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The Music Managers Forum (MMF) has marked its 10th anniversary by receiving official recognition from the Law Society for its high standards of training. The Law Society has given the MMF accreditation to deliver a range of seminars that meet the Continual Professional Development (CPD) requirements for Lawyers.

Since its inception in 1995, MMF-Training (the training division of the Music Managers Forum) has delivered a range of Master Classes that focus on legal and business issues in key areas of the Music Business. Although originally designed with the artist manager in mind, the seminars cover a range of topics that are equally relevant to others working in the music industry. Other MMF-Training accreditations include the Institute of Legal Executives and members of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW), The Association of International Accountants (A

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The £40m National Ice Centre, Nottingham, boasts two Olympic-sized ice pads (the first such facility in the UK), one of which transforms into the impressive 10,000 capacity Nottingham Arena designed to host an array of rock and pop concerts and children's shows. The multi-purpose centre also houses a health and fitness centre and first class corporate entertainment and conference facilities.

July 31 saw the official opening by Her Majesty the Queen at a Gala organised and choreographed by Torvill and Dean. The crowds gathered to enjoy an evening packed with music, ice-skating and celebrations, featuring Nottingham Symphony Orchestra, the local ice hockey team and the world's finest figure skaters, including two Olympic Gold medallists, plus local skaters. The evening began with a demonstration of the skating skills of local children, followed by speeches from the Lord Mayor of Notting

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A pair of Allen & Heath GL3300 eighteen buss live sound consoles were used at several events during the recent Hue Festival in Vietnam. The festival was held in the ancient imperial capital of Hue and was the second celebration of its kind, building on the success of a similar event in 2000. Thousands of tourists were attracted to this year's festivities, which showcased the diverse cultural traditions of Vietnam's different regions and also gave local people an opportunity to see performers from France, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Indonesia, The Philippines, China, Korea and Japan.

The rental division of Allen & Heath's distributor for Vietnam, Nguyen Hoang Co Ltd, supplied the sound reinforcement system for several major events during the 12-day festival. Both 32-channel GL3300s were first used for the opening ceremony, which centred on a 600 square metre stage in Ngo Mon Square. One o

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The experienced Jon Petts was reunited with Ian Kirby this month, with the announcement that Coemar UK will be taking over the distribution of Taiwan-based smoke machine specialists, Antari.

Latterly international product manager for JEM, within the Martin Professional organization, Petts told us: "I have now decided to hang up my passport and focus on the UK. With the Antari distribution switching to Coemar UK - and the announcement of a new professional range of club and touring products - this is an exciting challenge. Antari fully appreciate that with the demands of today’s touring, event, studio and theatre markets, atmospheric effect generators need exacting standards of construction and reliability."

Jon will take up the role of Antari UK sales manager, and Ian Kirby is delighted to have such a leading professional on board, whom he first met when they worked t

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International Management Services (IMS) - Asia Pacific, has launched a specialist consultancy and distribution management service for companies targeting the Asia Pacific region. IMS - Asia Pacific already has a number of clients including Cadac Electronics plc, manufacturers of top-end analogue mixing consoles for sound reinforcement and location recording.

The company will be managed by a well-established team which has many years' experience working in Asia within the professional audio industry. Manager Craig Lovell has spent the last decade living and working in Asia, based in both Japan and Singapore. He worked for Matsushita, as well as Harman International Industries Ltd, and was involved in the formation and management of the Tokyo-based representative office for Amek. Phillippa Jeanes was responsible for the formation and management of the Singapore Office for Dalet Digital M

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Drape and rigging specialist Blackout recently assisted in the realisation of the Faceparty.com launch party. Recognised as one of the world’s most popular websites, Faceparty marked the occasion with a celebration of dance music. Staged at Three Mills Film Studios, the Faceparty event’s line-up included Pete Tong, Lisa Pin-Up, Kosheen, Boy George, Ms Dynamite, Scratch Perverts and many more.

Over 4km of sunset orange carpet, a staggering quantity of drapes and starcloth, custom-built scenery, 140kW of Turbosound PA and tens of thousands of fairy lights converted the Three Mills car park and three main film studios into a stunning spatial wonderland. Blackout’s project manager, Kevin Monks, collaborated with Faceparty’s Dave Bamforth to realise Bamforth’s creative ideas, before the Blackout team dressed all four themed dance areas of the vast site.

For the Veranda a

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Heilbronn-based manufacturer beyerdynamic has supplied its sophisticated MCD (digital) Wireless conferencing system to the legendary Hockenheimring Grand Prix circuit, as part of its massive reconstruction. The system was recently used by Michael Schumacher, Juan Pablo Montoya and Ralf Schumacher to deliver the post-race press conference at the German Grand Prix to television viewers and news agencies around the world.

The MCD-Wireless system comprised eight microphones positioned on the tables without any unnecessary cabling to make for a clean, uncluttered presentation and expedient installation. A remote control switch was also specified to switch the microphones on and off simultaneously from a PC or laptop. As a very flexible system the MCD-W was configured especially by beyerdynamic, and tailored to meet the organisers specific requirements.

The beyerdynamic MCD-W Conference Sy

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Aztec, the ground-breaking live performance console recently released by pro audio specialist Audient. Just months after its official UK launch, a 48-channel version of the console was put through its paces at an Idlewild concert at the Colchester Arts Centre. Rental company Audio Plus supplied the desk for the one-off gig, which saw the band playing to 400 people. Engineers for the evening were Chris Secker and Richie Dempsey. Front-of-house engineer Richie Dempsey said: "The desk was really easy to use with good gain structure and great EQ. It was easy to find your way around, which is important. All in all I liked it!" The Aztec live performance console is Audient's first live console and can be used both the road or in a fixed installation.

Features of the desk include separate L, C, and R buses with individual trims on each of the output faders; 8 audio sub group output

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L&SI magazine is running two Round Table discussion sessions during the forthcoming PLASA Show (September 8-11, Earls Court 1, London) designed to address some of the most central issues in the industry.

The first session Freelance Rates - Due for Review? will focus on the current rates of pay for freelancers, which over the years have shown a downward trend in real terms, and will be led by a panel of industry professionals on both sides of the fence. The second session, Discounting Rental Rates: Is it Economic Madness? will look at discounting in rental markets, and how companies may be devaluing the services they provide in their attempts to undercut competitors. Once again, the panel will be drawn from those who deal with these issues on a daily basis.

The Freelance Rates session will take place on Monday 9 September at 3pm in the Westminster Room on the Mezzanine L

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Coemar De Sisti Australia has recently completed the conversion of Channel 7’s dimmers in Studio 7 in Melbourne, to operate on DMX512 control protocol. The dimmers where installed in the studios many years ago and operate off 0-10V control only. Channel 7 wanted to have the dimmers upgraded so that today’s standard lighting control protocol (DMX512) could be used together with the existing 0-10V control system which is from a Strand Galaxy console. The other advantage of adding DMX was the fact that it provided Channel 7 with a means of having easy backup for the Galaxy console if required.

Coemar De Sisti Australia manufactured a special PCB to carry out the works and also installed the systems into the existing dimmers. The PCB was built into a custom metal box, which made the installation and any future work on the dimmers very easy. The company also fitted standard XLR

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Audiolight Sound & Lighting, a supplier of audio, visual and lighting equipment, has just launched its business into the kingdom of e-commerce. Audiolight Sound & Lighting told us: "Our main aim is to provide customers with product support, realistic prices and to impart knowledge. We are here to help and assist first-time customers when making purchases, and at the other end of the scale, to serve bigger companies with a large and varied range of products for all areas, including retail, leisure, communications, display, point-of-sale and installation equipment."

One of the key features of the new site is a comprehensive chat forum, to act as a virtual meeting place for visitors to the site to share news, information and to hold general discussions about everything that relates to sound and lighting.

(Ruth Rossington)

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Lighthouse recently held its first Open Days at Shepperton Studios in Middlesex, where it gave the first European showing of its new LVP0630 and LVP1050 high resolution, high brightness LED screens, and followed on from a highly successful Infocomm exhibition, where confirmed orders for the new products topped $4 million.

Over 100 attendees, including both existing Lighthouse rental partners, integrators and potential new customers from around Europe and the UK, viewed the state-of-the-art screens in the art gallery-style setting of The Orangery, in the heart of the world-famous studios. The ultra-high brightness LVP1050 (10mm pixel pitch, 5000 nits brightness), and the high definition LVP0630 (6mm pixel pitch, 3000 nits) both feature Lighthouse’s new M4 technology. At 5000 nits, the LVP1050 is the world’s first outdoor SMD (Surface Mount Device) LED video screen. It featu

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The James Last Orchestra recently toured Germany, Austria and Switzerland with a large number of Audio-Technica microphones included on the channel list of front-of-house engineer, Paddi Addison. A combination of PRO35X, AT4050, AT4041, ATM25 and ATM23HE models - 43 microphones in total - demonstrated the versatility of the range by covering a wide variety of instruments.

Addison, who has mixed for the James Last Orchestra for over a decade, explains: "James Last has 40 musicians on stage and, of course, every note they play needs to be heard with fidelity and clarity (otherwise the very demanding audience certainly lets me know)! Since we started using Audio-Technica mics, I have found it much easier to achieve this result. There is a suitable Audio-Technica microphone for every situation. I particularly like the open and natural feel of the AT4050. I use it on overheads and perc

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The single largest concentration of Nexo sound systems in Asia sits 6,000 feet above sea level, just 45 minutes from the capital of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur. The Genting - City of Entertainment is a favourite destination for many in the region, providing a wide range of recreational and sporting facilities, as well as luxurious hotels. The newest addition, the First World Complex, embraces the First World Plaza, Genting International Convention Centre (GICC) and the First World Hotel, recently completed with its block of 3,228 rooms making it the 'biggest' in Asia in terms of rooms.

ElectroSystems of Singapore completed the installation of sound reinforcement systems thoughout the City of Entertainment, specifying Nexo loudspeaker cabinets for the 6,000-seat Arena of Stars concert hall and the Genting International Convention Centre (GICC). Billed as the largest convention centre in Mala

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Concert sound specialists Tour Tech - already owners of Soundcraft Spirit 328 digital production desks - recently upgraded to the new-generation 328XD. Dick Rabel’s company purchased a pair of the feature-packed digital production consoles - and immediately had several of their artists lining up to use them - with the Levellers heading the list.

"This follows the success we had with the standard 328s, which were used with Stereo MCs and PJ Harvey - including her UK and US tour," commented Rabel. Top band Coldplay are another to take advantage of a new 328XD to mix down hard disk and samplers for live work, before transferring to the main console. So Solid Crew have similarly been using the 328XD. "Coldplay are currently using a 328XD and 8 way mic/line expander for live touring work," confirmed Dick. "They have been using these components since they comm

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The owners of AJS Theatre Lighting & Stage Supplies Ltd have acquired the business of Cerebrum Lighting (formerly part of the Lighting Technology Group which last month went into administration) from the administrators PriceWaterhouseCooper.

The company has been renamed Cerebrum Ltd, and although in time it will be integrated into the AJS group structure, it will continue to operate and trade as Cerebrum Lighting, based in south London. Cerebrum Lighting has of course been a respected supplier of lighting equipment in the industry, having traded for many years.

The move comes just two years after key changes at AJS itself: the company was brought by Decibel Ltd in January 2000, as a management buyout from the previous owner Adrian Sant. Led by Christopher Coates, the last two years has seen the company undergo a major restructuring programme, and a continued investment programme has

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Genelec Oy, a world leader in active monitoring systems, is strengthening its support for the Chinese marketplace by opening Genelec China Representative Office in Beijing. The office will officially open at the end of this week to coincide with the BIRTV show which runs from 22-25 August, 2002.

Ilpo Martikainen, president of Genelec Oy, told us: "This investment aims at ensuring customer satisfaction in the growing Chinese market in all respects: local support, product availability and close contact with the customer base. Our cooperation with ACE / Power Source Development in Hong Kong and China continues and we highly respect their achievements with their customers."

Lars-Olof Janflod, international sales manager of Genelec Oy has been visiting the Chinese market regularly. "The development of this market place during the past few years has been remarkable. Comparin

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The Klark Teknik Group has appointed Dublin-based Sound & Communications as the exclusive distributor for all Midas products in Ireland. Sound & Communications already has a long-standing partnership with Shuttlesound and Electro-Voice and is therefore well placed to take on Midas distribution. According to Midas international product manager David Cooper, Sound & Communications was the natural choice. "We felt that the time had come to get closer to our customers in Ireland, especially since the launch of higher volume products like Legend and Venice. We needed someone who could offer local support and local market awareness. Given the strength and nature of their customer base, plus their proven success with other related brands, we feel that Sound & Communications is the best partner for Midas in Ireland."

Sound & Communications Alan Murphy agrees. "We're delighted to

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Last Autumn, Italian fashion designer Giorgio Armani opened his new worldwide headquarters at Via Bergognone 59 in Milan. Located in the up-and-coming Porta Genova district, the facilities are set to be the global stage for the Armani brand. Japanese architect Tadao Ando, who, like Armani, is famous for his appreciation of simplicity and purity in his design, was commissioned to transform the space into an ethereal fusion of concrete, water and light.

Central to the 12,000sq.m building is the 3,400sq.m Armani Teatro, which caters for a variety of events, including fashion shows. With simple reorganization, the black-box theatre, normally laid out for catwalk shows, can form a proscenium stage for drama, a thrust arrangement for dance, or be emptied out for use as an art gallery or a site-specific installation. It can also be used as a lecture hall, convention area, or even as a tempor

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Ibiza’s popular nightspot, Bar M, is where many eager clubbers begin their night of revelry before going on to dance the night away at Privilege, the world’s biggest club, where the weekly Manumission can pull a crowd of up to 10,000. Naturally, Bar M wanted to give the happy clubbers as good a sound experience as they expected from Manumission, and to do this required an innovative approach by Britannia Row Productions’ sound system designer, Roly Oliver.

"KLP approached us in April, looking for a sound system which would be the talk of the island and with dedicated clubbers worldwide," said Oliver. KLP represent Orange, sponsor of both Bar M and Manumission. Oliver flew to Ibiza to see the challenges for himself. Bar M has two indoor bars but most of the action takes place outside. His first problem was that local bye-laws prohibited placing speakers outsi

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Sennheiser continues to clock up endorsement agreements with major artists across the world. Among the latest signings are The White Stripes, who have been performing their signature brand of stripped-down guitar and drums rock to capacity crowds at gigs and festivals in the UK and across Europe with a clutch of Sennheiser evolution mics, including e865 condensers for both Jack and sister Meg’s vocals. Jack White (guitar and vocals) and Meg White (drums and vocals) cut an especially distinctive sound, which has propelled them rapidly to ‘major selling artist’ status.

evolution microphones were chosen before the start of the tour by front-of-house engineer Matthew Kettle, after success using them on previous projects. "Sennheiser has provided not just top quality equipment for this tour," he said of the UK and European dates, "but as on previous occasion

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Futurist Ltd, the West Yorkshire-based provider of lighting and sound equipment and services, went into liquidation in early June. The company, which was owned by a charitable trust, the Robert Luff Foundation Ltd, was managed by Michael Lister.

Michael Lister has told PLASA Media that he and his wife, Dawn, have purchased the 'assets and goodwill of Futurist Ltd'. Furthermore, an existing company, DML Corporation Ltd, which was owned by Michael Lister, has been re-named Futurist Projects Ltd, and Lister has told us that the "Futurist brand will continue to be marketed and promoted" through this company, which will be based at Trinity Business Park in Wakefield.

The creditors of Futurist Ltd included a number of well-known manufacturers and service providers in the industry, some of whom were subsequently hit by the loss of Lighting Technology at the end of June (see L&SI

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12 September will mark the first anniversary of White Light taking possession of its new HQ building in Wimbledon, south-west London. Since 12 September is also the day after the PLASA Show, White Light has decided to hold a post-PLASA, one-year celebration Open Day - and everyone is invited!

For most of its 30-year history, White Light was based in a quirky but much-loved building tucked away in the back-streets of Fulham, taking over other space nearby as it expanded into the White Light Group during the nineties. As the number and scale of the White Light Group’s projects continued to expand, finding a new home which would allow all of the Group’s activities to be brought back together under one roof became a top priority; after a long search, the White Light Group - including White Light Hire, White Light Sales, The Moving Light Company, The Service Company, Colourhouse

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Specialist audio supplier to the corporate and entertainment market, Delta Sound, has recently added a Legend 3000 to its inventory of Midas consoles, which now totals five Heritage 1000s and two Heritage 3000 consoles in a variety of frame sizes. Since its arrival at Delta Sound, the Legend 3000 has already been out on a number of prestigious events including the Commonwealth Games, for which Delta Sound was principle audio contractor. Other events include the Microsoft Tech-Ed conference in Lisbon, an annual event with over 5,000 delegates, and an accounting conference in Vienna for Braxton (formerly Deloitte Touche). The company is currently in service at the Assembly Rooms in Edinburgh for the Edinburgh festival.

According to Delta managing director Paul Keating, there is no better desk for the money: "I bought the Legend 3000 so that I have a Midas console to compete with oth

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  5. TMC lifts sound award
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