Finland - Following last week's Bottom Line Design Award, the FogScreen projection screen has been named best nightclub effect 2007 by Club World.

The 19 categories in six fields of the Club World Awards honour every element of a nightclub or lounge, from its design, to its technicians, to its promotion. The winners were determined by a panel of ten industry-veteran, expert judges.

"The nightclub industry has been the fastest growing segment for FogScreen within last 12 months," says CEO Mika Koivula. "Our installations include Harrah's Lake Tahoe, Myst in New York, Long Horn in Louisiana and the Box in Belfast. We expect this growth to continue."

(Jim Evans)

UK - Harman Pro UK has confirmed the venues for its 2007 product roadshows, which are taking place in mid-May at three different locations around the British Isles: at the Temple Bar Music Centre in Dublin on Monday, 14 May, at the Stanley Theatre at Liverpool University on Wednesday, 16 May, and at the Academy of Contemporary Music in Guildford on Friday, 18 May.

The roadshows allow UK and Irish dealers and end-users the opportunity to check out the latest products from the companies in the Harman Group, including AKG mics, Crown amps, dbx DSP and BSS venue-management systems, JBL loudspeakers, Soundcraft digital consoles, and Lexicon signal processing. Harman will also have some of their product specialists on hand to give presentations on how to get the best out of the new equipment, and to engage in detailed question-and-answer sessions afterwards.

This year, AKG specialis

UK - XL Video UK is again supplying all touring video equipment to Production North for Westlife's sold out Love arena tour, with live video directed by Billy Robinson.

XL Video has worked with Westlife since their first Coast to Coast tour back in 2001. They have always used video elements inventively, and this one is no exception. XL account handler Phil Mercer comments, "It's good to see the band going to another completely new and highly imaginative dimension of video for this tour."

With a central high resolution Barco S-lite LED screen midstage (8 x 8 tiles in surface area), show designer Peter Barnes specified three 45 degree angled strips of XL's new Barco MiTrix 'invisible' low res LED screen per side, mounted on custom frames built by XL Video Belgium. These are criss-crossed horizontally by three banners of half-populated Barco O-Lite, cheque

USA - The Duderstadt Center on the campus of the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor boasts a recently overhauled, state-of-the-art audio recording studio.

At the heart of the Walters-Storyk Design Group renovation is a new API Vision console that allows its users to intelligently mix in both stereo and surround formats simultaneously.

David Greenspan, audio resources coordinator at the Center, comments, "We're effectively calibrating our students' ears and brains so that their baseline standard is pristine analogue sound. When they hear other technologies or manipulations, they'll be able to hear and mitigate artefacts. That was reason enough to get an API console. With the Vision however, students are also learning to explore and conceptualise movement in space and timeand to think in both stereo and surround at a fundamental level."

(Jim Evans)

UK - The biggest Glastonbury Festival to date was given the green light this week under an agreement that will protect the event until 2010. Mendip District Council passed a plan to make 27,500 extra places available, taking the capacity to 177,000.

Festival founder Michael Eavis said, "This decision is a real first for us because we have got a full licence - it gives us a bit of breathing space. In the past we have had to jump through hoops, year after year. Now we can plan future festivals safe in the knowledge that it will all be approved."The festival takes place 22-24 June, with confirmed artists including the Killers, The Who, Arctic Monkeys, Kaiser Chiefs, the Kooks and Kasabian.

(Jim Evans)

USA - Representing a rich Buddhist tradition dating back to 15th-century Tibet, the monks of the Gyuto Tantric University have been chanting in their singular, multi-tonal style since the university's founding in 1474. On rare occasions, the monks who comprise the Gyuto Monks Tantric Choir venture out of their tranquil environs to bring their complex, captivating liturgical arts to the general public. This tour, the first in more than six years, will feature 14 monks, including the Vice Abbot, Omze la.

Meyer Sound has enjoyed a relationship with the Gyuto Monks dating back several decades, and has continued its tradition of providing support for the current US performance dates of the Gyuto Monks Tantric Choir. Meyer Sound is furnishing the monks with an audio system comprised of 16 M'elodie ultracompact high-power curvilinear array loudspeakers and a pair of 600-HP compact high

UK - Academy Music Group Holdings have confirmed Live Nation, Inc. (Live Nation) and Gaiety Investments (Gaiety) have together completed the acquisition of a 56% interest in Academy Music Holdings Group (AMG) from RJD Partners.

Bob Angus (Metropolis Music) and Simon Moran (SJM Concerts), leading promoters in the UK music industry, have also considerably increased their shareholding in Academy Music Group to forty four percent (44%), under the terms of the deal.

Academy Music Group owns and operates 12 live music venues across the UK. Its venue capacities range from 250 to 5,000 and include the multi-award winning Carling Academy Brixton (London), Shepherd's Bush Empire (London) and Carling Academy Islington (London), with further concert venues in Glasgow, Newcastle, Liverpool, Birmingham, Bristol, Oxford and Brighton.

Metropolis Music and SJM Concerts are responsible for pr

USA - Visitors to the booth of a major pharmaceutical exhibitor at the American College of Cardiology's Scientific Session March 24-27 in New Orleans literally got a glimpse of the future: stunning video images that appeared to rise in three dimensions from the surface of a 40" 3D MultiView display from NewSight Corporation.

NewSight's MultiView displays, now available from PRG Video, allow the viewer to perceive impressive 3D representations spatially, without the need for viewing aids such as 3D glasses. PRG worked with NewSight and Exploria, the video content creator, to adapt the video graphics for best effect in the 3D format. PRG also provided lighting and three Barco R12+ projectors fed by a Grass Valley turbo iDDR Hard Drive for the booth, which was conceptualised by Lou Competielle of Loran Associates.

Showing the informational video on the 3D screen not only cau

Australia - GUZ BOX design + audio has provided an acoustic opinion to determine the suitability of the venue for speech and special events for the MPOWERdome in Fadden. The structure is a large aluminium and fabric structure covering eight indoor tennis courts and a centrally located two-storey building containing reception, pro shop, amenities and a mezzanine café with viewing areas.

The building is approximately 156m long, 38m wide and 13m high and is the largest structure of its type in Australia. It is constructed of large extruded aluminium portal frames with tensioned PVC fabric providing all-weather protection of the sports surfaces. The PVC fabric allows diffuse sunlight during the day and provides a reflective surface for illumination of sport surfaces from specialised light fittings during night-time use.

Preliminary acoustic modelling highlighted long reverb

UK - E//T//C UK supplied widescreen projection for the RBI Achievement Awards event at Grosvenor House, London for producer Tom Perkins and his client, Reed Business International. After delivering a highly successful circular 'in-the-round' projection for Perkins earlier in the year at the same venue, E//T//C was asked to come up with a new video solution for the RBI event.

E//T//C supplied two of their new Christie 25K HD projectors, two Barco R18 projectors and an OnlyView control system for the show. The projectors were positioned side by side on the balcony of the main room at Grosvenor House, their images soft-edged together to form one large super-bright 70ft wide by 18ft deep image in 16:9 format.

Using OnlyView, E//T//C created 'windows' in the main screen for playback and IMAG video footage (projected via the R18s) to appear during the speech section of the evening,

Mexico - From its first season, reality show La Academia (The Academy) has captivated the Latin American public with its star-in-the-making concept, and regularly dominates its time slot. For the show's fifth season, TV Azteca installed a new in-studio sound system based around Meyer Sound M'elodie ultracompact high-power curvilinear array loudspeakers.

The format of the show bears some resemblance to the US's American Idol, in that judges select a small group out of thousands of hopefuls to compete in a series of contests and rehearsals, and in the final rounds of competition, public voting determines the winner. The weekly competitions culminate with a concert taped in front of a live audience at Churubusco Studios, one of Latin America's largest and most prestigious film studios.

"We needed a speaker that would perfectly fit the studio's stage in terms of

USA - Aviom's signature A-Net technology has found a new home in the reality television circuit, providing well received solutions in audio transport. Catapulting Aviom into its new reality role is MTV's hit talent series, Making the Band 4, Nick at Nite's comedian search, Funniest Mom in America 3 and VH1's new relationship show, Rock of Love with Bret Michaels.

As the 22 contestants on this year's instalment of Making the Band vie for a place in rap mogul Diddy's next male R&B quartet, the interaction will be captured through an array of Aviom audio networking products that include AN-16/i-M mic input modules, AN-16/0 output modules and AN-16SBR System Bridge. Throughout the contestants' loft, the gear is connected to more than 40 microphones running over a single Cat 6 cable at 300ft.

On Nick at Nite's Funniest Mom in America 3 the

UK - Arqiva, a provider of transmission services for broadcasters and end-to-end media solutions for content and channel providers, has acquired 48 Zandar Predator HD8 MultiViewers for use on HD content provision for Championship Football for Sky Sports, Sky HD.

The Predator units provide significant space and cost benefits as well as flexible operation, says Zandar. They are installed inside two UK-based OB trucks, making this one of the largest single HD8 OB projects yet undertaken. The system was integrated by Sony Professional Services.

In each truck, 24 Predator HD8 MultiViewers are installed. There are 10 in the production area, 12 in the video tape recording area and two located in audio. The Predator HD MultiViewers feature native HD input processing to offer true HD quality images and drive high resolution displays up to 1080p.

(Jim Evans)

UK - AV Matrix reports its continuing association with Martin Professional with a major investment in Martin effect lighting for its installation business. These lights will be used for the installation of various high profile nightclubs in the UK. Also, AV Matrix has expanded its stock of Martin lights in its rapidly expanding events department which caters for corporate events throughout the country, with further investment planned for 2007.

AV Matrix managing director Mark Parker comments, "Martin Professional offers a true partnership approach to business. Their product range is excellent and the back up and support is second to none. Over the next 12 months we are going to be investing substantial amounts of money new lighting stock as well as updating our current hire stock."

Benn Timbury, sales representative from Martin Professional comments, "It's a ple

UK - Marlborough School in Woodstock, Oxfordshire, has commissioned an Electro-Voice sound reinforcement system for its new performance centre. The new building is a self-contained conference, business, and performance centre for school and community use. The hall has a sprung wooden floor for dance activities, and theatre audio, lighting and projection facilities for drama, sound and conference presentation.

The School called on London-based sound and lighting installation company 10 Out Of 10 to recommend a sound reinforcement design for this high-ceilinged modern building with two glass walls. "Because the portable stage would always be used against one of the long walls, we could install lighting and sound positions in sensible locations without having to worry about creating a multi-format system," explains Paul Need of 10 Out of 10.

"This gave us the oppor

USA - Crown Audio named Sound Marketing Central its 2006 Rep of the Year at the annual Harman Pro Group rep and distributors conference in Huntington Beach, California.

Scott Robbins, executive vice president of sales for Crown Audio, made the announcement. "Sound Marketing's Central Division went far beyond simply exceeding their sales targets across all vertical markets during 2006," says Robbins. "They've truly partnered with Crown by taking a very personal involvement in supporting customers and resolving issues. They also bring considerable value to our distribution partners through outstanding training and technical support. As a result, we are very pleased to recognise them with this award for their exemplary service."

Sound Marketing Central was also dually honoured as the 2006 Harman Pro Rep of the Year, which is awarded to the firm that not only s

Mexico - leading Mexican pop group Maná have invested in G-LEC Phantom II for the set of their current world tour. Following the US dates, which began in February and take in such illustrious venues as New York's Madison Square Garden, the band goes on to Puerto Rico, Mexico, Chile, Uruguay and Brazil, finishing in Spain in July.

With less then 24 hours between many of the scheduled venues, the band needed a set that was light and easy to rig and de-rig, and the G-LEC Phantom II large scale LED display system with video capabilities fits the bill. Weighing just 5.5kg per sq.m, it not only saves the band's crew a lot of hard work, but means that the frames can be flown on the set extremely easily.

Peveroll-Arquitenimiento, G-LEC's partner company in Mexico, was instrumental in gaining the contract for G-LEC. Carlos E Perezcano, the company's president and general manager, said

UK / Italy - Fuzion plc has made a significant addition to its distributed lighting portfolio by reaching an agreement with Coemar SpA to represent the Italian giant's range of LED and automated lighting products in the UK. The move follows just a month after confirming a similar agreement with Israeli digital lighting control and dimmer company, Compulite.

Fuzion's lighting manager David Stewart said: "Fuzion are thrilled to be working with Coemar and are looking forward to revitalising the brand in the UK. We had been looking for a moving head manufacturer with a good pedigree and product range and a reputation for providing support, including spares. We were introduced to Coemar, and visiting their premises in Northern Italy we were hugely impressed by the company's innovative approach - particularly their policy of designing their products to meet the needs of lighting

USA / Germany - Digidesign has appointed Mega Audio as its new German distributor for the Venue live sound programme. The deal was confirmed prior to last week's Pro Light&Sound Show in Germany by Digidesign's European Live Sound Manager, Mike Case, and Mega Audio's managing director, Burkhard Elsner - thus concluding a negotiation that began two-and-a-half years ago.

According to Burkhard, who has worked in pro audio for 25 years, the intervening period has seen rapid development in both camps, with the experience gained by Digidesign during this time providing him with a compelling reason to change his digital portfolio.

As a company that specialises in equipping major concert tours and theatres he believes the Pro Tools support of Venue is of paramount importance. "Many theatres today, who are using Pro Tools as a production tool - as well as many PA companies - would

UK - Following the success of last year's series of Professional Laser Display Safety training days, laser safety specialists Laser Visuals Research have announced the next course date - 16 April 2007 - to be held at the Kent Science Park, near Sittingbourne, Kent.

The one-day course combines theory with practical examples of many topics specific to laser display safety. In addition to the subjects covered during the course, each attendee receives a copy of the Laser Visuals Research handbook on laser display safety, and receives a certificate of attendance.

The course has been designed to provide essential and valuable information for anybody involved with working with laser lighting products, whether they be show operators, installation companies, manufacturers, or resellers of laser projectors. Attendees of the course will also be automatically enrolled onto the new Laser S

South America - As an extension to the Twisted Logic tour, Coldplay recently capped off a three week tour in South America. Once again, Laser Design Productions provided laser effects with its new compact 5 watt air cooled white light diode laser system.

The 11-date tour took in four different venues in Santiago, Chile; Buenos Aires, Argentina; Sao Paolo, Brazil and Mexico City, Mexico. According to Mark Ward, Coldplay's production manager, "The South American tour was a huge success. The new technology Laser was a great solution to the production management's concerns of equipment size, weight, power consumption and venue water limitations. The 5 watt air cooled diode Laser provided spectacular multicolour atmospheric and beam effects."

(Jim Evans)

Dubai - Following hot on the heels of the Dubai Desert Rock Festival, Shakira's sell-out concert at Dubai Autodrome has provided the curtain raiser for this year's Event 360 expo at PALME Middle East. Event 360 Exhibition Manager Jonathan Gadalla says that when the recent Dubai Philharmonic Orchestra concerts and Dubai Jazz Festival are added in, it illustrates just how far the industry in the region has developed.

"The Philharmonic Orchestra shows at the new Festival City recorded a huge turnout, indicating a real interest in the classical music market," he said. "On top of that, 25,000 people attended the Jazz Festival. It is evident from this that whether the music is classical, Latin American, heavy metal or jazz the level of appreciation is now unprecedented."

Some of the magic of show production will be introduced to the Dubai International Exhibition

UK - A.C. Lighting's Special Projects division has provided the complete supply and installation of lighting technical facilities for the Northern Stage theatre in Newcastle as part of a two year, £9m refurbishment programme.

Formerly known as the Newcastle Playhouse, Northern Stage is the largest producing theatre company in the North East of England and regarded as one of the top-ten UK producing theatres. The venue has been completely redesigned, doubling in size to accommodate three very different performance spaces.

Northern Stage's activities include performing their own major new productions on all three stages, co-producing new work with theatre makers from around the world and all around the UK, and inviting the most exciting theatre companies of all sizes and shapes to bring their work to the North East.

Stage 1 is the theatre's spectacular and versatile main

UK - A huge success story in Spain, street-wear retailer Desigual is now raising its ambitions to a more global level. And to entice shoppers in to sample its ranges of garments, Lighthouse 10mm LED screens are providing an eye-catching entrance in Desigual's most high profile stores, starting with the recently opened store in Las Ramblas in the very heart of Barcelona, Spain.

The company currently has 38 Spanish outlets, in locations from Barcelona to Zaragoza, while new outlets have recently opened in Italy and Singapore with one in London to follow in the spring.

The Desigual store in Las Ramblas, Barcelona is in a prime position, cutting through the heart of the city centre. Such is the popularity of the area and the amount of shopping on offer that something very special is required to make any new retail premises stand out from all the others. Desigual therefore chose tw

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