Breaking news from Australia concerns the merger of Sydney-based Jands Production Services (JPS) and Melbourne-based Johnston Audio Services (JAS), who are now lined up to compete with Australia’s largest live audio operation, Norwest Productions. The merger is set to become effective on 1 July.
According to CX magazine, concert promoters will now pay for more live audio services following a decade-long freeze on hire rates, with the new company continuing to operate via Jands in Sydney and JAS in Melbourne but with combined inventory resources. Norwest, meanwhile, runs offices in Brisbane and in China.
CX magazine believes that ‘the new dynamic will probably work well for all players – Norwest tends to do more corporate and major event work, while Jands and JAS have focused on concerts and festivals. Norwest and Jands do compete, but Norwest of late has been offering realistic pricing to extract a return to its many staff investors and its primary backers.’
Jointly, it will operate L-Acoustics, JBL VerTec and d&b audiotechnik line arrays, as well as Avid Venue/Profile consoles and the first Midas XL-8 in Australia. JPS also has a long-standing relationship with Clair Brothers.
