Italy - Genelec has announced that MidiWare Srl is its new Italian distributor. From 1 November 2013, Midiware will be responsible for Genelec monitoring product distribution and dealer support in the region, following a mutual parting of the ways with long-term partner, Leading Technology Srl.

MidiWare is based in Rome and has a local sales office and demo space in the Lecco area close to Milan. MidiWare also represents other brands including SSL, REM, Moog, SE, Novation in both the professional and MI segments. Jarmo Masko, international sales manager is delighted that Francesco Borsotti's team are now part of the Genelec family of almost seventy distributors worldwide:

"MidiWare has a dynamic team that is focused on achieving results for their wide network of dealers and business partners. They have excellent reach into the education sector through thirty years of expe

UK - After 25 years in the business, in the year Artistic Licence celebrates its Silver Jubilee, the company is relocating to a new studio space in London's vibrant Kentish Town.

Based in Harrow, Middlesex, for over two decades, the lighting control specialist has previously occupied the sort of light industrial premises suited to a traditional manufacturer. However, Artistic Licence now operates more as a design house, outsourcing the majority of its product assembly needs.

CEO Wayne Howell explains, "Artistic Licence is an agile company, happy to reinvent itself as the market evolves. The decision to outsource manufacture was one such change, but it has left us in a building that is no longer well suited to the way we operate. Our company philosophy is all about ideas and pushing the boundaries of new technology, and the new studio provides just the sort of environment

UK - Trade associations PASMA and SELECT have entered into a new partnership agreement, bringing together their respective members in the work at height and electrical contracting industries.

The agreement between PASMA, the leading trade association for mobile access towers, and Scotland's trade association for the electrical industry, SELECT, will ensure that PASMA training is more accessible to SELECT members.

Delegates who take this route will receive a joint-badged PASMA card with the SELECT logo as a sign of their competence to work at height. With falls from height the leading cause of death in the workplace, it is a legal requirement for workers to prove their competence before carrying out this type of work.

PASMA's managing drector, Peter Bennett, said, "Electrical contractors of course regularly work at height. We are delighted that this agreement will benefi

USA - When the Samuel H. Scripps Mainstage at Theatre for a New Audience's Polonsky Shakespeare Centre opens this week, at 262 Ashland Place, Brooklyn, well-travelled theatre-goers may get a sense of deja vu.

The 299-seat theatre's two galleries, steep orchestra seating rake, and modest capacity create a closeness between the actors and audience that will remind some of a groundbreaking theatre 3,500 miles across the Atlantic. A theatre that through its innovative physical flexibility, intimacy, and dedication to experimentation helped revive the form of the courtyard theatre: The Cottesloe Theatre at the National Theatre in London.

The similarities are not an accident. In the 36 years since it opened, the Cottesloe Theatre has exerted an immeasurable influence over the theatrical world, not only in nurturing legions of actors, directors, writers, and theatre professionals, bu

UK - A new work-friendly part-time option of its Live Sound Technology course will be offered by Britannia Row Productions Training starting in January 2014. With classes taking place on one weekday evening plus one weekend day per week, the course becomes accessible for those who work full-time or have other commitments.

While contents and learning outcomes of the course remain essentially unchanged from the full-time version of the training programme, the curriculum will be delivered in three sections: 1. Live Sound Fundamentals, 2. System Engineering and 3. Mix Engineering. This structure allows for holiday breaks between the sections as another feature to make it feasible for people in full-time employment to take this course. The 13-week sections are delivered over a 47-week period with eight holiday weeks allowing for spring and summer breaks.

This expansion of course op

UK - The AED UK businesses including AED Rent, AED Distribution, AED Store and AED Second-hand are opening their doors on Tuesday 5 November for a Guy Fawkes themed Open Day. From 10.30 am to 6 pm, all visitors are welcome to meet the AED UK Team and have a look around their facility.

AED Distribution which enjoyed a busy inaugural PLASA, will be showing products from all of its partner brands including High End Systems automated luminaires, digital lighting and the HOG4 Family of consoles. Also, other brands such as SRS, Swisson, Prolyte, CM, GLP and MediaLas will be in action with many brands having their own product specialists on-hand for one-to-one demos.

David March, managing director of AED Distribution says, "We really hope that people will drop in for a visit to see first-hand the AED UK Operation and importantly meet the team here along with our colleagues from

Arts Funding - Funding for English museums, galleries and theatres is heavily slanted towards London, a report has said. Central government spending on arts and culture in the capital amounted to £69 per resident in 2012/13, compared with £4.60 per person elsewhere in England.

Arts Council England chair Sir Peter Bazalgette admitted an imbalance existed, adding: "More should be done." He told the the BBC Radio 4 Today programme: "There is an imbalance, there's no question. I've only been at the Arts Council for a few months. I'm absolutely passionate about funding arts and culture in the regions... We need to do more...I would say judge us in two years time. The trend is towards more spending in the regions and that's what we'll be doing."

Net News - The first YouTube awards have been held in New York. The event featured Eminem, La

USA - PLASA's month-long elections to determine positions on its European and North American Regional Boards, together with its central Governing Body, concluded at midnight on Thursday 31 October.

Companies and individuals from PLASA's worldwide membership voted in the elections, which were conducted via a secure online poll.

There were four positions available on the European Regional Board. Filling the officer positions, Adam Blaxill of Stage Electrics was elected Regional Board Vice-Chair and Duncan Bell of Autograph Sound Ltd, was elected Secretary. Lee Dennison of Sound by Design Ltd is the new Professional Services Representative and Matt Lloyd of Global Design Solutions Ltd, has been voted as the Manufacturer Representative.

Four positions were up for election on the North American Regional Board with Eddie Raymond of IATSE Local 16 elected for his second term as Cha

UK - A.C. Entertainment Technologies (AC-ET) have praised the performance of industry-sponsored racing driver, Jack Goff in his debut season of the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship - which ended with a climactic battle for first position and a podium finish in the final race.

After winning the Renault Clio Cup in 2012, Jack moved up a level and signed with Team HARD for the 2013 BTCC season. He achieved great pace over the season, including being second fastest for most of the race day at Silverstone and a 2nd place podium finish in the final round at Brands Hatch.

As a result of his performance, Jack has been invited to be a guest driver for CAST Motorsport in the Lotus Six Hour endurance race on the Indy Circuit at Brands Hatch this Saturday 9 November. He shares his guest drive with Simon Deacon, the current Lotus Cup UK Overall & 211 Champion.

The long distanc

Qatar - European flightcase manufacturer 5 Star Cases has shipped the first part of a major order for over 100 road cases for live event AV and video specialist Creative Technology (CT)'s Doha, Qatar facility.

These are to house a variety of kit used day-to-day by the busy rental operation which is headed by general manager Andy Reardon, including control systems, racks, a variety of different sized plasma screens, mains and power distros, 3U drawered racks, plastic blow-moulded cases with CNC machined foam inserts for audio and video processors and a number of high end bespoke designed cases to house assorted cameras.

5 Star's Keith Sykes visited Doha in the summer and undertook a marathon measure up of all the kit needing to be cased.

In the UK, CT has been a 5 Star client for many years, but this is the first time they have supplied the international facilities.

Reardon

UK - Chilfest - the new boutique festival staged in Tring, Hertfordshire by Universal Event Productions (UEP) - has been nominated in two categories of the 2013 UK Festival Awards.

The two day event - the first and only music festival to be promoted and staged by an industry technical production solutions specialist - has been nominated in the 'Best New Festival' and 'Best Family Festival' categories. The Awards ceremony takes place at London's Roundhouse on 2 December.

A delighted Steve Butcher, MD of UEP declared, "I can hardly believe it - it's amazing to even be nominated as a newcomer to the scene - and its certainly not something we expected even though we had such a great event."

The inaugural Chilfest was staged at Pendley Meadow in Tring and featured a lively pop night on the Friday headlined by Little Mix and a show-stopping line up of stars from the 1980

UK - Le Mark's Steven Marshall has been titled an 'outstanding employee' by the professional judges of the Archant Herts & Cambs Business Awards. Steve is known to many as the project manager and lead designer for Le Mark Groups Dirty Rigger gloves and accessories division. The Judges commented: "It's not often you come into contact with a young man who has such passion for business excellence and creativity".

Stuart Gibbons, Le Mark Groups MD commented: "It's been a personal pleasure for me to have mentored Steve and see him develop into such a consummate professional and talented designer. Dirty Rigger products are available around the world through a network of partner distributors, this can be much attributed to the hard work that Steve has committed to building a 100% quality focussed brand. Steve has had to learn and develop his management skills along the w

Hydro News - Glasgow is to host the 20th MTV Europe Music Awards (EMA) next year. The event will be held at the city's £125m Hydro Arena, which opened in October, and has a capacity of 13,000. Bruce Gillmer, from Viacom International Media Network (VIMN), confirmed the ceremony would be held in Glasgow for the first time. It follows discussions between MTV, Glasgow City Marketing Bureau and EventScotland. Said Gilmer, "As one of the world's great music cities, Glasgow is always a favourite with artists and the new SSE Hydro will provide the perfect backdrop for the MTV EMA in its 20th anniversary year. We're thrilled that the eyes of the music world will be on Glasgow next year."

Dance News - Sadler's Wells plans to create a new venue it hopes will help establish London as a global centre for dance to rival New York and Paris. The search has begun for the

France - A pyrotechnic blast during a rehearsal for French Revolution musical 1789, the Lovers of the Bastille at the Palais des Sports auditorium in southwest Paris has killed one and left around 15 people injured - five of them seriously.

According to reports, the accidental blast occurred on Friday 8 November shortly after 6pm when pyrotechnics under the musical's stage exploded, possibly due to a faulty power tool.

"An initial investigation determined that the explosion had been caused by the disc of a circular saw breaking away and igniting fireworks to be used in the show," reports the BBC.

A second explosion then caused a wall of the Palais des Sports arena to collapse. Technical director Marcus Toledano, one of many who rushed to the scene of the incident, is believed to have suffered a heart attack as a result of the explosions. When rescue workers

UK - Providing production services on a greenfield site can be tricky at the best of times. The annual 'British Birdwatching Fair' takes this to another level!

Never a company to shy away from such a challenge, the power, lighting and audio delivery for the Birdfair is something that Pearce Hire has been engaged in since well before 1995, demonstrating yet another longstanding customer-client relationship which has evolved over the years as the event has gone from strength to strength.

2013 saw the event celebrate its silver jubilee of offering a wide variety of activities for birders and naturalists. Known by some as the 'Birdwatcher's Glastonbury' the event continues to grow, providing greater challenges for the production team year-on-year.

The Birdfair is run by Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust in partnership with the RSPB and takes place at Rutland Water Nature

USA - After a successful show in July 2012, the PLASA Focus event series is returning to Nashville on 18-19 February, 2014, at the Nashville Municipal Auditorium.

"We have decided to return to Nashville as the PLASA Focus event held there in 2012 was very well received well by both visitors and exhibitors, which is not surprising as the city is renowned for its vibrant music and entertainment scene. Visitors will have the opportunity to see the latest technology from the biggest brands, be provided with free access to a two-day education program, and network with industry colleagues." says Christopher Toulmin, head of PLASA Events.

Companies already signed up to exhibitor at the show include 4Wall Entertainment, DiGiCo, Altman Lighting, Barbizon, CAST, Chauvet Professional, Drape Kings, Elation, Martin Professional, Morpheus Lights and TMB. Space is limited so compan

Rock Honours - Heavy metal stars Black Sabbath triumphed at this year's Classic Rock Roll of Honour, picking up three prizes including the living legend award. The Birmingham band also won album of the year for 13 and event of the year, after 13 topped album charts worldwide and scored them their biggest US hit. Previous living legend winners include ZZ top, Jimmy Page and Iggy Pop. Following their Hyde Park live shows and a Glastonbury headline set this summer The Rolling Stones were named band of the year, while best new band went to The Temperance Movement.

.Low Key - The French government presented singer Bob Dylan with the country's highest award, the Legion of Honour, in a brief ceremony in Paris. Presenting him with the award, Culture Minister Aurelie Filippetti said he was a hero for young people hungry for justice and independence. After the speech,

USA - PLASA presented its highest honour, the Eva Swan Award, to Rocky Paulson at its annual Cocktails and Awards Reception the evening before LDI. The Swan Award, which is presented only when there is a worthy recipient nominated, is presented to a member who has put forth exceptional efforts in time, expertise and personal resources on behalf of PLASA; been instrumental in shaping and promoting the strategic direction of the Association; made major contributions to the realization of the mission, goals and objectives; and enhanced the value of membership for all.

The award was presented to Rocky by Mike Garl, co-chair of PLASA's Technical Standards Council, who stated, "The person we are honouring tonight was one of the first members of the Technical Standards Program as well as one of the early supporters of what has developed into the ETCP. He has continued generously g

USA - PLASA has presented the 2013 Frank Stewart Volunteer of the Year Award to Paul Rabinovitz for his work with the Business Peer Group Program, and to the members of the Technical Standards Program's E1.21 Task Group for their work on the newest version of the American National Standard for Temporary Ground-Supported Overhead Structures Used To Cover Stage Areas and Support Equipment in the Production of Outdoor Entertainment Events.

The award to Paul, owner of PRMi Consulting, was presented by Steven Way, a member of the Peer Group and President of ALPS / Advanced Lighting & Production Services. Paul was instrumental in helping develop the details of the Peer Group Program in 2008. He has since stayed on as the group's "parental unit," as they affectionately refer to him, to ensure the group is following anti-trust guidelines during its four meetings a year. Steven

USA - The sixth annual Rock Our World Awards were presented at the PLASA Cocktails and Awards Reception on Thursday evening, 21 November, the evening before the LDI show. These awards, which recognize ground-breaking achievement by PLASA Members were created to acknowledge the genius of both the creator of technology and the designer or integrator who applies the technology in a real world environment.

Forty nominations were received from across the industry internationally and these were narrowed down to a shortlist of eight finalists for our distinguished panel of judges to review. The judges for this year's awards were: Sebastian Frost, Alan Jacobi, Tim Mills, Nick Pain, Richard Pilbrow, Lee Rose, Artie Siccardi, and Josh Weisberg.

The judges panel was chaired by Mike Wood, who said prior to announcing the winners, "A Rock Our World Award takes a look at the big pictur

Eurovision Latest - Serbia has pulled out of next year's Eurovision Song Contest in Copenhagen, citing financial difficulties. The country's broadcaster said the "high costs necessary to participate" had led to the decision. Serbia won Eurovision in 2007 with the song Molitva by Marija Serifovic, but failed to qualify for the grand final in Malmo, Sweden this year. Other countries have also said they will sit out next year's competition, including Serbia's neighbour Croatia. Bulgaria and Cyprus will not be taking part either, with all four nations' broadcasters saying it is too expensive.

Former participants including Slovakia, Czech Republic and Andorra will remain on the sidelines, while Turkey are shunning the competition for a second year in a row, saying they are unhappy with the rules. They have created an alternative contest called Turkvision, whic

Switzerland - Systems integrator, SLG Broadcast (SLG), has provided a complete broadcast centre for Radio 24's new complex in Zurich, including IP-capable fit-out of two broadcasting studios, a layout-studio, a stage, 24 editors' workplaces and integration of the station's OB vehicle.

Regarded as a "most modern studio" at the beginning of the 1990s, the privately operated radio station had outgrown its old location by 2012, and was no longer at the cutting edge of technology. Since then, the 'Löwenbräu' Area of Zurich has provided an ideal new space - not more than 1200ft from its old location. Here, SLG constructed an entire studio complex at the beginning of 2013 in the time-honoured 'blue hall' in the Löwenbräu Area.

In a record-breaking construction period of just two months, two state-of-the-art broadcast studios and associated equipment rooms were built, pl

USA - PLASA has announced the winners of the 2013 Members' Choice Awards presented on Saturday, 23 November at the LDI and PLASA Awards Ceremony .The awards recognised newly released outstanding entertainment technology products. Voting on these awards was open to all employees of PLASA member companies who attended the LDI show.

Awarded in the Expendable Category was the Nano Spot by Darklight. As the smallest and more affordable LED spotlight on the market, members were pleased with its small size as well as the easily adjustable swivel head.

In the Gadget Category, members awarded the Source Four Mini by ETC. Impressed by its crisp Source Four optics and image projection, members appreciated its efficiency.

In the Equipment Category, members awarded the Phoenix LED by Altman Lighting, taking notice of its brand new 250 watt LED unit offered in 3K, 5,600K, RGBA and RGBW ve

UK - Over the past few months Pearce Hire has embraced it's CSR (corporate social responsibility) and established a link with a local further education college to provide an internship programme for young people in their locality.

Peterborough Regional College runs a BTEC Extended Diploma in Music Technology. It is a two-year full-time vocational course covering all aspects of music technology and is equivalent to studying for three A-Levels. Subjects covered include live sound and production; studio recording; acoustics and audio engineering; and media, marketing and promotional skills.

The link established between Pearce Hire and Peterborough Regional College has enabled those students with an interest in the Live Events sector to go into the workplace of this busy production and hire company and learn the ropes in a bona-fide work environment.

The idea was originally moot

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