UK - Tour and production manager Stewart Chown, who works alongside remote production manager Gareth Russell, has trusted Britannia Row's services with many of their touring acts over the course of their careers. So, when American singer, songwriter and musician Sharon Van Etten announced she'd be touring a new record with her new band, The Attachment Theory, Britannia Row's services were required once again.

"The band aspect is quite a new thing for Sharon, and our brief was to bring everything up to a certain production level," begins Stewart. "It's not a huge tour - our audio package is economical - but we wanted to make it as efficient as possible to give Sharon and the band the best production for their touring budget.

"We're good friends with our account executive Jonathan Dunlop, so he was our first point of call for audio. We've hand-picked o

China - The Spring Festival Gala took place this January for a spectacular Luna New Year’s Eve celebration. As the first year with established UNESCO World Heritage status, the Spring Festival Gala had unprecedented global reach. KV2 Audio was chosen to provide an audio solution to work alongside the visually captivating performances and impressive venues.  

Four venues joined together as branches of the main event in Beijing, and for the first time a Jiangnan city, Wuxi, was selected as one of these locations. The waterside town combines traditional Chinese culture with modern civilisation, providing an enchanting setting for the New Year’s Eve celebrations.  

On the shore of Taihu Lake, the Wuxi venue featured vast, outdoor performance areas. An audio system was required that would be able to cover the expansive spaces suc

USA - For Miami’s booming hospitality market, where lively nightlife and excellent gastronomic experiences are the order of the day, the expectations for atmosphere are high. For venues where every detail counts, sound quality plays a crucial role in shaping guest experiences.

Miami-based integrator Davel Rodriguez, principal at DRVCS, has turned to K-array to solve the challenges of balancing audio quality with aesthetics. DRVCS has been at the forefront of integrating these solutions across some of the most design-forward venues, not just in Miami, but nationwide, including New York City restaurant Mēdüzā Mediterrania.

“Miami is growing up to another level,” says Rodriguez. “Restaurants and bars are opening every day, and the design standards just keep on rising. Everyone wants to create something exceptional. K-array helps us get there,

UK - Martin Audio partner, Penguin Media Solutions, recently completed the third technical overhaul of pubs in the burgeoning 50-plus Laine Pub Company estate.

Both organisations are HQ’d in Brighton, and Penguin’s technical project manager Dylan Thompson says that since all three city centre pubs have their own identity and autonomy, an individual approach was required when it came to specifying audio. Martin Audio’s extensive portfolio afforded different options.

Penguin’s latest implementation was the Black Lion, a popular music pub nestled in Brighton’s famous Lanes. The client required better traffic flow to draw its clientele towards the rear of the room - where the intensity would increase - and avoid the current pinch point at the front. “The previous design was a bit lazy, with lots of mismatched 8in boxes scattered around and a

UK - Since opening its doors in 2012, RedX Dance in Bristol has taught street dance classes to hundreds of children and adults of all abilities. The award-winning company has its own studio in the Staple Hill area of the city, recently equipped with an array of Optimal Audio speakers and control solution.

With a requirement to deliver coverage over a large studio space and ensuring great-sounding audio to inspire dancers, suppliers Richer Sounds in Bath ultimately specified a quartet of Optimal Audio’s Cuboid 6 full-range, two-way wall-mounted speakers with a single Sub 6 ultra-compact sub-bass speaker.

As Richer Sounds’ Bath store manager Tom explains: “One of the biggest challenges was making sure we could cover the whole studio while maintaining a reasonable speaker count. The Cuboid 6 sounds great and strikes an excellent balance between po

USA - Bose Professional has announced the appointment of Joe Falcão as chief financial officer. Falcão brings more than 20 years of international financial leadership to the role, having previously guided high-performing teams across the retail, e-commerce, telecom, and healthcare industries from offices around the world.

Previously, Falcão has provided financial leadership for global brands including Dunkin and Cabot Corporation and managed teams at Invensys, iBasis, Thrasio and Orva, among others. Falcão has a proven track record of driving operational excellence across offices in Brazil, Belgium and Malaysia and leading organisations based in the UK, India, China, the Netherlands and Japan.

“Joe’s leadership in scaling complex global operations will be instrumental at this point in Bose Professional’s expansion,” said John Maier, CEO o

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

Japan - The Biwako Hall in Shiga Prefecture, celebrated for hosting some of the country’s premier opera and classical performances, has become the first performing arts venue in Japan to install the SPAT Revolution Wave Field Synthesis immersive audio system powered by Harman’s FLUX:: technology. This system enables an auditory experience that positions sound precisely on stage, creating a fully immersive environment that enhances the audience’s engagement, regardless of seating location.

Located 20 minutes from Kyoto on the shores of Lake Biwa, the 1,848-seat Biwako Hall is renowned for its diverse programming and its unique acoustics tailored to classical performances. The installation of the SPAT Revolution reflects Biwako Hall’s commitment to innovation in the performing arts. The system upgrade enhances the hall’s front-of-house package, intro

Sweden - At the beginning of this year, Swedish artist Thåström set out on a 14-date arena tour, which closed at the Avicii Arena in Stockholm on 15 March. Known for his gritty, emotionally raw sound and poetic lyricism, the singer brought fans closer than ever, thanks in part to an audio setup built around Allen & Heath’s dLive series and the RackUltra FX card.

FOH engineer Oscar Soederlund has worked with Thåström since 2021 and the highly experienced engineer elected to use a dLive S7000 control surface connected to a space-efficient DM0 MixRack, with a similar setup used for the monitor mix handled by production manager Henrik ‘Hambo’ Henriksson. Audio rental company Parashoot supplied the dLive control packages for the tour, while APM and Soundforce handled the PA.

For FOH, a DX32 modular expander was equipped with Prime inputs

Singapore - The Singapore Repertory Theatre (SRT), one of the leading professional theatre companies in Asia, recently deployed Clear-Com’s Arcadia Central Station, resolving persistent communication issues and streamlining coordination across departments. The upgrade was carried out in collaboration with Clear-Com’s regional partner, Electronics & Engineering Pte (E&E).

In a high-stakes theatrical environment, communication breakdowns can directly impact show quality. SRT had begun experiencing reliability issues with its aging intercom system, including occasional interference and wear that hindered clear communication among the production team. “Every cue matters during a production,” said Lee Kong Shen, technical manager at SRT. “Our previous system just wasn’t keeping up with our pace. We knew we needed a change, something dependable

South Africa - Across one weekend in June, Red Bull Symphonic took over The Montecasino Teatro, Johannesburg, with a blend of orchestral compositions and contemporary Amapiano energy.

Powering this much-anticipated performance was a complete Plus Audio sound system. A Stage Audio Works house brand, Plus Audio provided powerful audio across three consecutive nights, making a strong case for the brand’s high-performance capabilities at an accessible price point and highlighting its readiness for large-scale touring and live events.

“We’ve put Plus Audio through its paces before, but Red Bull Symphonic was the next level,” says Nathan Ihlenfeldt, technical director at Stage Audio Works and FOH engineer for the event. “Between the orchestral detail and the energy of Amapiano, the system needed to be exceptionally versatile. In short, it exceede

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

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

India - KOCA is the latest addition to the culinary landscape in the Indian city of Gurgaon. The first restaurant venture of Indian cricketer Yuvraj Singh, KOCA - Kitchen of Celebratory Arts - is a fine dining establishment characterised by chic contemporary interiors and an elegant yet high-energy experience.

Background music is a key element of KOCA’s atmosphere, as are the DJ sets which are a feature of the venue. A quality sound system was an essential requirement for the KOCA team, so they engaged supplier Alphatec and integrator VMS Delhi, led by technical lead Mr Sandeep Duggal, to provide an appropriate solution.

The team chose a Coda Audio system for the interior areas of KOCA. It was of great importance to the venue that as well as providing powerful but smooth audio, the aesthetics of the loudspeakers did not compromise the decor.

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UK - The Art-Deco Grade II listed Queens Hotel has been an impressive presence on Leeds’ City Square since its construction in 1937. Designed by W.H. Hamlyn and faced with white Portland Stone, it is a striking landmark which over the years has hosted many notable guests. Royals, world leaders, and international film stars have all experienced the comforts of The Queens.

At the end of last year, The Queens was the focus of an art installation which saw LeedsBID (Leeds Business Improvement District) collaborate with Barcelona-based creative studio Onionlab on To Leeds With Love, a visual spectacular which used the elegant architecture of the Hotel as a canvas for multiple projections themed around The Twelve Days of Christmas.

The ambitious and innovative project, which embraced state-of-the-art technology and world-class design, r

UK - Stage Electrics Group has announced changes within its senior executive team. Andy Preece, group finance director, will retire from his executive role effective 31 July 2025, the end of the group’s financial year, and will assume a new position as a non-executive director.

Dave Coull, group CEO of Stage Electrics, said: “Andy’s breadth of experience and expertise have not only benefited the organisation financially and strategically but have also helped shape and develop our company culture over the past four years. As he moves into his new role as non-executive director, I’m confident the group will continue to benefit from his insight, non-executive oversight, and unwavering commitment to our continued growth and success.”

Nathan Athay, the company’s current finance manager, will be promoted to the role of group finance director an

Saudi Arabia - Harman Professional Solutions has announced the expansion of its long-standing distribution agreement with Masterpiece in the Middle East. Effective 1 July 2025, Masterpiece will begin offering the full Harman Professional audio brand portfolio in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).

Already a distributor for Harman audio brands in the UAE and broader GCC region, Masterpiece’s expanded role in Saudi Arabia will now include the complete professional audio lineup: JBL Professional, BSS, Crown, AKG, Soundcraft, Lexicon and dbx. This move reflects Harman’s continued investment in strengthening channel coverage and ensuring high-quality service and support across key markets.

“We are proud to expand our Harman distribution footprint to include the full audio portfolio in Saudi Arabia,” says Simon Daniel, general manager, Masterpiece.

UK - The Piano, which just wrapped its third season, is a popular UK reality competition that invites undiscovered, amateur pianists to perform emotionally charged music amid the bustling sounds of some of the country’s busiest train stations. The concept of the show was borne from the practice of commuters sitting down to play the upright pianos commonly found in England’s train depots.

Capturing those moments with high-quality sound in unpredictable public spaces requires precision, creativity and exceptional gear. With this in mind, sound supervisor and founder of Audio Dept UK, Richard Meredith, turned to his trusted toolkit, led by DPA Microphones, for the recordings, as well as Wisycom wireless RF solutions.

“The show’s premise is so pure - it’s just people sitting down at a public piano and expressing themselves,” explains

Canada - Founded in 1878 in London, Ontario, Western University is one of Canada's top research-intensive universities. Western recently crafted a special events space in the new Ronald D. Schmeichel Entrepreneurship and Innovation Centre (SEI). The multipurpose room was designed to host a wide variety of functions, ranging from keynote speeches to musical performances. However, the room’s architecture, which features extensive concrete, glass and high ceilings, presented significant acoustic challenges.  

Western University’s Classroom Technology Group partnered with leading experts in audio integration, ultimately selecting EM Acoustics’ Reference Series as its core solution. With the space intended to host high-profile speaking events, ceremonies and presentations, the emphasis was on implementing a system that would provide clear and uniform spee

UAE - Lou Agha’s system integration company, Exacting Diseno Technical Services, are gaining a reputation for installing premium Martin Audio sound systems in some of Dubai’s smartest upmarket bars and lounges.

Working closely with territorial distributors, Pro Lab, they recently equipped Coco Grill & Lounge for owner Naz Choudhury, whose concept is to integrate a Shisha Lounge with Dubai’s first Redemption Bar. It follows the operator’s initial launch of the Coco brand in London, overlooking Tower Bridge - and offers the same views from its downtown location, this time of the Burj Khalifa. All operations are alcohol-free, with upscale mocktail bars.

Lou Agha had been introduced to the project via a consultant. “When the client asked what sound systems I used, he was pleased it was Martin Audio, as this was the brand he was using in Lon

USA - In early 2025, the city of Hagerstown, MD, came together for an unforgettable evening of live music and community impact at the Ladders to Leaders Recovery Benefit Concert. Organised by Ladders to Leaders, a local non-profit that supports individuals in achieving lasting recovery, and powered by All Sound Pro, the benefit celebrated those transitioning from addiction to recovery and raised vital support for three local recovery homes operated by Ladders to Leaders.

“This concert was important to our community as it provided an evening to celebrate those who have faced the challenges of substance misuse and have succeeded in overcoming the issue,” said Alicia Divens, event organiser and board president of Ladders to Leaders. “Music is an amazing art form that has the ability to bring people together. The benefit concert was a huge success

USA - To honour the legacy of the Allman Brothers Band, the musical supergroup known as The Brothers recently returned to New York City’s storied Madison Square Garden for a pair of shows in April.

Led by former ABB guitarist and Gov’t Mule founder Warren Haynes and featuring drummer Jaimoe, the last surviving original member of the Allman Brothers Band, the ensemble also included former ABB guitarist Derek Trucks (nephew of ABB drummer the late Butch Trucks), bassist Oteil Burbridge, and percussionist Marc Quiñones, plus Joe Russo, Reese Wynans, and Isaac Eady, as well as special guest Chuck Leavell on piano.

It was an emotional reunion. The Brothers last played MSG in March 2020 to celebrate 50 years since the founding of the Allman Brothers Band.

Fortunately, some very 21st century technology was on hand for the two shows, in the form

UK - On 24 June, console manufacturer Solid State Logic will be livestreaming the launch of ‘a revolutionary new technology, set to transform the future of professional music production’. The livestream, which is open to all, will occur at 3:00 p.m. local time and will be broadcast on the SSL website and official YouTube channel from launch sites located around the world in Japan, China, the UK, and the USA.

In addition to revealing its latest transformative technology, the event will celebrate breakthrough advancements by SSL, which continue to redefine professional studio workflows and reshape the art of music production and engineering to this day.

​Looking back to 1985, the 4000E console was prolific in control rooms worldwide, transforming how artists, engineers, and studios made music. That same year, SSL's founder Colin Sanders led a tea

USA - Music can be life-changing and Beats Give Back is using that power to support underserved communities in Florida, particularly children in foster care. The nonprofit, formed in 2023, recently held its first major fundraiser at Sheltair Aviation at Tampa International Airport, raising $8,000 to support a new music education studio at the Joshua House Foundation in Tampa Bay. The event featured Funktion-One sound from Nomad Sound Systems.

“My journey has always been rooted in music and Beats Give Back is a natural extension of that because it uses music to uplift and empower the next generation,” says founder and president, Manny Lopez. “We’ve seen firsthand how even a few guitar lessons can change a child’s outlook. In many cases, it’s a lifeline.”

More than 1,000 people turned out for the fundraising event, which

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