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Italy - Artistic Licence has announced a distribution agreement with Molpass S.r.l. in Italy. With an emphasis on the theatrical market, Artistic's lighting control infrastructure products will augment other premium brands in the Molpass portfolio.
Founded in 1995, Molpass is a technical solutions in the entertainment sector, with a particular focus on the audience experience. Recognising the demand for a high-quality dimming product for replacement LED bulbs, Molpass approached Artistic Licence for a trial of their award-winning sunDial trailing edge mains dimmer.
Following a positive response from a number of prestigious Italian theatres, a broader distribution agreement was the next logical step.
Giorgio Molinari, CEO of Molpass, comments: Professional venues

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Brit Awards - Next year's Brit Awards have been pushed back by three months to May, to have a better chance of staging a full live ceremony featuring live performances. The 41st edition of the music awards show was due to take place in February at London's O2 Arena. But uncertainty around the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has prompted the music industry to delay it.
Organisers said they want “outstanding production levels, superstar performances and live excitement”. Geoff Taylor, chief executive of The Brits and industry body the BPI, said: "We believe that the best way to achieve this in 2021 is to move the show back a few months to May. We are already at work planning a spectacular event that will remind us how important music has been in getting us all through these difficult times."
On The Campaign Trail - The Rolling Stones have warned US President Donald

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Europe - Audio-Technica has released the Version 1.1.1 update of its Wireless Manager software, available for immediate download. Wireless Manager is a Mac OS/Windows application for remote configuration, control, monitoring, spectrum management and frequency coordination of compatible Audio-Technica wireless devices. For those customers who have Wireless Manager previously installed the software will be automatically updated.
Updated features in Version 1.1.1 include improved usability, layout and control, enhanced scrolling capability, improved visibility of all frequency coordinated devices, updated and expanded channel list reports, upgraded user tools and minor bug fixes. The software is compatible with Microsoft Windows 8.1, 10; macOS High Sierra (Version 10.13), macOS Mojave (Version 10.14).
Audio-Technica Wireless Manager software is compatible with all wireles
featured content

Indochine X PixMob Fan Immersion

It's a bird! It's a plane! It's - 40 thousand LED pixels on a ceiling!!! Indochine's whirlwind tour transports fans to another level of the live experience - immersing them from floor to ceiling with PixMob's X4 wristbands, and an LED ceiling made entirely of its NOVA Minis! With the vision of Indochine's creative team, PixMob used its LED fan-technology to turn attendees and venues into an ocean of effects, and a starry sky of LED magic. Très très cool!

Read more about the Indochine tour in the latest issue of LSi

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Finland - Helsinki law firm Castrén & Snellman is a pioneer of sustainable business practice in the legal services industry and was the first Finnish law firm to join the UN Global Compact initiative.
The company recently carried out an extensive renovation of their client areas and staff workspaces, with the goal of taking the 130-year old law firm to the next level. Castrén & Snellman turned to Finnish AV integrator, 4Business Oy, who specialise in delivering tailored AV and automation systems. The solution integrated a large number of Genelec loudspeakers throughout the building.
“Genelec was simply an ideal choice for this project,” states 4Business COO Janne Lankinen. “On top of Genelec’s product quality, visual appearance and neutral sound reproduction, the company’s values and commitment to sustainable development fit beautifully into the or

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USA - While some members of the entertainment lighting industry have busied themselves with drive-in shows during the COVID-19 lockdown, Jordan Chance has opted to take a slightly different course. The owner of Luxe Productions, a popular live event company in Chicago, Chance is following a “drive-to” approach to reaching new customers.
With his company’s box trucks idle because of the prohibition on the indoor events that were once the mainstay of his business, Chance converted three of these vehicles into movie screens on wheels. The trucks are rented out to clients who want to hold safe, socially-distant compliant events that involve film showings.
The idea for these Movie Truck Nights started when Chance’s partner brought a truck home to use as a screen for a community movie showing for his family and some neighbours to enjoy as they sheltered in pla

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USA - When The Wharf entertainment district in Orange Beach, Alabama, reopened in time for Memorial Day, visitors were treated to a spectacular, new lightshow by Cue 13 Design that uses Elation’s IP65 luminaires.
Located on Alabama’s Gulf Coast, just across the border from Pensacola, Orange Beach is a quaint but upscale southern beach town. The Wharf, which opened in 2006, offers outdoor shopping, dining, and entertainment at special event venues including a Live Nation amphitheatre.
A nightly light show called Spectra has been drawing visitors to The Wharf’s Main Street since 2013. Ryan Stumpp, founder and Principal at Cue 13 Design, and a 15-year theme park design veteran, was subcontracted to work on the original design seven years ago and was called on to redesign the light show for 2020.
“Many people come to The Wharf in the evening for the l

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UK - Located on the top floor of the former Dickins & Jones department store at Oxford Circus in London, Aqua is a combination of the Japanese Aqua Kyoto sushi restaurant and Aqua Nueva contemporary Spanish restaurant. Set on a vast 17,000sq.ft space, it also includes a large central bar and balcony/terrace bar.
Opened more than a decade ago by Hong Kong-based Aqua Restaurant Group, it recently underwent a design metamorphosis, which included an upgraded Martin Audio sound system, while still retaining its distinct nightclub flavour.
Having carried out maintenance work there previously, Evolve Install, in the shape of partners Elliot Patterson and Robert Stemson, were alerted to the imminent refurbishment. They began talks with the management last April / May, budgets were discussed, and the decision was taken to keep the sound system under the Martin Audio umbrell

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Europe - Shure is introducing the new Shure Tech Portal, an interactive technical resource library developed for systems integrators, dealers, audio engineers, service providers, consultants, and other professional and technically-minded users.
The portal provides fast and direct access to complete product and technical information, document downloads, and resources to support the specification, design, deployment and operation of Shure products across all markets and applications.
The Shure Tech Portal is an intuitive, fully searchable online platform that offers professional users streamlined access to comprehensive Shure product information. With a complete document library for each product, key specifications, global SKU and variant information, software and firmware downloads, imagery, FAQs, and more, Tech Portal users can get all the information they need, all in

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France - Lucas Enguerrand and his brother Quentin, who both work at French lighting and visual production and rental company FL Group, based in Morangis 15km south of Paris, wanted to keep morale high and their passion for music and lighting alive in a meaningful way during the COVID-19 lockdown.
With the full permission and support of FL Group owner Francois Lamberdière, they activated a plan to utilise the company warehouse and other available resources like equipment, and with a little help from their friends, have started producing spectacular ‘full production’ live streams working with a number of contemporary French artists.
When the French live event and production industry ground to a halt in March, as with all the rental companies, all FL Group’s immediate work was cancelled, the country went into lockdown to contain the virus and all the staff found t

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Greece - Ayrton has announced Athens-based Megaevent as its new, exclusive distributor for Greece. Founded in 2001, Megaevent has provided distribution and support of leading products in lighting, sound and AV equipment across all sectors of the entertainment market for nearly 20 years.
“We always look forward to new technologies and our target is to provide these together with the best after-sales support to all our customers,” says Megaevent CEO, Sotiris Kolios. “Through our many years of experience we have selected the best partners to work with, centred on respect for companies with great R&D and continuous evolution.
“Ayrton has proven to be one of them: we have watched Ayrton’s progress over the years and, like most of the lighting designers in Greece, hold their brand in high regard. We believe their products to be leaders in every aspect, and are

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UK - Music Support continues to hold weekly online support group meetings to allow the music industry’s 12 Step recovery community to continue to connect during these challenging times, with numbers of attendees growing weekly. Meetings take place every Monday 18:00-19:00 GMT throughout the summer, providing a confidential and non-judgemental space for people to share and encourage one another on the journey of recovery.
“We’re pioneering a change of culture within the industry that suggests another lifestyle is possible within it and as beacons of that, we host a weekly online support group meeting for those in our business who are members of any 12 step fellowship,” says the team behind Music Support.
“We acknowledge that although each fellowship uses different words, they speak the same language of hope – and that’s why now more than ever, it is imper

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UK - PLASA’s new campaign #WeMakeEvents has garnered a 'huge response' from the industry.
The campaign was launched last week in a bid to raise awareness of the negative impact the COVID-19 crisis on the live events industry.
A cornerstone of the initiative, the #WeMakeEvents video has so far amassed 20,000 views and 3,000 shares.
PLASA says that 1,000 industry professionals have signed their support for the campaign via its webpage, and key industry organisations and brands have also endorsed it.
On the eve of the 50th anniversary of the Glastonbury Festival - cancelled this year due to COVID-19 - PLASA MD Peter Heath was promoting #WeMakeEvent

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UK - An important part of The University of York’s Department of Theatre, Film, Television and Interactive Media’s curriculum focuses on audio recording and delivery. To teach students in its audio programmes about loudness compliance and metering, the school relies on Nugen Audio’s VisLM plug-in.
“We first heard about Nugen from a commercial client who requested the VisLM software,” says Richard Sykes, technical officer, University of York. “We purchased a copy so they could use it when they came in to mix in our studios. We were immediately impressed with the software and have since incorporated it into the curriculum for our film, television and sound production programmes.
“The placement of the graphics makes long-form work a lot easier, which is especially important for students to properly understand what’s going on,” adds Sykes. “When you are

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Germany - Landmark buildings glowed red throughout Germany Monday night, 22 June, for Night of Light, a massive expression of support for the events industry and a vivid reminder to the nation’s leaders about the challenges facing the businesses and individuals who make up this vital sector of the economy.
Initiated by Essen-based marketing agency LK-AG, the awareness campaign drew the support of EVVC, Germany’s venue association and thousands of businesses from every region of the country, including Chauvet Germany.
“We are proud to be a part of this important event,” said Thomas Fischer, managing director of Chauvet Germany GmbH. “The situation we face cannot be ignored. We must all pull together to ensure a prosperous future for our industry.”
In addition to lighting its home offices in red, Chauvet Germany provided fixtures to illuminate buildings

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South Africa - In early March, before the arrival of the coronavirus, the University of Pretoria (UP) delighted hundreds of children from Pretoria, Mamelodi and Eersterust with a production of Hans Christian Anderson’s The Snow Queen at the Masker Theatre.
The work was directed by Professor Marié-Heleen Coetzee and was developed through a collaborative workshop process with students studying drama the University of Pretoria, together with UP Drama Department alumnus, Ben Pienaar, who played the role of Snow Queen. The University’s outreach programme, UP Partnerships in Progress, sponsored attendance for learners from Mamelodi and Eersterust, providing many children with their very first theatre experience.
When Prof. Coetzee first conceptualised the work, she realised that funding for the production was going to be a challenge, especially as the story takes

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UK - Live From The Polar Bear heralds a return to live music from COVID-19 lockdown, with VMS Live supporting the Polar Bear and Sesh, presenting a 12-week series of gigs, starting 30 June 2020.
Shows will be live streamed from 8.00pm, with the first sessions featuring The Hubbards and Alice Simmons.
Other acts already confirmed are King No-One with Kitty VR, Polo and Lucy Tessier, Talk More and Jack Conman and Fever with Aimee Duncan.
VMS Live CEO Bert Van Horck comments, “We’re all passionate in our love for live music and very excited to be taking this first step back towards feeling the energy of a live gig again. Performing is a highlight for any artist, creating a special bond with their audience and we are providing a safe stage with high quality technical support to enable that. With social distancing limiting our ability to fill the venue, w

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Vietnam - At the Hoiana Suncity gaming and entertainment venue, VISCO Joint Stock and ihD has deployed Harman Professional audio-visual (AV) and background music (BGM) solutions.
Hoiana is the first beachfront integrated resort in Central Vietnam. The resort consists of entertainment and gaming facilities, an 18-hole golf course; and hotel facilities.
"The client wanted the latest hi-tech audio-visual, background music, lighting solutions and LED video walls to enliven its gaming and entertainment venues. One of the challenges that we faced was that we began the project with 50 percent of architectural drawings, while the rest of the design was put in place as the establishment was being built," said David Chua, general director, VISCO Joint Stock. "We used HiQnet Audio Architect Software for programming and configuring all of Harman’s audio systems. Integrating a mu

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USA - St. Matthew Catholic Church in Charlotte, North Carolina, offers 100-plus active ministries and is distinguished as the Catholic church with the largest congregation in the United States.
In 1996, to accommodate its large and growing membership, the church dedicated a 2,200-seat, fan-shaped worship space that presently hosts at least eight services each week. Although St. Matthew updated its sanctuary sound system in 2012 with a newer loudspeaker setup based on an exploded cluster design, in recent years, that system suffered from clarity and reliability issues, and ultimately succumbed to a lightning strike late last year.
The church’s production team had already been in talks with SES Integration of nearby Concord to design a retrofit PA system that would provide improved intelligibility, coverage and dependability. As the integration division of Winston-Sale

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UK – AED Group has launched a ‘Mid-Air Disinfection System’ (MADS) for the UK market under its Luxibel brand.
Developed since the COVID-19 pandemic hit, it is made up of UVC ventilation cylinders that disinfect the air using UVC light technology. It has been specifically designed to cater for larger spaces with an audience where air circulation needs to be taken into account.
Glenn Roggeman, CEO of AED Group, used his knowledge of aerodynamics gained during his training as a helicopter pilot to drive the design forward. He comments: “This system sucks air breathed out by people into our aerodynamically-patented system. Micro-organisms such as bacteria and viruses are neutralised, meaning germ-free air is blown back into the room.
“When we are able to meet up again in enclosed spaces with groups of people, air disinfection will contribute to reducing in

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UK/USA - Studiomaster has appointed Italian Speaker Imports (ISI) as its exclusive authorised US distributor. Formed in 2014, the New York State headquartered company boats a roster of brands that includes FBT, JTS and Bespeco.
In a deal cemented at this year’s NAMM show, ISI adds the British PA company and its ranges of audio mixing consoles, amplifier products and loudspeakers to its existing portfolio.
ISI’s owner and president, John Krupa, states, “The partnership represents the combination of high-quality products and outstanding service and integrity. A significant aspect of ISI’s mission is to work with premium global brands in the audio industry and bring outstanding quality products to the U.S. market. Studiomaster offers superior products that are held to the highest standards of quality control, resulting in a range of sound mixers, amplifiers, and l

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UK - #LightItInRed is a UK based direct action lighting initiative that is scheduled to take place on the night of Monday 6 July 2020 to draw attention to the critical condition of the UK live event and entertainment industry and its need for special government support to see it through to re-starting.
Currently, unlike other industries, there is no set date for live events, shows, festivals and performances to restart after the Covid-19 shut down.
The #LightItInRed action was inspired by #NightofLight in Germany on 22 June, which saw over 9,000 buildings, monuments, structures, towers, landmarks, castles, offices, houses, spaces and places illuminated in ‘Emergency Red’ to raise awareness and grab the attention of the public and the government.
#LightItInRed initiators, Steven Haynes from Clearsound Productions and Phillip Berryman from The Backstage Theatr
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