SIGNALS
Summer NAMM 2019 Delivers on Increased Audio Focus
The music products and pro audio industries convened at the Music City Center in Nashville,
TN, from July 18-20, 2019 for the annual Summer NAMM Show. Continuing a trend shared
by Summer NAMM and the January NAMM Show in Anaheim, the event offered a boost in
programming for audio professionals.
Summer NAMM welcomed 16,001 registered attendees, a 7 per cent increase over 2018 with
a 32 per cent increase in international attendees. The show counted over 1,500 brands presented
by 500 total exhibitors representing all facets of the industry.
For audio professionals, TEC Tracks returned on Thursday and Friday with sessions designed
to help attendees take their careers to the next level. Notable sessions included “Deconstruct-
ing a Mix,” where Grammy-winning engineer Craig Alvin discussed how he builds a hit album,
and “Immersive Audio and You,” which featured pro audio gurus John McBride and Greg Penny
exploring the world of simulated reality, natural-sounding sources, and environments.
Exclusive to Saturday, A3E (Advanced Audio + Application Exchange) presented the fifth
annual Future of Audio Summit, featuring the game-changing technologies and ideas that
are driving the evolution of musical products, pro audio, and music-making.
Summer NAMM returns to Nashville in 2020, running from July 9-11.
For more information, contact NAMM: 760-438-8001, www.namm.org/summer.
Solotech Acquires Nashville-Based J Sound Services
Solotech has
acquired the assets
of Nashville-based J
Sound Services (JSS),
a design-build com-
pany that provides
integration and
sales of acoustics,
professional audio,
video, and lighting
systems.
“Our vision has
always been to
L-R: LARRY BICKNELL, ARLENE SPENCE, JASON SPENCE, PAUL OWEN & PHILIP GIFFARD offer both sales and
systems integration and live production services in all our offices. We have been partnering
with JSS for many years already, so this acquisition opportunity is therefore not only momen-
tous but also very well thought out,” says Philip Giffard, president of the Sales and Systems
Integration Division at Solotech, who actively led the acquisition.
The new extended team in Nashville will be led by Paul Owen as GM.
For more information, contact Solotech Nashville: 615-457-1506,
[email protected], www.solotech.com.
16 PROFESSIONAL SOUND
Audinate Announces
Internal Successor for CEO
Audinate has announced that Aidan Wil-
liams, the company’s CTO and co-founder,
will succeed Lee Ellison as CEO. Ellison will
retire from his role as CEO on Sept. 13, 2019,
following the release of Audinate’s 2019
full-year financial
results.
“Together
with Lee and
the board, we
developed a
succession plan
over the last
year to ensure a
smooth transition
of the CEO role.
Our plan was for AUDINATE’S AIDAN WILLIAMS
Aidan to follow Lee into the CEO role, and
we are delighted that this will occur. Hav-
ing co-founded Audinate, Aidan has been
a guiding force in its product innovation
and strategy and will continue to do so as
CEO,” says Audinate Chairman David Krall.
For more information, contact Audinate
US: 503-224-2998, www.audinate.com.
Westbury National Names
VP of Sales & Business
Development
AV integration
and production
company West-
bury National
has announced
the appoint-
ment of Jamie
Richardson as
VP of sales and
WESTBURY NATIONAL’S
business develop-
JAMIE RICHARDSON
ment for event and show services.
With over 20 years of experience
within the industry, Richardson has been a
strategic business leader, creative director,
project manager, and technician with a
life-long passion for event production and
design, according to the company.
“I’m very excited to have Jamie join us
in this newly-created role,” says Frank Ger-
stein, president and chairman of Westbury
National. “Jamie brings a wealth of knowl-
edge to our executive leadership team.
His vision, energy, and expertise in live
events and his focus on creating dynamic
experiences will no doubt transform our
business.”
For more information, contact
Westbury National: 416-752-1371,
www.westbury.com.