Strata-gee.com

Strategy in TECH...

Sonance James Small Aperture Series
You are here: Home / Archives for Pioneer

Pioneer

Gibson Stuns the Music World, Shuts Down Cakewalk

by 5 Comments

Acquired in 2013, Cakewalk was Killed for Philips, Gibson Says

Cakewalk logoIn what many in the industry are suggesting is yet another indicator of struggles at Gibson Brands, the company announced a little over a week ago that it would wind down operations at Cakewalk Inc., a popular music creation software company it owns. Music industry-centric websites around the internet exploded with largely critical coverage of the move, and comments on Cakewalk’s website are decidedly negative – both sad and angry – as customers seek to process the shocking news.

See more on yet another move by struggling Gibson…

[Read more…] about Gibson Stuns the Music World, Shuts Down Cakewalk

Gibson Brands Continues to Show Signs of Strain

by 1 Comment

Downsizing Factory & Dilution of Onkyo Ownership

Logo for Gibson BrandsRecent developments have thrust Gibson Brands back into the spotlight once again – a spot that CEO Henry Juszkiewicz doesn’t particularly enjoy, unless he’s there on his own terms. But this time, two tidbits of news have conspired to bring Gibson, and their financial challenges to the fore. And as we try to digest all of this, it’s clear that Gibson is continuing to show signs of strain due to sluggish results from its aggressive diversification into consumer electronics jeopardizing its ability to deal with looming huge debt payments on the loans used to acquire CE brands.

See the news that shines a light on Gibson’s troubled financial position… [Read more…] about Gibson Brands Continues to Show Signs of Strain

Gibson Brands Takes Control of Onkyo Corp.

by Leave a Comment

BREAKING NEWS

onkyologo

In a filing with Japan’s JASDAQ stock exchange, Onkyo revealed this week that at the end of June, major investor Gibson Brands became the largest shareholder for the first time since its relationship with the Osaka-based manufacturer of higher-quality electronics began in 2012. This small announcement portends a potentially significant change in the relationship between the two entities.

See more on this news out of Japan about Gibson and Onkyo… [Read more…] about Gibson Brands Takes Control of Onkyo Corp.

Onkyo Internally Announces Major Sales Structure Reorganization

by 2 Comments

BREAKING NEWS

Four Major Brands to be Consolidated into Two Divisions

Onkyo logoIn a national conference call with sales reps yesterday, Onkyo announced a major restructuring of their sales organization. This overhaul involves consolidating their four major brands – Onkyo, Integra, Pioneer, and Pioneer Elite – into two newly-created divisions.

See more on this breaking news from Onkyo… [Read more…] about Onkyo Internally Announces Major Sales Structure Reorganization

Dirac Cuts Interesting Deal with Pioneer

by Leave a Comment

Dirac logoDirac Research, a provider of high-quality room and loudspeaker optimization technologies, announced today that it has reached an agreement with Pioneer Corporation to distribute their digital technologies in the OEM market in Japan. The deal, their first with a relatively mainstream manufacturer, will put Dirac technology in a wide range of products under a wide range of brands.

See more about this milestone agreement for Dirac… [Read more…] about Dirac Cuts Interesting Deal with Pioneer

Moody’s Downgrades Gibson Brands Credit to Junk

by 10 Comments

Gibson Brands CEO Responds to Moody’s Downgrade

Photo of Gibson busThe music industry is positively buzzing about the announcement late last week by Moody’s Investors Service that, for the second time in three months, it has downgraded the credit rating of Nashville, Tennessee-based Gibson Brands. Gibson (formerly Gibson Guitars) is a tightly held private company that launched an aggressive diversification strategy a few years ago, focusing on acquiring several consumer electronics brands such as Onkyo Corp. and Teac, Corp. and recently Philips.

Now Moody’s suggests the debt used to acquire these brands is dragging the company down… [Read more…] about Moody’s Downgrades Gibson Brands Credit to Junk

Michigan Rep Says Betting on Retail Sales Teams is Always a Good Gamble

by Leave a Comment

Rep Firm Holds Casino Night for Major Retailer’s Sales Staff – Everyone Wins, Especially the Sponsors

Photo of QMI teamWalled Lake, Michigan-based sales representative company QMI, Inc. (The QMI Group) held a Casino night on Sunday, August 23rd for the sales staff of ABC Warehouse, a large electronics and appliance retailer in the Midwest. Sponsored by Pioneer and Polk Audio, the Casino night capped a 90-day sales promotion that allowed floor salespeople the opportunity celebrate their success, blow off some steam, and earn valuable prizes.

See more about The QMI Group’s ABC Warehouse Sales Associates’ Casino Night… [Read more…] about Michigan Rep Says Betting on Retail Sales Teams is Always a Good Gamble

Hot Time in the City, It’s CE Week Again

by Leave a Comment

CE Week logoNew York City in June sees temperatures rise in response to the onset of summer and also, hopefully, in response to the launch of the hottest new technologies being shown at CE Week at the Metropolitan Pavilion and Altman Building exposition spaces in Manhattan. We awaited this year’s edition with great anticipation as it occurs in the wake of a major change in the show’s backers – and is the follow-up to the surprisingly meaningful show last year.

What were the changes, and how did the show go? You’ll have to read on… [Read more…] about Hot Time in the City, It’s CE Week Again

ELAC Returns to N. America w/New Speakers Designed by Andrew Jones

by 2 Comments

Company Opens New S. California Design Center

ELAC Americas logoGerman speaker manufacturer ELAC announced today that it has returned to the North American market with a new line of speakers, a new U.S. design center and – perhaps most significantly – a new Vice President of Engineering, the highly respected Andrew Jones. The company plans to launch their new ELAC Debut™ speaker line at the upcoming T.H.E. Show Newport in Irvine, CA at the end of this month.

See more on this surprising, multi-faceted announcement… [Read more…] about ELAC Returns to N. America w/New Speakers Designed by Andrew Jones

Onkyo Sets New Global Strategy Focused On Portables & Headphones

by Leave a Comment

Onkyo logoOsaka, Japan-based Onkyo Corporation says it has set a new global growth strategy that will focus on launching portable music players and headphones, thanks largely to resources it received in its acquisition of Pioneer’s home AV division. In an interview appearing in Japanese media, Onkyo President Munenori Otsuki said the world is entering “the age of portable music players.”

See more on this surprising shift of direction from a significant audio industry player… [Read more…] about Onkyo Sets New Global Strategy Focused On Portables & Headphones