Brazil - Nexo has made a significant move in Latin America, with the appointment of a new distributor in Brazil. Effective from 1 April, Yamaha Musical do Brasil Ltda. (YMDB) will take up representation of the Nexo brand.
Based in Sao Paolo and led by manager Caio Lenzi, Yamaha’s large professional audio team composed by Giuliano Quiqueto (senior NEXO/PA tech support/sales), Matheus Madeira (PA tech support), Renan Silva (senior CIS sales), Vinicius Mullieri (junior CIS sales), Claudia Pereira (internal sales) and Lucas Prado (MIPA tech support) will be working on promoting, selling and supporting Nexo’s sound reinforcement products in Brazil.
Yamaha has a long-established presence in the Brazilian market, establishing its first office in 1973. “The Nexo name and technology is well-known in Brazil, thanks to the expert work of Torau, which has had a long relation

UK - On Friday, 29 March 2019, HRH, The Princess Royal, was the honoured VIP visitor to Le Mark Group, there to open its new high-tech international warehouse facility.
HRH, accompanied by HM Lord-Lieutenant, Mrs Julie Spence OBE QPM, was greeted by senior Le Mark staff members and noted dignitaries from the Cambridgeshire County Council, Huntingdonshire District Council, Cambridgeshire Constabulary and the High Sheriff’s Association.
After touring the sales office, HRH was provided with a manufacturing demonstration of the multi-award winning BlackTak light masking foil. HRH heard of the work undertaken by the company and which countries it sells to.
Linda Gibbons, joint managing director, said: “We have an amazing performance flooring department and one particular project I was proud to present to HRH was our printing and fitting of the world’s largest pr

USA - The Long Reach Long Riders (LRLR) celebrated their upcoming ride with a raffle and live auction to benefit Behind the Scenes during the USITT Stage Expo last week in Louisville, KY.
A myriad of activities including sales of raffle tickets, a live and silent auction, challenge grants, swag sales, and sales of Neal Preston’s books, posters and prints raised over $18,000 for the charity. The LRLR 2019 ride, dubbed the Altimeter Tour, starts on 7 July in Denver Colorado. The riders cover all their own expenses so everything they raise goes to the charity. Sponsor a rider today at www.behindthescenescharity.org/lrlr.
The booth featured a display of some of The Lightpower Collection’s photographs by Neal Preston including those of Freddie Mercury, Brian May, Robert Plant, Bob Marley, Ray Charles and others.
Raffle festivities led off with the traditional kaz

Latvia/Ukraine - In response to significant business growth across Europe, Sixty82, a manufacturer of trussing and staging systems, has announced it has entered into a strategic agreement with JSA Stage Company as its exclusive distributor for Latvia and Ukraine.
From this point forward, JSA will serve its customers by providing a complete range of Sixty82 solutions.
“JSA’s distribution with Sixty82 is a crucial step to better serving our customers in Latvia and Ukraine,” says CEO Fokko Smeding. “With their history of representing leading manufacturers of trussing and staging equipment, they have built an excellent reputation in the industry and form an opportune extension to our already existing distribution network. In the many years that we have worked together we have established mutual trust, which is crucial in this ever-changing industry.”
Alexa

UK - For over a decade, Backstage Academy has been working with the South African Roadies Association (SARA) to explore the creation of a training initiative for the live events industry in South Africa. The ultimate goal of this collaboration is to establish a live events training institution based on the Backstage Academy model to provide the young people of South Africa with the skills and opportunities needed for the successful and continuing growth of the live events sector on the African continent.
In March 2019, this journey took a major step forward as Backstage Academy welcomed a VIP delegation of South African dignitaries from the Department of Culture and Arts to their campus at Production Park in Wakefield, West Yorkshire.
Led by Vusumuzi Mkhize, the director general of the Department of Arts and Culture, the delegation spent four days in the UK, visiting

Thailand - Waves Audio recently held a partner enablement camp at the Holiday Inn Sukhumvit in Bangkok on 25-27 March.
In support of the ongoing increase and expansion of Waves’ live and install business in the region, a three-day workshop camp was organised in Bangkok with Waves dealers from Thailand, Indonesia, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, India and the Middle East.
The Waves team – Mick Olesh (Waves EVP of sales & marketing), Noam Raz (live marketing manager), Michael Adams (Waves product specialist) and Ravisankar Nadiyam (regional sales manager) – was on hand contributing to the success of this event. The team led in-depth demos, product presentations and technical breakdowns pertaining to Waves MultiRack/SoundGrid, the Waves eMotion LV1 Live Mixer, using Waves plugins for studio and live sound and more.
Ravisankar remarks, “I believe tha

Germany - Solid State Logic has announced Audio Pro as its new professional console distributor in Germany. The team have a prolific record of providing high-end audio solutions and support for live and installed audio systems.
As part of the announcement, Audio Pro will be showcasing the new L550 and L100 live consoles at Prolight + Sound 2019 at the Vintage Concert Audio Show at Forum 0 this week.
“SSL and Audio Pro Elektroakustik worked together for a significant time in the 1990s and it feels good to be coming back together,” comments Jim Motley, SSL SVP of sales. “We are more than confident that the team will be fantastic ambassadors for our brand in the Live and Installed markets with our System T, Network I/O and Live consoles.”
Audio Pro’s product manager Joerg ter Veer adds, “The SSL Live series is a perfect addition to the top end of our cu

Germany - Since 2009, the city of Leipzig has been commemorating the peaceful revolution annually on 9 November, that started from the Saxon metropolis and made a significant contribution to the fall of the Berlin Wall on 9 November 1989. As in previous years, more than 15,000 people gathered on the Augustplatz between the Gewandhaus and the Opera.
On behalf of the Leipzig Tourism and Marketing GmbH (LTM), ils medientechnik once again assumed overall responsibility for all technical support. After ils had successfully implemented the large-format LR28 line array of the Dutch manufacturer Alcons Audio at a major event in the autumn, managing director Thomas Ils again opted for the "big silverware" at Lichtfest.
The main stage was placed in front of the opera, where a moving synthesis of sound, spoken theatre and speeches was realised. The staging focused on women this y

UK - Opened in 1894, the Grand Theatre Wolverhampton is one of the city’s finest examples of Victorian architecture. Next year will see it celebrate its 125th anniversary and whilst much of its original façade remains intact, its technical infrastructure has undergone significant upgrades, most recently with a visually discrete yet powerful K-array KY102 PA and DiGiCo’s latest SD12 digital mixing console, provided by specialist installer, integrator and reseller Stage Electrics.
The origins of the project date back to the end of 2017, when the theatre’s head of lighting and sound Anthony Aston and Mark Ryal, associate director technical services, contacted Stage Electrics’ audio division and spoke to audio specialist Jamie Gosney to discuss a new sound system. It has been a truly collaborative process that has, Anthony asserts, delivered exceptional results.

Columbia - Medellin-based rental company Genesis Producciones is owned and run by Juan David and has just moved into new warehouse premises in the south of the city.
It’s in one of the industrial areas with lots of space - for future expansion - and panoramic views of the surrounding mountains. It’s a move that takes Genesis to a new level of operation. Also upping the game, two years ago Juan and his team decided to start investing in Robe.
This was shortly after AVcom Colombia was appointed as the country’s distributor, and it was a decisive move with 48 Spiiders making up the first purchase, followed this year with 48 MegaPointes.
Juan decided to go with Robe for two major reasons. The first was that from about 2 years ago, the brand started appearing so regularly on band and artist riders that it was not possible to ignore.
The second one was th

UK - Martin Audio’s series of open days, held at the company’s High Wycombe base, enable international resellers to sample the new portfolio of products first-hand, take a factory visit, and partake in the manufacturer’s hospitality.
The opening session on day one this year, dedicated to live sound, was predictably packed, reports the company.
After MD Dom Harter had spoken about the company’s origins, Nigel Meddemmen (technical sales support) ran through the current frontline systems, starting with the point source BlacklineX series and explaining that it should be partnered with the new VIA amp range for best effect.
Moving further upmarket, the XD series offers improved quality and is aimed at the higher end of pro rental. With its rotatable horn it provides a wide range of deployment options, and visitors could clearly hear the difference, both when t

UK - UK Rigging has switched its equipment rental software to HireHop. Due to UK Rigging’s rapid growth they needed flexible and powerful software to manage their inventory and productions, as well as assign and manage crew to various jobs in different regions all over the country.
After testing numerous other systems, UK Rigging concluded that HireHop was best suited to their needs, due to its ease of use and scalability, as well as having the added advantage of being in the cloud. They also worked alongside HireHop to help them develop a new crew scheduling resource planner, tailored to assign crew to multiple jobs in different regions quickly and easily.
HireHop’s director Keith Jacobs says: “We are pleased with the result of our collaboration with UK Rigging, and are extremely grateful for all the input they have given us, enabling us to develop such a powerf

Europe - Audio-Technica (A-T) has extended its distribution partnership with Apart Audio to include Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland from April.
A-T has acted as Apart distributor in the UK since 2015 and also represents the brand in France and Spain, supplying from Audio-Technica’s EU warehousing facilities in Montfort, Netherlands as well as Leeds, UK.
Logan Helps, Audio-Technica’s Apart brand manager, comments: “We’ve seen great success with Apart in some exciting projects throughout Great Britain in the last three years and I’m pleased to be able to work alongside our partners, both existing and new, to replicate that success throughout Ireland in the coming months.”
Robert Morgan-Males, CEO of Audio-Technica Europe, adds: “We’re delighted to be building on our established relationship with Apart Audio and taking on distribution i

Toronto Inquest - The stage collapse that killed a Radiohead drum technician caused lasting "immeasurable pain and grief" for the band, a Canadian coroner's inquest has heard. Radiohead drummer Philip Selway told the inquest that the 2012 incident still haunts the band. Scott Johnson died at Toronto's Downsview Park when the stage collapsed an hour before the gates opened. An Ontario coroner is conducting an inquest into the deadly incident.
In testimony in Toronto, Selway described the "anger and frustration" felt by the UK band, its crew members and Johnson's parents in the wake of the incident. He said they have been left with a sense of a "complete failure of the justice system" in the case. "The system has failed Scott, his family and other industry workers," he said.
Radiohead was set to perform a sold-out show in Toronto when the stage's metal scaffold roofing -

UK - PLASA Focus Leeds has announced its line-up of seminars and speakers for this year’s event, taking place on 14-15 May at the Royal Armouries Museum in Leeds.
Alongside the sold-out show floor with brands from across audio, lighting, AV, and staging, the seminars and training sessions provide opportunities to pick up essential technical know-how and gain insights into notable industry developments.
A programme highlight looks to the Royal Albert Hall, which recently received a multi-million-pound audio system upgrade. Ollie Jeffery, head of production and technical at the Royal Albert Hall, and Steve Jones from d&b audiotechnik will discuss their technical process and reveal how the new system is already impacting the audience experience.
Renowned audio consultant Roland Hemming is presenting a series of seminars, kicking off with an introduc

UK - Backstage Academy has been shortlisted for an Educate North Award in recognition of its industry partnerships.
Based at Production Park in Wakefield, the live event production educational facility is a finalist in the Business/Industry Collaboration HE/FE Sector - one of 19 categories. Now in its fifth year, the Educate North Awards is an awards event which celebrates, recognises and shares best practice and excellence in the education sector in the North.
In their awards submission, Backstage Academy highlighted the substantial impact their industry partnerships have on the development of their students. The institution’s partnerships take a variety of forms including product support from manufacturers of live events technology, masterclasses & specialist training from industry professionals and work placement opportunities.
“We are delighted to

Nigeria - Considered the largest music event in Africa, The Experience interdenominational gospel concert, convened and hosted by Pastor Paul Adefarasin, as well as drawing a 700,000 crowd to its last edition in Lagos’s Tafawa-Balewa Square in December 2018, was also streamed live on the House on The Rock YouTube channel to viewers around the world.
The high-profile cast of performers was ensured optimum coverage at the huge venue by the impressive Outline PA fielded by Cytech, featuring GTO, GTO C-12 and Butterfly line array systems, LAB 21 infra-subs, DBS 18-2 and Subtech 218 sub-bass enclosures, DVS and Doppia point-source systems, with H.A.R.D. 212 wedge monitors for the artistes.
Outline’s Openarray-3D acoustic prediction software was used to plan the installation of the sound system that covered the 200 by 280sq.m, bounded by tiered seating 20m high a

USA - Continuing Fred Foster’s legacy of caring for entertainment technology professionals in need, ETC presented Behind the Scenes with a cheque during USITT for $14,937.81, representing the most recent proceeds from the company’s iRFR and aRFR (Radio Focus Remote) applications. Since the launch of the iRFR in 2009, ETC’s mobile app sales have now generated almost $370,000 in donations.
The iRFR and aRFR mobile apps enable convenient, touchscreen-based remote control for Eos family consoles and controllers. You can learn more about the apps from the ETC website and download them from the iTunes or Google Play stores.
“Behind the Scenes provides great relief to members of the extended entertainment production industry family who are dealing with financial hardship due to injury and illness,” said Kate Foster, ETC’s marketing scenic designer, upon presenti

UK - Sound masking specialists Cambridge Sound Management (CSM), recently acquired by Biamp, has appointed Polar as its exclusive UK distributor.
CSM’s award-winning QtPro and DynasoundPro technologies are designed to help organisations of all sizes protect speech privacy, reduce noise distractions and increase workplace productivity by meeting the challenges presented by the architecture of settings such as open-plan and private offices, call centres and lobbies.
CSM’s proprietary technology works by adding a low level, unobtrusive background sound into an environment. This ambient, specially optimised sound masking drastically reduces the intelligibility of human speech to promote a workplace that is measurably more acoustically comfortable and private without sacrificing architectural design.
More than 20,000 installations around the world already utilis

Mexico - The 17th edition of Sound:Check XPO, Mexico’s leading music industry show, is taking place on 28-30 April at the Mexico City’s World Trade Centre, with the latest developments in audio, video, lighting and staging set to be showcased across more than 13,000sq.m of exhibition space.
Over 22,000 attendees are expected to visit the show, which will also include a programme of masterclasses, with musician Simon Phillips, Mimi Fox and Camilo Laro from Instituto Mexicano del Sonido/Mexican Institute of Sound, the AES Mexico Annual Conference and the Tendencias (Trends) sessions.
The Harman Auditorium will be the stage for product presentations that can be heard and seen in full operation, accompanied by technical talks with leading industry professionals.
The AES Annual Conference will feature Sergio Molho (Waters-Storyk Design Group), Jonathan Wyner (mas

Europe - Global Truss has appointed Austrian Truss Constructions (ATC) as a sales partner in Austria, effective 1 January. The two companies have also forged a strategic relationship for heavy duty systems, stage roofs and special constructions, particularly the development of the iM- and iL-Type system by CAMCO.
Florian Schaaf from the Global Truss, comments: “Now we are able to rely on the long-time experience of ATC in the field of professional solutions and special constructions. The first results of this partnership are already visible with the Multi-Tower-Basement, the new stage roofs as well as our innovative F.O.H. We are looking forward to the cooperation with ATC on the technical and on the sales side. A win-win for the companies and the customers.”
Thomas Wagner of ATC adds: “We are looking forward to the cooperation with Global Truss where both compa

South Africa - The South African Roadies Association (SARA) was born out of the belief in an industry that could provide employment and technical abilities to the young in search of a career. Their good work has helped countless young South Africans get into the industry and mould a career out of their new skills.
DWR Distribution sees the potential and great work offered here and decided to lend a hand in offering niche training to help their cause and better the industry. In addition, DWR renovated and painted one of the classrooms to create a learner friendly environment.
Jannie de Jager, a resident DWR lighting expert, was an appropriate pick as training instructor as he offered patience and knowledge to the future roadies of South Africa. With years of experience and skill Ole Boinamo also from DWR assisted in presenting the training. “They were eager, hungry fo

Germany - The Adam Hall Academy opened its doors in mid-June 2018. Since its start, numerous seminars and workshop participants have made use of the extensive and constantly growing training programme of the Adam Hall Group in co-operation with the training institute DEAplus.
From its inception, the Adam Hall Academy was linked with the new Experience Centres at the German headquarters of the Adam Hall Group in Hessian Neu-Anspach in order to ensure that the non-proprietary PROseminars in the fields of light, sound, rigging, video and media technology are as varied, practical, and effective as possible.
The PROseminars also came to life because of the cooperation with DEAplus. Targeted to the content and methodological requirements of executives and professionals in the event industry, PROseminars provide trend-based management know-how in the areas of organization, sa

USA - Established almost four decades ago, event technology specialist WorldStage makes a practice of investing in equipment that matches its goal of supplying top of the line technology to its clients. With that in mind, WorldStage has made a major commitment to Brompton Technology’s Tessera LED processors.
WorldStage operates in multiple markets throughout the US. The company’s projects include Broadway productions, art installations, television shows, touring productions and high-end corporate meetings.
“The past three years have been a period of significant growth for us, and whenever we make large investments in technology we partner with the best players in the market,” explains WorldStage CEO, Gary Standard. “Our high-level engineering staff always looks at technology from that viewpoint.
“We understand the importance of good processing and wa

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