On The Campaign Trail - The estate of Sinéad O'Connor has asked Donald Trump to stop using her music at his political rallies. Last month, Trump played O'Connor's best-known song Nothing Compares 2 U at a campaign event in Maryland. The singer's estate told BBC News it was "no exaggeration to say that Sinéad would have been disgusted, hurt, and insulted" by his use of her music.
A joint statement from O'Connor's estate and her longtime label Chrysalis Records said: "Throughout her life, it is well known that Sinéad O'Connor lived by a fierce moral code defined by honesty, kindness, fairness, and decency towards her fellow human beings. It was with outrage therefore that we learned that Donald Trump has been using her iconic performance of Nothing Compares 2

Europe - Area Four has released the new Exe Technology Load Cells brochure capturing the latest products and innovations in the Exe Cell and Exe Flexa ranges, part of Area Four Industries.
The Exe brand offers a wide range of chain hoists engineered to safely manoeuvre stage equipment, scenery, video walls and other related structures before, during and after your performances and is highly in demand in the live entertainment and exhibition sector and extensively stocked by most of the rental and production houses throughout the UK.
In recent years, the complexity of touring events has increased dramatically with the explosion of LED technology combined with the demands of more complex set design. The need for live load monitoring is a critical task in the safety chain to provide a secure working environment under any suspended load. Without using load cells, it is i

USA - Grammy-winning bluegrass artist Billy Strings was inspired on a European tour bus with the idea of placing ‘UFO pods’ above the heads the musicians on stage.
The artist discussed this concept with his LD Roger Grant, who drew up some sketches. That’s when Matthieu Larivée and his team at Lüz Studio came in. “Billy and Roger present these drawings to us and that was the starting point,” said Larivée. “This idea kicked off our creative process.”
The ultimate result of that process is a production that is adding a captivating and immersive dimension to Billy Strings’ current North American arena and amphitheatre tour. With its brilliantly illuminated circles above and below each of the five musicians on stage, as well as its free-flowing curved background patterns of light and video, the transformative design evokes a sense of infinite movement an
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Case Study: Hans Zimmer Live

When award winning film composer Hans Zimmer brought his smash-hit tour Hans Zimmer Live to North America fall 2024, the show's audio team sought out to bring infrafrequency bass to the show to add new depth to the show's audio experience. The team chose Danley Sound Labs.

Europe - In addition to supplying microphones for the broadcast of MotoGP race seasons since 2019, Audio-Technica also supports the post-race press conferences with its 3000 Series wireless systems. This key part of the race experience brings riders into viewers’ homes for race analysis from the unique viewpoint of the track itself.
Audio-Technica has recently published a short video featuring Rodrigo Thomaz – the company’s dedicated MotoGP project manager – giving a behind-the-scenes view of the 3000 Series in action. In the video, Tomaz highlights six specific features – including the quick select backup frequency button and interchangeable capsule options – that make the system ideal for use in high-pressure touring environments like the race press conferences.
To view the video and learn more about the Audio-Technica 3000 Series wireless system visit: <

UK - STS Productions and close collaborators Lightworx recently joined forces to invest in 24 Infinity Raccoon P14/4 professional RGBM PARs.
As a company that specialises in light, sound and image, STS Productions offers a variety of services, including rental equipment, while Lightworx are involved in (theatre) technical production, audiovisual services and light design. As close collaborators, investing in a number of lights that both could use made a lot of sense.
With 14 powerful 4-colour LEDs on board and a light engine that ensures accurate and consistent colours, the Raccoon P14/4 is a versatile light fixture with a lot to offer. Its ability to switch from a high-brightness mode to a high-quality mode offers even more flexibility and its adjustable PWM ensures flicker-free free operation in front of cameras too. What’s more, its IP65 rating means the Raccoon

Finland - The Helsinki Music Centre (Musiikkitalo Helsinki) has just invested in its first Robert Juliat followspots – four long-throw 800W LED Arthur LT – for its main concert hall. The followspots were sourced through Intersonic, Robert Juliat’s exclusive distributor for Finland.
The team at Musiikkitalo had a specific list of criteria when looking for their new followspots. The fixtures needed to be very quiet, bright enough for serious television productions from distances over 30m, in both daylight- and tungsten colour temperatures; have a narrow zoom so no light would be lost by using an iris; be easy to operate, have good DMX control and, crucially, an LED light source. “Put simply, we wanted to have the best followspots available,” says the venue´s head of light, Valo Virtanen.
Virtanen spent a long time comparing followspots, and when he saw the ne

UK - Touring musicals I Should Be So Lucky and Just For One Day have one thing in common – both utilise Brompton Technology LED processing and INFiLED displays provided by audio visual equipment rental company, Stage Sound Services (SSS).
The combination delivers a noticeable difference in colour reproduction, especially at lower brightness levels. SSS worked with system designer and engineer, Dan Trenchard, and video designer, Andrzej Goulding, on both productions to deploy LED equipment to great effect on these highly successful shows.
Phil Hurley, SSS’s owner, notes that with 95 percent of their work being theatre specific, staying at the forefront of the latest technologies for the market is crucial.
“We’ve been supplying video for some of the biggest theatre shows for the last 10-15 years and knew we needed to find the right time to i
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BikeFest Spain 2025 - Join the ride!

BikeFest Spain is set to return for its fourth consecutive year, inviting cyclists from across the industry to join the 360km ride towards ISE in Barcelona. From 31 January to 2 February 2025, riders will again rally in Valencia, cycling along the Mediterranean coast in support of industry causes.
For more information and to sign up, visit: www.joinbikefest.com

UAE - Prolights EclDisplay DAT fixtures have have been installed in the Abrahamic Family House in Abu Dhabi, a project that represents a fusion of technology and architectural design with significant cultural importance. This initiative marks the first time that the three Abrahamic religions - Islam, Catholicism, and Judaism - coexist within the same space.
In such a context, adopting an advanced lighting solution was imperative. The collaboration between Prolab, the distributor of Prolights in GCC and MENA regions, and the installation carried out by Triangle Power Solutions led to the installation of 100 LED EclDisplay DAT projectors. These fixtures created the appropriate atmosphere within the exhibition area, making light a fundamental element in the project's narrative.
This lighting highlights the importance of unity and diversity through the medium of light. T

Vietnam - Ayrton has announced that new Ayrton lighting fixtures have been installed in the Vietnam Army Music Hall and Theatre. The theatre which belongs to the Vietnam People's Army, is situated in HaNoi and was established in 2010 as a professional venue for music and musical arts.
The new lighting fixtures were supplied by Ayrton’s Vietnamese distributor ProAVL and include 16 Diablo TC and 20 Mistral fixtures which will be used generally both in the theatre and for touring shows.
Choosing Ayrton lights proved an easy decision for the theatre tech team. “Ayrton fixtures are now used all over the world and have proved themselves on many stages and shows,” state the technicians. “We were really amazed by their accurate positioning, colour rendering (CRI >90) and the really useful CMY mixing system. We were also impressed by the total luminaire output (up

Kazakhstan - Sixty82 has announced a strategic partnership with AMEG Group, marking them as the exclusive distributor for Kazakhstan.
"We are delighted to partner with AMEG Group, spearheaded by the seasoned Evgeniy," expressed Fokko Smeding, CEO of SIXTY82. "Their profound market understanding and commitment to quality make them the ideal representative for our brand in Kazakhstan. We look forward to a fruitful collaboration and the mutual growth that lies ahead."
Evgeniy Davydov, sales director at AMEG Group, shared, "Being chosen as the exclusive distributor for SIXTY82 is a great honour and responsibility. Their innovation and quality are unmatched, and we are eager to integrate their solutions into our market. This partnership is a significant milestone for us and the local entertainment industry."
In a move to solidify this new alliance, Sixty82 has appoin

After 40 years at the top of popular culture, Madonna is reimagining her live act with a look at her legacy alongside her present incarnation.
At the helm of the live sound is FOH mixer Burton Ishmael - who was hand-picked by the ‘singer upon hearing his work with Eighth Day Sound client, Post Malone. Ishmael begins: “It’s very nice to be asked to go on tour by the boss directly. Madonna is an exceptionally clever artist, and there can be a lot of pressure on a world tour, but thankfully, there’s a huge team effort going into what we’re doing, and the Eighth Day Sound crew are experts.”
He says a core action at front of house is to repeat a process that has already been done in the studio: “My job as a live engineer is to ensure that I make the music transferable to the arena setting. Not just hearing but feeling the elements contained in the songs is the step

India - German fibre network specialists, Optocore and BroaMan, have announced the appointment of Comcon Technologies as their new distributor throughout the Indian subcontinent, with immediate effect.
The origins of Comcon date back 40 years, with the company today specialising in the design, supply, commissioning and support of solutions for audio and video applications across a vast range of markets.
Based in New Delhi, the operation also distributes test and measurement products and leading connectivity brands including Neutrik and Belden. “Their specialised fiber optic product range will complement the Optocore and BroaMan products extremely well, and at the same time our existing OEMs will benefit from the unique product offering that these brands bring,” states Comcon director, Gaurav Aggarwal.
Comcon places heavy focus on the Broadcast and pro AV seg

UK - Richard Cuthbert has assumed an associate role working solely with specialist installation contractor and systems integrator, Push The Button, bringing with him three decades of experience in lighting and engineering within the entertainment industry.
Cuthbert comments: “I am keen to focus on what I enjoy doing the most, delivering innovative solutions and immediately thought of Push The Button. I worked with Nick (Ewins, Push The Button managing director) when I was starting out in the industry, and I have the utmost respect for his client-focused approach. I’m really looking forward to making an impact at PTB.”
Nick Ewins comments: “I first met Richard as a trainee engineer, and he later became a key member of my team for many years before we both went our separate ways. He has made a tremendous contribution to the industry both in terms of designing a

Germany - ‘Elation translates visionary concepts into meaningful innovation to bring new product ideas to light’. The company will feature a broad selection of lighting solutions at Prolight + Sound in Frankfurt (Hall 12.1, Stand B49/C49).
Highlights in the Proteus series of multi-environmental luminaires include the IP66-rated Pproteus Hybrid Max, that launches as the torchbearing successor of the Proteus Hybrid. Also on display will be the Proteus Odeon, a framing profile fixture with an industry-first completely variable CRI LED engine; and Proteus Radius, a high-intensity Beam FX fixture with solid state phosphor-converted light engine for incredible power at long distances.
New in Elation’s popular Fuze series is the Fuze Teatro, a fully-automated yet fanless framing fixture for completely silent operation and the first fanless automated luminaire incorpora

USA - From the 17,000 spectators at the sold-out festival to a record-breaking 33.5m remote viewers, TikTok’s In the Mix festival showcased the performance, dependability, and application flexibility of Cohesion.
Presented at Sloan Park in the Phoenix suburbs, In the Mix featured an impressive line-up. The team from ATK Audiotek, a Clair Global brand, deployed a Cohesion system to optimise every performance, even as the elaborate design of the production presented intriguing challenges.
Enabling the audience to focus on the 360° stage at the centre of the stadium required no flown visual obstructions. The audio design also needed to manage clearance for video towers and a freewheeling Spidercam meant to capture dynamic live footage for the TikTok livestream. In short, BAFTA Award-winning director Hamish Hamilton and event producers Done+Dusted in collaboration with

USA - Lighting designer Marc Janowitz from E26 Design loves creative challenges and collaborations, so the current Chronicles of a Diamond world tour by Black Pumas energised his imagination and united the talents of the FOH lighting team as programmer Meagan Metcalf and lighting director Alyssa Milione worked closely with him to create a great look for the band.
The lighting kit had to fit into one truck, a galvanising resource boundary that provokes invention and thinking out of the box, so Marc crafted an aesthetic for the band utilising the smart integration of lighting and a multi-dimensional scenic backdrop to produce truly stunning results with Robe moving lights right at the heart of the visual magic.
Marc opted for a combination of Esprites, Spiider wash beams, MegaPointes, Spikie+s and Tetra2s.
Wanting to formulate a fresh look, Marc’s ideas involved

USA - Disguise is partnering with UK House to bring a virtual production studio to SXSW for the first time. Visitors to the venue at Downright Austin can hop on a motorbike from the UK to the US in an immersive experience created in partnership with the UK Advertising Exports Group (UKAEG).
Visitors will also experience first-hand how a commercial can be filmed using a virtual production studio in the Accelerator course taster for advertising along with other special events and talks.
“Disguise sits at the intersection between technological innovation and creative storytelling - unleashing game-changing possibilities for immersive experiences and entertainment. In our first-ever appearance at SXSW, in partnership with UK House, we are thrilled to bring a taste of the same technology powering Adele’s Las Vegas residency, the NBA’s state-of-the-art LED court for

UK - On Friday, 8 March 2024, Adlib is hosting an open day in celebration of International Women’s Day.
The open day is tailored for young women who are navigating their professional development journey. This year's theme, Inspire Inclusion, aims to provide insight into our industry through the perspectives and achievements of women already established within it.
The day will feature short film screenings and women-led panel discussions, in a relaxed and inclusive setting. Adlib’s experienced female staff members will be available throughout the event to engage in conversations and share their personal stories from the live events industry. Additionally, there will be practical equipment demonstrations led by Adlib engineers to highlight the available technology.
The event will follow a ‘trade show’ format, allowing attendees to come and go as they please

UK - TAIT is expanding its producing offer with the appointment of Martin Green as vice-president of global live events.
Martin brings over 20 years of experience to TAIT, with large-scale live broadcast events and festivals across the globe. Most recently he served as managing director of Eurovision, Liverpool 2023 on Behalf of Ukraine where he oversaw the delivery of the publicly acclaimed event. His portfolio also includes chief creative officer for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, director of Hull UK City of Culture 2017, and head of ceremonies for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. He has also acted as an advisor to Dubai Expo and the Tokyo Olympics.
Based in TAIT’s recently announced Kings Cross office, Martin will play an integral part in the company’s development and expansion of event production globally. He will oversee executive-level p

UK - Dark winter nights in the northern English city of Leeds were brightened by a series of ‘magical’ animations recently, when visuals were projected onto the façade of The Queens Hotel driven by tvONE's Green Hippo brand of Hippotizer Media Servers.
The elegant architecture of the historic hotel - which has hosted notable guests including Princess Grace of Monaco, Cary Grant and Nelson Mandela - served as a huge canvas for the projections, which were designed to give audiences a glimpse through the doors of the hotel during the winter season.
The project, entitled Magical Night at The Queens, was initiated by Leeds Business Improvement District in collaboration with the Barcelona-based creative studio Onionlab. Pro Audio Systems (PAS) was commissioned to co-ordinate and supply every technical aspect of the installation. Every evening at 30-minute rotati

USA - Florida’s Pensacola Christian College (PCC) has unveiled the transformation of its Dale Horton Auditorium, thanks to a collaboration with All Pro Integrated Systems and Elation lighting. All Pro Integrated Systems, a Sweetwater company based in Pensacola, spearheaded the project, seamlessly integrating a new LED lighting system that elevates the overall experience for both performers and audiences alike.
Pensacola Christian College is celebrating its 50th year of service in the Florida panhandle. The 3,500-seat Dale Horton Auditorium, a spacious multifunctional space with large lower bowl and upper balcony, is used for theatrical performances and other special events. The venue’s existing lighting, dating back to the building’s construction in 1986, lacked dynamic capabilities and was in dire need of modernisation. All Pro Integrated Systems collaborated closely

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