented by over 350 employees at five locations and has more than 20,000m2 of warehouse space. "We heard MAILA for the first time during an on-site visit to the Adam Hall Group Experience Centre and were immediately impressed," explains Udo Willburger, CEO of PRG AG. "This applies not only to the sound, but also to the efficient handling of the entire system. “Especially in the corporate events sector, a system with a slim form factor and high flexibility in a wide range of applications is an enormous advantage when it comes to producing cost-effectively and still being able to deliver top results." MAILA XXL is the largest and most powerful MAILA (Modular All-Round Intelligent Line-Array) system with a t
UK - LIVE has partnered with Handle Freelance Solutions, The Back Lounge and UK LIVE Event Freelancers Forum to launch a survey, The Hidden Side of Freelancing 2024, to understand and identify the changes required to improve the experience of freelancers who are crucial to the success of the live music industry. Launched this week, the new survey will explore pay transparency and the personal experiences of freelancers at live music events. The survey aims to help freelancers understand their true value and benchmark their own experience whilst also celebrating what makes live music a great industry for freelancers. The results will then be assessed, culminating in a publicly available report that will be published in April 2024. Industry organisations such as Entourage Pro, Production Futures, NOWIE, Rego, and Power of Events are all key supporting partners of
UK - Max Webster’s intense production of Shakespeare’s Macbeth, featuring David Tennant and Cush Jumbo, opened to positive reviews at London’s Donmar Warehouse in December. Played out on Rosanna Vize’s stark, minimalist set, comprising a flat white platform backed by a glass wall that isolates off-stage actors from the action, the audience listens through binaural headphones that catch every nuance of the actors’ speech, drawing them deeper and more intimately into the text - and Macbeth’s mental state. Lighting designer, Bruno Poet, accentuates this intensity with the help of Ayrton Khamsin TC fixtures: “The simplicity of the set - the sharp-edged white platform contrasting heavily with the black surroundings - combined with the detail of the soundscape meant it wasn’t always necessary to see the actors’ faces fully,” explains Poet. “This
Turkey - Lighting designer Martin Kuhn tapped into the power and reliability of a grandMA3 replay unit to run a spectacular permanent show that he designed for Istanbul’s Maiden’s Tower. The landmark stands on a tiny islet at the southern entrance of the Bosphorus strait, 300m from the coast of Üsküdar in Istanbul, and has recently re-opened after restoration. Martin was working for Istanbul AV specialist ASTEL and end client, the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism. The lighting includes 48 Ayrton Cobra moving lights which are positioned around the perimeter of the lower sea wall in protective cabinets that open when the show starts, and a selection of 76 Anolis Eminere and Calumma fixtures illuminating the various architectural elements, together with 27 SGM P2s and P6 LED floods. The lights are connected via six grandMA3 2Port Nodes and two MA Netw
UK - Production Futures reports that it has been chosen as a partner for the BBC’s Bring the Drama Festival. This initiative sees the BBC joining forces with some of the UK’s leading cultural organisations to create the first festival of its kind, aimed at bringing together stage and screen and opening up the doors to the next generation of behind-the-scenes talent. The BBC is supporting the UK’s world-beating creative industries by trying to ensure that the brightest and best people want to work in theatre, film and TV, and helping them to identify where the opportunities lie. This mission aligns with Production Futures’ aim to create opportunities for young people to learn, train, network and develop real careers in production across every area of the live event, music, touring, theatre, TV, broadcast and film industries. Just as is the case for Production Fu
France - L-Acoustics has been honoured during the Décibels d'Or awards by the French government’s Conseil National du Bruit (National Council on Noise), which recognises the company's unwavering commitment to pushing the boundaries of sound technology and its dedication to creating exceptional audio experiences while respecting the needs of local communities. This award, founded in 1991 and granted only once every three years, recognises the ability of the newly launched L Series line source array to manage sound, keeping it on the audience area while significantly reducing spillage to areas where it is not desired. It is the first time in the Décibels d’Or’s history that an audio manufacturer has been honoured. The development of L Series is the culmination of seven years of dedicated research and innovation. The breakthroughs in directivity control developed
Ireland - A team from Dublin-based Spectrum Productions led by David Lawless and Jack Quirke supplied a large quantity of Robe moving lights rig for a sold-out electro-extravaganza gig by popular Irish mixmasters, Belters Only, at Dublin’s 3Arena. David and the team have been working with the artists for the last year and designed the floor lighting package for their 2023 festival appearances. Their brief for the 3Arena show was to make it big, bold, and breathtaking visually, helping pump the energy and excitement everywhere in the room - from the stage to the back of the auditorium. On the lighting plot were over 100 Robe moving lights - 52 Robe Tetra2’s, 12 TetraX’s and 32 MegaPointes - comprising most of the moving lights, joined by strobes, some other profile moving lights and 10 30W lasers. The lighting design was based on a 10m diameter circular tru
