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20 June 2025

South Africa - Tiaan Giliomee, freelance lighting designer with PRDGY Group, has taken delivery of his first lighting console – a grandMA3 onPC command wing from DWR Distribution.

Tiaan’s journey in lighting began over a decade ago at The Ridge School, using a simple Titan One system and parcans. Through high school, his passion grew, evolving through dot2 systems and Robe fixtures, and earning recognition with a few wins at Battle of the Bands and FEDA competitions.

While he pursued studies in Electronic Engineering, theatre and lighting always remained his true passion. “It’s what challenges me creatively every day,” says Tiaan, who’s known for bringing technical innovation to the stage, such as DMX-controlled windmills for Afrikaans productions.

After years of working with various consoles, including Avolites and grand

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19 June 2025

Europe - Netherlands-based manufacturer ELC Lighting has announced a change in its distribution arrangement for Belgium. With effect from 1 July 2025, both its brands - the ELC range of DMX-over-IP lighting control products and the Green-GO family of digital wireless intercom solutions - will be exclusively supported in Belgium by a new partner, Luxillag.

The announcement follows the decision by long-standing sales partner AVL (Audio Visual Lighting bv) to cease operations. Founded by Luc Buytaert and Yolanda Eliano in 1995, AVL has been a firm supporter of both brands for many years.

“We began distributing ELC after they first showed the Focus Hand at PLASA in London,” remembers Luc. “Later, we got the chance to prove ourselves in distributing Green-GO. From day one, we had a close family bond with the people, especially with Silvio, Joost and

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19 June 2025

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.

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18 June 2025

USA - A new task group has been formed by ASTM International to create safety standards for drone show operations, focusing on technical requirements, procedures, and risk management. Chaired by Nils Thorjussen of Verge Aero, the group invites broad industry participation to support the growth of the emerging drone show sector. The initiative has the support and participation of the FAA.

Drone shows have come a long way in just a few years. Pioneering work undertaken in laboratories has led to the creation of technologies to deploy massive, record-setting shows worldwide. But not all systems are created equally, with significant differences in sophistication and safety features. Likewise, some operators are far more professional and detail-oriented than others. Intense price competition in the market has made many people focus on cost and not safety.

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18 June 2025

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

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18 June 2025

UK - Polar recently returned to the Old Savoy Theatre in Northampton to stage Polar Expo, a day-long event where integrators, AV consultants, rental companies and sound engineers were able to see, hear, and explore the full Polar catalogue.

Previous Polar demo days, focused on specific brands, had proved to be a popular draw for a wide range of technology professionals, prompting the company to expand the formula to stage its largest such event to date. According to sales manager Andy Plunkett, who coordinated the event, the Savoy Theatre takeover was another valuable exercise in giving visitors a close-up, hands-on experience of the Polar portfolio:

“We showcased the entire portfolio across morning and afternoon sessions in the Theatre and adjoining Dore Suite. There’s just no substitute for hearing our high-performance loudspeaker ranges in a r

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18 June 2025

Middle East - SRS Group is proud to announce that the company is coming to the Middle East, having partnered with NMK Electronics.

SRS Group’s first meeting with NMK was during the SLS Show in Saudi Arabia last year, where they expressed a strong interest in representing the brand.

“After careful consideration, we decided to proceed with NMK,” said Samuel Sloboda, CEO of SRS Group. “What really stood out to us was their professionalism, proactive approach, and deep understanding of the Middle Eastern market. Their energy, strategic mindset, and commitment to growth convinced us that they are the right partner to represent us in the region.

“Furthermore, their portfolio is an ideal match for all three of our divisions [Rigging, Power and Lighting], and we are certain that this collaboration will prove to be the right decision f

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17 June 2025

UK - The PLASA Awards for Innovation are back for 2025, and entries are officially open.  

Celebrating the most forward-thinking technology across lighting, audio, AV, staging, rigging and beyond, the awards recognise products that bring something genuinely new to the table, whether it’s a technical step forward, a sustainability breakthrough, or a clever commercial edge. 

Run in partnership with LSi, the awards are independently judged by a panel of experts who know what real innovation looks like. All shortlisted ent

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17 June 2025

Estonia - Robe’s Estonian distributor, Tallinn-based E&T, is in the final stages of delivering a major order for moving and LED lights for 10 major theatres across the country, where all forms of live performance are strongly engrained in Estonian culture.

In most cases, the new LED lighting fixtures are replacing ageing tungsten or halogen-based lighting. E&T’s Olev Luhaäär stated that the company was “delighted” to win the bid to be the supplier for the initiative, chosen from stiff competition, adding that it “underlines the quality and range of Robe’s products that are designed and spec’d for this demanding lighting discipline”.

A total of 15 different Robe products have been specified across the 10 venues including T1 and T2 Profiles, Fresnels and Follow Spots, LEDBeam 350s, Spiiders, iParFect FWQ RGBWs and RGBWs, T11 P

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17 June 2025

Copyright Matters - The controversial data bill, which has garnered opposition from leading industry figures including Elton John, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Ian McKellen, has passed through parliament without an amendment that would have given creatives more control over their work.

The Data (Use and Access) Bill is now ready for royal assent and has passed without an amendment that would have ensured copyright owners were given transparency over the "scraping" of their intellectual property by big tech.

The ultimate defeat of the amendment, spearheaded by crossbench peer and filmmaker Beeban Kidron, represents a disappointment for swathes of creatives, who urged the government to accept the amendment to protect against "the mass theft of creative works that continues to take place".

Speaking in support of passing the bill without the

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16 June 2025

UK - On 4 June, the Association of British Theatre Technicians hosted its Annual Awards after a busy first day of the ABTT Theatre Show at Alexandra Palace, London. This event is a cornerstone of the ABTT, dedicated to honouring outstanding contributions to the theatre and live events sector and recognises the achievements of those who are shaping the future of the industry.

Ted Moore, director at sponsors TAIT, said of the Awards: “TAIT is really proud to be here once again to sponsor the ABTT Awards, which I truly believe are the best award presentations anywhere in our industry. We wish all the nominees good luck and give congratulations to whoever the winners may be.”

The five Product Awards recognise the achievements of products which are substantially new to the market during the last 12 months and are available now for purchase, immediate

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16 June 2025

UK - Wealdstone FC has announced a partnership with Version 2, who will become its official digital & broadcast partner.

Its logo will feature prominently on the Stones first-team shorts for the duration of the next two campaigns, alongside branding across the stadium and matchday publications. 

Version 2 are lighting rental specialists for the broadcast and event industries supplying a broad range of productions, including Strictly Come Dancing, Britain’s Got Talent and the BAFTA Awards.

The company is also active in the sports outside broadcast sector, supplying lighting facilities to the FIFA World Cup, Premiership Rugby and Wimbledon Tennis Championship.

This is its first football partnership having previously served as the official partner of Boxxer and Sky Sports Boxing and most recently Saracen

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13 June 2025

USA - PPDS, provider of Philips Professional Displays has announced a global alliance with Shure to deliver an advanced range of full room audio visual solutions.

Announced during a live launch event on Philips booth at InfoComm 2025 in Orlando, this collaboration sees PPDS enter into a global alliance with Shure, combining the power of Philips Professional Displays with Shure’s premium audio systems.

This development sees PPDS enter a global alliance with Shure, who provides integrated, easy-to-deploy IntelliMix Room Kits for Microsoft Teams Rooms, bringing audio visual together for total solutions in conferencing and collaboration in corporate, government, and educational environments.

Speaking at the official signing, Ron Cottaar, director of global marketing at PPDS, said: “Our collaboration with Shure further extends our commitment t

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13 June 2025

Canada - Brompton Technology has announced that Theatrixx Technologies, a Montreal-based manufacturer and distributor of professional audiovisual equipment, has joined its Panel Manufacturer Partner Programme as a blue partner. This milestone marks a new chapter in a growing relationship between the two companies, rooted in a shared commitment to innovation, reliability, and excellence in professional audiovisual solutions.

Theatrixx Technologies designs and manufactures high-performance AV solutions tailored for live events, broadcast, XR, systems integration, touring, and the preforming arts.

Among its key innovations is the Nomad LED range, featuring the proprietary TPEP (Titanium Polymer Edge Protection) technology, along with an upcoming permanent install series. Theatrixx is also recognised for its award-winning signal converters, besp

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12 June 2025

UK - The ABTT Theatre Show came alive at Alexandra Palace in London with the annual ABTT Awards hosted by the Association of British Theatre Technicians. This event showcases the contributions people in the industry have been making to theatre and live events.

Ted Moore, director at sponsor TAIT said of the Awards: “TAIT are really proud to be here once again to sponsor the ABTT Awards, which I truly believe are the best award presentations anywhere in our industry. We wish all the nominees good luck and give congratulations to whoever the winners may be.”

The highly sought after People Awards included the ABTT Technician of the Year, the ABTT Award for Emerging Excellence and the ABTT Cmyru Nick Bache Technician of the Year Award which all recognise the achievements of individuals both starting out and well-established in their backstage careers

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12 June 2025

Germany - Sennheiser has announced a new cloud-based platform designed to empower AV and IT teams with secure, flexible, and scalable device control across a wide range of environments. The solution is set to transform the way teams configure, monitor, and manage Sennheiser devices - from small meeting rooms to high-impact spaces, says the company. The platform will officially launch in early 2026.

Built with remote oversight and flexibility in mind, the platform centralises control in a future-ready, intuitive interface - simplifying workflows and enabling efficient device management across multiple locations. Created for IT and AV managers and system integrators, the platform streamlines device management across enterprise, education, and corporate settings. Whether managing large-scale installations or optimizing remote operations, the solution will keep

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12 June 2025

USA - Elation has announced that Luxsonix Group has been appointed as its new manufacturer’s representative firm for Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee, effective 1 June 2025. The partnership also includes representation of Obsidian Control Systems and Magmatic atmospheric effects products.

Based in Franklin, Tennessee, Luxsonix is a newly launched firm founded by Lee Carpenter, a respected industry veteran and former partner at independent rep firm Vision2 Marketing. With decades of experience on the manufacturer, representative, and touring sides of the entertainment technology industry, Carpenter brings a deep understanding of the market and a well-established network throughout the region.

Over the past decade, Carpenter played a pivotal role in growing Vision2 Marketing into the largest independent rep firm for professional audio, vi

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11 June 2025

UK - Midwich has announced the launch of Live, a new division created to serve the needs of the live events industry through specialist distribution and trade rental services in the UK&I. Backed by the legacy, expertise, and energy of Sound Technology and PSCo, Live is designed to help partners ‘deliver extraordinary live events’.

Under the Live banner sit two independent specialist businesses – each focused on delivering excellence in their own area:

Live Technology – the distribution arm, formerly Sound Technology, providing market-leading brands in audio, lighting, video, and control to the live events community, supported by expert pre- and post-sales teams.

PSCo and Dry Hire Lighting – the trade rental arm, continuing to deliver exceptional service and specialist rental solutions through trusted teams and existing account s

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11 June 2025

UAE - Powersoft is expanding its distributor network with the appointment of Dubai-based AVAIL Distribution as its newest distributor for Central Asia and the Caucasus. The strategic partnership marks a significant expansion of AVAIL’s portfolio and will solidify Powersoft’s footprint in the region, delivering its audio solutions for touring and installed audio across Central Asia and Caucasus.

Pavel Shemiakin, business development director at AVAIL Distribution comments, “Powersoft’s innovative solutions and diverse product range for both installed and live sound applications are a valuable addition to our pro-AV portfolio. System integrators will appreciate the high efficiency, broad model lineup and seamless integration options with modern control and cloud-based systems, whilst rental companies will benefit from outstanding audio performance, pow

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10 June 2025

UK - The second Profile Awards ceremony was held at the Alexandra Palace Theatre on 5 June 2025. Created and are coordinated by Durham and Jennie Marenghi in association with the ALPD, the ABTT and the STLD, the awards recognise lighting design excellence in theatre and TV in the UK.

The event was attended by 250 people and of those 150 were lighting designers or members of their lighting teams. The headline sponsor was Ayrton, with Ambersphere Solutions sponsoring the drinks reception, entry sponsors included ER Productions, Encore, Limelite and Sunbelt Rental Film and TV who also supplied the goody bags. The lighting for the event was kindly supplied by HS-Hire, the lasers by ER Productions and the lectern gifted by Encore.

In order of the presentations on the night, the Student Virtual Lighting Design Award sponsored by AC Entertainment Technologi

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10 June 2025

Germany - The Adam Hall Group has announced its strategic partnership with Powersoft. With immediate effect, the German manufacturer of event technology will be utilising the amplification and processing technology of the Italian pro audio manufacturer in selected LD Systems amplifiers. The partnership starts with the new ADA series 4-channel DSP touring amplifiers with Dante integration.

The LD Systems ADA series, comprising the ADA 8 K4 and ADA 12 K4 models, offers maximum power, precise sound and highest reliability for professional touring and installation applications. For the first time ever, these touring amplifiers seamlessly marry LD Systems’ renowned sonic accuracy with Powersoft’s energy-efficient Class-D topology, advanced DSP and network control. Thanks to its two Dante ports and ArmoníaPlus integration, the ADA series can be seamlessly int

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10 June 2025

UK - 22live has now been confirmed as a Yamaha Rivage dealer to cover the full range of PM consoles, DSP engines and stage racks.

22live has also announced their first Yamaha Rivage training day which will be hosted at their Redditch HQ on 14 August 2025. Booking is via info@22live.com.

22live was appointed as a Yamaha Pro-Audio dealer in early 2023 announcing its arrival alongside the launch of the DM7 series consoles. Yamaha DM has gone on to be a key product for the company’s resale and rental activities becoming a staple to 22live and its client base.

Following this success 22live also made a further commitment to Yamaha in 2024, through an initial investment in the Yamaha Rivage PM5, DSP-RX engine and RPIO stage rack.

Post delivery of the first system 22live has enjoyed a busy schedule for the package with it being utilised for

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10 June 2025

On Broadway - UK-originated productions and creatives received 13 prizes at this year’s Tony Awards. Stranger Things: The First Shadow, which premiered in London in December 2023, was this year’s biggest winner at a ceremony held in New York’s Radio City Music Hall. It won awards including best sound design and a special award for its illusions and technical effects team, with Miriam Buether taking home the prize for best scenic design of a play for the show.

Sunset Boulevard, directed by Jamie Lloyd, picked up three prizes, including best revival of a musical and a best actress gong for Nicole Scherzinger, while performer Jak Malone took home best featured actor in a musical for Operation Mincemeat.

SOLT and UK Theatre co-chief executive, Claire Walker said: "This year’s Tony Awards have been a brilliant showc

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09 June 2025

UK - PLASA Show 2025 is now open for free registrations. This September, the UK's market-leading trade event for live entertainment technology will set the stage for breakthrough products, big ideas, and invaluable industry connections. Celebrate entertainment technology and the people behind it at PLASA Show, returning to its home at Olympia, London from 7–9 September 2025.

Drawing 7,500+ professionals from across the global industry, the show offers unrivalled access to 250+ leading brands, an expert-led seminar programme, and hands-on experiences with next-generation technology.

Headline sponsored by Robe, PLASA Show 2025 features an expanded show floor filled with world-class manufacturers, distributors and service providers. Attendees can explore the latest tools and technologies for lighting, audio, AV, staging and rigging – all under one r