Strategy in TECH...
In the latest research on the smart audio market, analysts see clear progress in the expansion of voice technology both in terms of the growing number of devices containing it, and the expanding uses to which voice control is being used. While much of the results of this latest survey are specific to smart speakers, this version goes well beyond that to looking at voice in all sorts of devices.
Emerald Holding Inc., the parent company of Emerald Expositions, a division that owns the CEDIA Expo trade show and CEPro media, announced its results for the first quarter of its fiscal 2022 year today – and these results clearly showed a strong rebound from the last two COVID-19 impacted years. With both revenues and earnings showing substantial increases, Emerald’s President and CEO Hervé Sedkey stated that “…we are in the midst of a robust recovery.”
In the latest report from the music world, we learned two surprising facts: First, for the first time in 17-years, retail sales of physical compact discs actually increased. And second, for the first time since 1991, vinyl records are the most popular physical media format. It’s big news and much of the media – even mainstream news outlets like CNN – reported on this development. It appears to be part of a surprising swing by consumers back to physical media, as sales of vinyl records in 2021 saw a stunning year-over-year increase of 51.4% – the biggest increase of ANY format, physical or streaming.
What the heck is going on here?
A little more than ten miles south of Myrtle Beach in South Carolina, you come to a tiny, unincorporated area known as Murrells Inlet. Known as the Seafood Capital of South Carolina (or at least that is what they say), like many seashore areas, Murrells Inlet is a true lifestyle community where residents and visitors enjoy outdoor living, great seafood restaurants, gorgeous beaches, lots of wildlife in the natural marshlands, and more. It is also where you’ll find Custom Theater & Audio, a custom integration business co-owned and managed by John Sciacca – and just one of the many hats he wears.
Now, adding yet another hat, he is also the new owner of Cineluxe, an online media site seeking to provide lots of informative and interesting content – as well as added support – for the luxury home entertainment consumer.
Holy cow! You guys are amazing! You’ve pushed Strata-gee over the finish line with another record year in 2021! A year ago, I wasn’t sure that was going to be possible, but the data are clear – Strata-gee set many new records this year thanks to the incredible support of Strata-gee readers.
Residential Tech Today Editor Jeremy Glowacki interviewed Ted Green – yeah, that’s me – for their podcast which is available in both audio-only or audio/video formats. What a weird experience it was for me! I’m used to being the questioner…not the questioned. Especially when you consider the fact that Jeremy and I are friends and talk frequently about everything from the business to family and friends – it was strange when he invited me to be on the podcast and shifted into professional editor mode.
And, he asked real questions – such as why Strata-gee can sometimes be controversial and how I came to this role.
Whether you are a manufacturer designing tech gear for the residential market, or an integrator designing systems for your client’s homes, it can be helpful to better understand how they wish to use the gear or systems to consume media content. New statistical research shows that – no surprise – the average daily time U.S. consumers spent consuming media hit an all-time high in 2020…the year of COVID-19. You probably already knew this fact or at least suspected it to be the case. Now the data is in and between digital media and traditional media, the average consumption moved up by almost an extra hour a day.
But what you likely don’t know is – which specific media category saw increased use, which specific media category saw decreased use? And, most importantly, what happens now?
New data shows that consumer content consumption trends are changing dramatically…and at a quickening pace. Fresh reports from eMarketer and separately from Axios show that people are unplugging from traditional cable and satellite TV in huge numbers. If traditional pay TV is losing, who is winning? And what does this mean for the Tech industry?
Strata-gee reader Jeff (see comments here…) asks, “What’s up with the revival of Thiel Audio’s website thielaudio.com?” That is a good question, as the company has been shut down, and all inventory, factory, and office goods were auctioned off just under three years ago. Shortly after the auction, Thiel Audio’s website went dark and has been that way ever since.
Emerald Holding Inc. (NYSE: EEX), formerly known as Emerald Expositions Events Inc. – a national exposition company that is home to both the CEDIA Expo and CE Pro magazine – has announced that they are postponing all events for the first two quarters of 2020 due to the rapid spread of the global pandemic Coronavirus (COVID-19). Given their position as one of the largest producers of B-to-B trade shows in the U.S., this is a major development with huge impact on the various industries their shows serve.
