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CEDIA Expo by Emerald, We Hit Our First Red Flag

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Expo – Under New Management

Emerald Expositions logoLast week, I reached out to Emerald Expositions executive Brianna Morris who is one of the folks assigned to produce the new CEDIA Expo show, looking to discuss a couple of topics. The first, was to explore a couple of potential story ideas. The second was an easy and simple housekeeping question, or so I thought. But it was Morris’ response to that second simple question, that has caused me to recognize  a red flag – and potentially an example of the possible downside to having an industry tradeshow owned and operated by an outside-the-industry, for-profit business.

See the red flag I stumbled across in my CEDIA Expo request to Emerald… [Read more…] about CEDIA Expo by Emerald, We Hit Our First Red Flag

In Battle with Sonos, D&M Takes Yet Another Blow

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Sonos Seeks Permanent Injunction Against Infringing Products

HEOS logoThe battle rages on between D&M Holdings and Sonos over the patent infringement lawsuit brought by Sonos in 2014 against the HEOS by Denon line, and in which Sonos won the first set of their claims in a bellwether trial that concluded this past December. In retaliation for the Sonos lawsuit, D&M Holdings filed a countersuit that is now heating up, and in which they just lost a major decision from Judge Richard G. Andrews.

See more on D&M’s loss in this ongoing matter… [Read more…] about In Battle with Sonos, D&M Takes Yet Another Blow

Gibson Sells One Division & Cuts Staff in Another

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Famous musicians using Gibson guitarsThe news and events surrounding troubled guitar and consumer electronics company Gibson Brands, Inc. seem to be moving at a rapid pace with almost daily revelations as the company struggles to survive ahead of a massive debt due-date just a few short months away. We learned over the last few days that Gibson has sold their recently shuttered Cakewalk Inc. division and laid off staff in their famous Custom Shop operation.

See more about the continued dramatic developments surrounding Gibson… [Read more…] about Gibson Sells One Division & Cuts Staff in Another

Of Gibson, S&P Says: ‘Default is Imminent’

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Logo for Gibson BrandsS&P Global Ratings, part of top credit rating agency Standard and Poor’s, this week lowered their rating of Gibson Brands, Inc. to “CCC-” – down one step from the already low rating of “CCC.” Their outlook on Gibson? “Negative.” A rating of CCC- means that “default is imminent.”

See more on this latest torpedo to hit the good ship Gibson… [Read more…] about Of Gibson, S&P Says: ‘Default is Imminent’

CEO Says Gibson Will Dump Brands

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Financials Show Sales & Profits Continue to Slide

Photo of Gibson CEO Henry Juszkiewicz
Henry Juszkiewicz, CEO

Gibson Brands CEO Henry Juszkiewicz continues to profess confidence that the company will be able to successfully refinance their over $500 million debt before a mid-year maturation comes due. Telling the Nashville Post that the company is going through a little “spring cleaning,” Juszkiewicz says the company already dropped their Cakewalk music software group, and other brands in their portfolio are next to go. But a financial report to bondholders shows continued deterioration of both sales and profits, suggesting that simply pruning a few brands from the portfolio may not be enough to attract new investors or lenders.

See more on the dire situation at Gibson Brands… [Read more…] about CEO Says Gibson Will Dump Brands

James Loudspeaker Adds John Bishop to Their Team

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James Loudspeaker logoJames Loudspeaker, the Napa, CA-based manufacturer of innovative, high-performance speaker solutions, announced this week that it is adding John Bishop in a new role with the company – Director of Architectural Audio Services. Bishop, a fairly well-known sales representative in New England, is being brought on in a contract basis and will continue with his rep firm in addition to this new role.

See more on Bishop’s appointment by James Loudspeaker… [Read more…] about James Loudspeaker Adds John Bishop to Their Team

Restructure Done, Sony Sets Sights Higher – on Uber

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Photo of Japanese Taxi, soon Sony?

We learned today from multiple media reports out of Japan that Sony Corp. is working on building a joint venture with at least six taxi operators in Japan this Spring. The goal comes in the wake of Uber Technologies Inc. saying that it seeks to improve its success in Japan through a partnership with another taxi company there.

Sony, jumping into the ride-hailing business?… [Read more…] about Restructure Done, Sony Sets Sights Higher – on Uber

Gibson CEO Turns to PR to Stop Crashing Reputation

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Company Rehires CFO With Debt Deadline Fast Approaching

Gibson CEO Juszkiewicz
Gibson’s CEO Henry Juszkiewicz

As the music world media continues to trumpet the news of the potential impending collapse of Gibson Brands, noting large outstanding debts and the exit of the company’s CFO, Gibson CEO Henry Juszkiewicz launches a PR blitz to try and stem the collapse of the company’s reputation. It is a critical time for Juszkiewicz, as he is engaged in trying to refinance the company whose huge debt portfolio of over $500 million comes due in just a few short months. To try and stem the tide, Gibson released a couple of press releases last week claiming, in essence and improbably, that things are just fine.

Oh and Gibson Brands hired a CFO…or rather, re-hired a former CFO… [Read more…] about Gibson CEO Turns to PR to Stop Crashing Reputation

Housing Starts Take Healthy Jump in January

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Photo of home under constructionHousing starts, the measure of new home construction that many in the custom integration industry feel is a leading indicator for the sale of home-making products, such as residential technology systems, jumped nearly 10% in the month of January. This may be yet another indicator of an overall improving economy, although the monthly numbers tend to vacillate up and down on alternating months. Still, the long term trend appears to remain positive.

See more on this latest report on a key economic and industry indicator… [Read more…] about Housing Starts Take Healthy Jump in January

ISE Sets New Records, Should You Attend?

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Photo from ISE 2017Integrated Systems Europe (ISE), the joint venture between CEDIA and AVIXA (formerly InfoComm) announced this week that the show held earlier this month set several records, including the number of exhibitors, number of new exhibitors, the number of attendees and the number of first time attendees. While CEDIA struggles to pull in 20,000 attendees, ISE tops 80,000 visitors.

With the growth of ISE, should you consider attending? [Read more…] about ISE Sets New Records, Should You Attend?