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Gibson Stuns Again; Pulls Out of NAMM Show

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Photo of Gibson's Tokyo Showroom

A little more than a month ago, Gibson stunned the music world by abruptly shutting down Cakewalk, a music software company it had acquired in 2013. Now the music industry is abuzz again, after an announcement from Gibson Brands that it has decided to pull out of the NAMM show – the biggest music industry tradeshow, taking place at the Anaheim Convention Center January 25-28. Gibson Guitars is one of the top guitar manufacturers in the world, and the thought of a major music industry tradeshow without their representation has tongues wagging throughout the industry, with plenty of speculation about the “real” reason Gibson chose to pull out.

See more on this surprising news by Gibson… [Read more…] about Gibson Stuns Again; Pulls Out of NAMM Show

Strata-SERIES: RMR – Series Wrap-Up

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Strata-SERIES: RMR Wrap-UpOne month ago, on December 6th, Strata-gee launched a series of articles on recurring monthly revenue (RMR) programs based on research conducted for a cover story in the December issue of Residential Systems Magazine. That Series, called Strata-SERIES: RMR,  ran the entire month of December and into January with a total of five posts of content, plus an additional Series introduction and this Series wrap-up.

What did we learn about RMR? Much! Read on… [Read more…] about Strata-SERIES: RMR – Series Wrap-Up

Strata-SERIES: RMR – Smart Help for a Quick Start in RMR

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Strata-SERIES: RMR[NOTE: This post is part of a series of articles on recurring monthly revenue programs we call Strata-SERIES: RMR. It will likely make more sense to you if you start by reading our Series Introduction here… and then our Topic Introduction and First Installment here…]

Because he had worked with an alarm company for the last twenty years, Matt Walin of Costa Mesa, CA-based Brilliant AV was very familiar with the concept of RMR programs as it related to central station security system monitoring. But as it specifically relates to residential AV and home automation solutions, it was about two years ago when they began exploring the process of offering their clients some form of a maintenance agreement covering their system installations.

Residential AV RMR, it turned out, was a horse of an entirely different color… [Read more…] about Strata-SERIES: RMR – Smart Help for a Quick Start in RMR

Sonos to Seek Injunction to Stop HEOS Sales of ‘Infringing Technology’

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BREAKING NEWS

Case May Have Major Impact on Wireless Speaker Business

Exhibit F Sonos MotionAs we recently reported, a federal jury gave Sonos a sweeping victory in the first “bellwether trial” in Sonos Inc. v. D&M Holdings Inc. et al, siding with Sonos on all counts and awarding them nearly $2 million in damages. Furthermore, the jury affirmed the validity of the three Sonos patents at issue, and disagreed with D&M’s assertion that the patents were not valid.

Strata-gee spoke with both sides of this case and, this decision notwithstanding, neither appears ready to back down, even as this is just the first of what will ultimately be three trials in the case – two where Sonos is the plaintiff, and a countersuit by D&M Holdings where they will be the plaintiff. Sonos won round one, but this is a multi-round fight.

Both Sonos and D&M Holdings talk to Strata-gee in wake of trial verdict… [Read more…] about Sonos to Seek Injunction to Stop HEOS Sales of ‘Infringing Technology’

Strata-SERIES: RMR – Reducing Truck Rolls by 82%

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[NOTE: This post is part of a series of articles on recurring monthly revenue programs we call Strata-SERIES: RMR Programs. It will likely make more sense to you if you start by reading our Series Introduction here… and then our Topic Introduction and First Installment here…]

Strata-SERIES: RMR Programs #4In our last installment, we learned how Ben Lentz and the team at Cyber Technology Group launched an RMR program designed to help their clients understand that sophisticated technology systems require regular maintenance – just like their cars, their pools, and their landscaping. By getting clients on their Client Care Program, which includes regular “wellness visits,” Cyber Tech saw their upgrade sales increase during these visits.

Like Cyber Tech, Ron Wanless of Technology Design Associates (locations in Washington and Oregon) had a slightly different motive for pursuing a recurring monthly revenue program. Little did he know that it was a pursuit that would result in fundamental changes in how they service their clients and run their business.

See how Technology Design Assocs. RMR program cut service costs… [Read more…] about Strata-SERIES: RMR – Reducing Truck Rolls by 82%

Verdict: ‘Denon Directly Infringed’ on Sonos Patents

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BREAKING NEWS

Jury Finds for Sonos on All Counts; Denon Claims of Invalidity Vanquished

Sonos logoLast Friday, after a full week of testimony, evidence, deposition playbacks, and attorney posturing, members of the jury listened closely as Judge William C. Bryson delivered instructions designed to clarify their deliberative process and their duty as “finders of fact” in the matter of Sonos, Inc. v. D&M Holdings Inc. d/b/a/The D+M Group, D&M Holdings U.S. Inc., and Denon Electronics (USA), LLC. The judges verbal instructions took a while to relay, as the reality is that patent disputes can be quite complex and the issues of intellectual property quite nuanced yet important.

In written form, which the Judge provided the jury for their easy referral, his instructions ran a full 27-pages long. After considering it all, the jury came back with a finding in favor of Sonos on all counts – and delivered an award to Sonos of just under $2 million for damages.

See more on this conclusion to a three year litigation… [Read more…] about Verdict: ‘Denon Directly Infringed’ on Sonos Patents

Surprise! Sound United Makes Bid to Acquire Classé

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BREAKING NEWS

Will High-End Classé Represent Sound United’s Crown Jewel?

Classe logoJust when you thought it was all over, Strata-gee has learned that a new suitor – Vista, CA-based Sound United – has emerged to make a bid to acquire Classé Audio from current owner B&W Group. Classé was shut down by B&W on October 6th, as we reported at the time. However, because the company was still sitting on a relatively significant level of inventory – and was considering producing an additional small run of certain models to balance out their inventory to facilitate liquidation – B&W executives often maintained it was still in business.

When deals with three previously interested parties failed to come to fruition, B&W made the decision to close Classé’s Montreal headquarters, dismiss all Classé staff, and turned over service and support functions to B&W facilities.

See more on this surprising development for Classé… [Read more…] about Surprise! Sound United Makes Bid to Acquire Classé

Gibson Cuts Debt Deal to Delay Payment Date

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Logo for Gibson BrandsGibson Brands has reached a deal with GSO Capital Partners, one of its existing lenders, in order to push back a loan payment by approximately two weeks to December 15th. The reason for the move was to try and time the payment such that it arrived later in the holiday season for better timing relative to their anticipated cash flow.

See more on this new, if temporary, debt deal… [Read more…] about Gibson Cuts Debt Deal to Delay Payment Date

Gibson Successfully Sells Memphis Factory

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Gibson's Memphis factoryFrom our boy-that-was-fast department, Gibson Brands announced it has booked a deal to sell its Memphis factory/showroom. This facility, which is located in the heart of Memphis’ downtown right near the main entertainment district, had just been put on the market as we told you in our post of November 2nd.

See more on this latest Gibson Brands news… [Read more…] about Gibson Successfully Sells Memphis Factory

More Thiel Turmoil – Is It Closed? Is It Open?

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Significant Staff Terminations Drop Headcount

New Thiel Audio logoWe are hearing from multiple sources both public and private that Thiel Audio has ceased operations, effective November 30, 2017. If true, the news would be a sad punctuation to the end of the story of a once proud  high-end audio brand that since 2012 has endured multiple CEO’s and their changing business plans. Current CEO Elyse McKenna is, by our count, the fifth CEO at Thiel since the end of 2012 – a year which started with co-founder Kathy Gornik as the CEO who then sold the company to David B. Griffin, a wealthy farmer and landowner according to our sources.

But, apparently, the answer to the question posed in our headline is that it depends on who you ask. CEO Elyse McKenna, in a telephone interview this afternoon, denied that Thiel is closed and tells us the company remains open for business.

See more on this confusing news on Thiel… [Read more…] about More Thiel Turmoil – Is It Closed? Is It Open?