A significant day one announcement from Loud Technologies explains that the company has now teamed up its previously separate engineering, brand management and product management functions, and re-split them into a Pro Audio Group and a Music Gear Group.
“Loud has some of the industry’s most admired brands, a brilliant collection of multi-disciplined engineers and truly customer-focused product management teams, explained Rodney Olson, Loud CEO, in a prepared statement. “By unifying these disciplines around our core brands and the markets they serve, we will markedly increase our technical innovation and speed the delivery of the next round of products that leave our customers smiling… and our competitors reeling.”
Jeffrey Cox, VP of the Pro Audio Group, will manage the EAW and Martin Audio brands and their market positioning, product strategy and product development efforts. Jeffrey’s group will include the Whitinsville, USA EAW Engineering team headed by Jeff Rocha, who will also take on EAW product management responsibilty; the High Wycombe, UK-based Martin Audio Engineering team headed by Jason Baird; and the Victoria, Canada-based Pro Audio Software/Hardware Development Group headed by Chris Jubien.
John Boudreau, VP of the Music Gear Group (“MG”), and his team will develop the next wave of Mackie, Ampeg, Blackheart, Alvarez and Crate products. John’s group will include the Woodinville, WA-based Engineering team lead by Nathan O’Neill; the Woodinville, WA-based Industrial Design team headed by Kimberly Van Horn; Greg Young, Mackie brand director; and Pyotr Belov, director of Instrument Amps.
While the two groups will focus on the brands in their immediate purview, they will share core technology where it makes sense for Loud’s benefit. “I am confident Jeffrey, John and their teams will add the creative spark and entrepreneurial spirit that will take Loud to the next level of growth,” added Olson.
In another significant announcement, Midas announced that effective 1 July 2009, Midas Consoles North America will be the exclusive distribution channel for Midas and Klark Teknik in the USA and Canada. Based north of Los Angeles, Midas Consoles North America, a wholly owned subsidiary of JAM Industries, is a new, brand focused, distribution company dedicated to the sales and after sales support of Midas and Klark Teknik products in the world’s largest single market.
“This is a huge new chapter in our company history,” states David Cooper, sales and marketing director for Midas and Klark Teknik. “It ensures that our present and future customer base in North America is offered dedicated, brand-orientated sales expertise and technical support. We believe that a focused, brand led distribution channel is the best way of ensuring our already industry leading support is maintained and then continually improved. Our aim is simple: to establish the XL8 and PRO6 as industry standards in the live performance sector across North America. We see this move as the means of making that happen.”
Adds Lynn Martin a JAM executive and president of JAM’s AM&S (American Music and Sound) division, “The creation of Midas Consoles North America is yet another milestone. We are extremely proud to be awarded two of the greatest live sound brands in the industry and see great opportunities for those brands via the new Midas Consoles North America distribution channel.
“Both Midas and Klark Teknik operate in a unique market and we need to address the requirements of sound engineers, rental companies, houses of worship, theatre, live TV broadcast – in fact the whole live sector. I am also happy to announce that Jay Easley, who has been heading Midas and Klark Teknik sales in the US, will be managing the Midas Consoles North America sales team from day one and will ensure we hit the ground running! We aim to offer seamless customer support during the transition.”
The move gives Midas and Klark Teknik direct control of its US distribution channel, allowing it the flexibility and freedom to respond to the market and tailor its sales and service network accordingly. Launching a dedicated operation in the US comes during a period of huge development for the company, particularly in light of the rapid uptake of the XL8 and PRO6 digital systems.
At a Sennheiser press event, not only were we treated to a tour of new Sennheiser wireless systems as well as the brand new K-array line of products that the company will be distributing in North Amerca, but we got to hear every word via Sennheiser Tourguide systems. (Read more about K-array here.)
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The brand-new Sennheiser 2000 Series wireless system is designed to make setting up multi-channel systems fast and simple. Depending on the UHF range, the units have a switching bandwidth of up to 72 MHz in the U.S., in which up to 64 compatible frequency presets are available for microphones and up to 32 for monitoring systems. The rack-mount units can transmit their frequency data, name, sensitivity, low cut, etc. to the corresponding portable transmitters or receivers via an infrared interface. Very slick.
More coverage of the news and new products from InfoComm 2009 will be coming tomorrow, and in fact, for several subsequent days. Be sure to check back often!