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Management Turnstile Turns Again at Thiel Audio

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BREAKING NEWS

Photo of Thoma Malatesta
Tom Malatesta

We learned this week that Thiel Audio (Thiel) has had another significant round of layoffs, including CEO Tom Malatesta, Chief Revenue Officer Stuart Levine, Director of Music Industry Relations Mark Mason (no relation to engineer Mark Mason who left much earlier), as well as two other lower level staff – who have all been let go within the last six-to-eight weeks. Furthermore, Chief Brand Officer Rebecca Abrahams, who led the launch of their Aurora live music performance and streaming studio, left the company in January of this year. No reason was given for any these separations and, true to form, Thiel has made no official public announcement regarding the dismissals.

See more on this new turn of the turnstile at Thiel… [Read more…] about Management Turnstile Turns Again at Thiel Audio

Teens & Affluents Struggle with Addiction to Tech

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eMarketer logoNew research from GfK indicates that more than 1 out of every 3 people in the U.S., as well as in seventeen other countries around the world, struggle with addiction to technology. This is especially true with a young demographic segment like teens, but also with the upper income group.

See more on this research about technology addiction… [Read more…] about Teens & Affluents Struggle with Addiction to Tech

Samsung Display Plans to Build the World’s Largest OLED Factory

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Samsung2CES2-8-12In news out of Korea, we learn that Samsung Display is planning to build the world’s largest OLED manufacturing facility in a bid to hold off Chinese competition in the increasingly popular technology. Samsung’s board of directors are expected to meet this month to approve the plans and the investment.

See more on this major move on OLED by Samsung… [Read more…] about Samsung Display Plans to Build the World’s Largest OLED Factory

Crestron and Sonos Deepen Their Relationship

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BREAKING NEWS

Crestron logoCrestron announced today that it is dramatically deepening its partnership with Sonos that was first revealed at last Fall’s CEDIA show. That partnership, which Strata-gee was the first to break the story on ahead of the 2016 CEDIA show, is now growing even stronger as Crestron is making the full line of Sonos products available directly to Crestron Technology Professionals through their normal purchasing system. Crestron dealers can add as much Sonos product to their Crestron orders as they’d like…starting today.

See more on this growing partnership between Crestron & Sonos… [Read more…] about Crestron and Sonos Deepen Their Relationship

Gibson Brands Takes Control of Onkyo Corp.

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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.

AudioControl Celebrates 40 Years of Innovation

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AudioControl 40-year logoAudioControl, the Seattle,WA-based scrappy manufacturer of specialty audio electronics for both the automotive and residential markets announced that 2017 is their 40th Anniversary, marking a somewhat remarkable journey from outsider accessory maker to a brand of growing significance to many in the mobile AV and residential custom integration communities. And to what does the company attribute their success? It’s all about reliability, performance and value…

See more on this remarkable milestone for AudioControl… [Read more…] about AudioControl Celebrates 40 Years of Innovation

Legrand Acquires Milestone in Largely a Commercial Play

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Legrand logoFrance’s Legrand announced today it has signed an agreement to acquire Milestone AV Technologies in a deal valued at $950 million. The deal is another example of continued industry consolidation, although in this case, it was largely a play by Legrand for Milestone’s predominantly commercial business rather than the residential portfolio.

See more on this deal which is twice as big as any previous Legrand acquisition… [Read more…] about Legrand Acquires Milestone in Largely a Commercial Play

PE Firm General Atlantic Sells Its Stake in SnapAV

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BREAKING NEWS

SnapAV logoSnapAV announced today that General Atlantic, its private equity partner, has sold its ownership interest in the company to San Francisco-based Hellman and Friedman, another private equity group. The move, while unexpected, is not unusual in the world of private equity – especially in the case where a portfolio company transitions stages of growth that move it beyond the the investment strategy of the PE partner as compared to when the investment was initially made.

See more on this big change at SnapAV… [Read more…] about PE Firm General Atlantic Sells Its Stake in SnapAV

CEDIA to Pay 6-Figure Annual Tax Penalty to Build HQ in Fishers

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Photo of Dennis ErskineIndianapolis, IN-based CEDIA announced this week that it will build a new headquarters building in the neighboring town of Fishers, IN, after “more than 18 months of research, financial analyses, and due diligence.” This new “global headquarters” is the “best solution” as determined by the “CEDIA Board.” The announcement projected the project will cost $13.7 million.

But, the announcement did not reveal one significant additional cost… [Read more…] about CEDIA to Pay 6-Figure Annual Tax Penalty to Build HQ in Fishers

CEDIA Refuses All Strata-gee Interviews; New Process Invoked

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Another Troubling Hit to Transparency

cedia logoIn a disturbing sign of a further retreat from transparency, CEDIA has notified Strata-gee that it will no longer accept any interviews. This policy appears to apply only to Strata-gee, and no reason was given…at least initially.

Will this new policy inhibit Strata-gee’s ability to cover CEDIA? Read on… [Read more…] about CEDIA Refuses All Strata-gee Interviews; New Process Invoked