The new concept for Prolight+Sound and Musikmesse 2016 promises a path for growth at the traditional Frankfurt show with totally different hall locations, a new expanded conference program, new opening hours, and a new sequence of days. Prolight+Sound gains more concentration of exhibit areas, while Musikmesse is more open to the public and overlaps during two days.
Be prepared for a big change. The two traditional annual Frankfurt shows, Prolight+Sound and Musikmesse will introduce a completely new concept in 2016. Prolight+Sound trade-show now takes place April 5-8 at the East side of the fair – Halls 3 to 5 – and starts two days before the Musikmesse. Musikmesse will see even more radical changes, being now completely open to the public from 7-10, featuring Hall 11.1 (Business World) exclusively for professionals and B2B, while Halls 8 to 11 and outside areas will feature restaurants with live music, lots of educational events and workshops.
The new Prolight+Sound and Musikmesse 2016 concept will be a challenge for many exhibitors – some of which are forced to have separate booths for each show. Since this is the first year with the new arrangement, every exhibitor will be looking at their neighbors in order to understand if they had the best location. For visitors, it will be all about discovering where the companies are. Prolight+Sound now runs from Tuesday to Friday (5-8) and will open from 10 am to 7 pm (more time for open-bar parties at the booths!). It will feature more business areas, and an improved conference and seminar program, located at The Forum, while all outdoor demonstrations, from PA systems to mobile stages will be located just outside of Halls 3, 4 and 5 with direct access to the Forum.
Prolight+Sound Expands
According to Messe Frankfurt, promoters of the shows, confidence surrounding the future development of Prolight+Sound was clear since the changes were announced. The 2016 international entertainment technology show will be noted, not just for many changes and developments, but also for a broad spectrum of exhibitors from all segments of the event sector. So, whilst 2015 was a record year, the prediction is for further growth, with the new optimized concept laying the necessary groundwork. In 2015 Prolight+Sound had 920 exhibitors from 41 countries – the largest number ever. With 43,054 visitors from 133 countries the trade fair also marked another record.
As the International Fair of Technologies and Services for Entertainment, Integrated Systems and Creation, Prolight+Sound will underscore its reputation as the most important meeting place for companies and trade visitors from all spheres of event and stage technology, AV media technology and systems integration along with studio technology and broadcasting. “Over many years the event industry has rode a strong economic wave. So it needs a trade fair platform that keeps pace with this impressive growth trend. Commitment to Prolight+Sound, combined with strong investment, has made the show fit for the future, providing the sector with an unrivaled global show space and trading point”, explains Michael Biwer, Director of Prolight+Sound.
All the key players in the event technology market have already announced their attendance, in both the professional audio and show lighting segments. The high number of companies that have re-booked space or increased the size of their stand is testament to their confidence in the changes. What is more, there are many manufacturers and service providers who will be at Prolight+Sound for the first time for this premiere of the new concept.
The new hall layout and increased exhibition space for Prolight+Sound 2016 allowed to extend the range of products and subject areas by leveraging six halls and an extensive outdoor area. Holding the trade fair over four working days underscores Prolight+Sound’s profile as a professional trade fair. To the same end the conference and seminar program was extended to fill every day of the trade fair.
Six product areas provide a unique global overview of new product development across the sector. Hall 3.0 features exhibitors from theatre, studio and stage lighting along with stage technology, machinery and lifting beams. In addition to current trends in the field of lighting, visitors to Hall 4.0 will find innovative new products relating to media technology, displays, video and LED. Spectacular effects for shows and events are on display in Hall 5.0 along with innovative installation fittings for event venues.
Halls 3.1 and 4.1 provide a special focal point for sound, studio and radio engineers. The first hall focuses on public address systems of all sizes and application areas, while the second gives prominence to manufacturers from the areas of microphone technology, production, broadcasting and recording. Digital audio networking technology is a growth area which is also featured extensively in this hall.
The Forum area creates a perfect presentational environment for associations, publishers, service providers and educational establishments. Companies on the outdoor area have the opportunity to display their products in outdoor conditions: from PA systems to mobile stages, from LED walls to tent systems.
To help visitors find the products which are particularly relevant to them, there will again be brochures for specific product groups. These so-called Quickfinders provide a concise list of each respective exhibitor in the ‘special interest’ areas of Broadcast, Production + Recording (e.g. audio-interfaces, mixing consoles, monitoring systems), Media Systems (e.g. loudspeakers for permanent installations, control systems, communications technology), Stage (e.g. lifting beams, stage components, theatre fixtures and fittings) in addition to Eventplaza (e.g. furniture, decoration, transportation solutions, software for organizers).
Prolight+Sound 2016 also extends its appeal to event sector students and trainees. The Future Talents Day on the new trade fair Tuesday (5 April) brings talented young people together with the sector’s companies. The Prolight+Sound seminars will extend over the four days of the show in Forum0 and Forum1. Renowned speakers will deliver over 70 lectures, communicating valuable, sector-specific, practical knowledge and providing the background to technological progress and new application areas.
“With modern professional-development formats and a broader spectrum of subjects, we aim not only to offer technical expertise but also to generate new impulses and creative stimuli for the sector. Thus, more than ever before, Prolight + Sound will be the leading information platform for the entire event industry”, says Prolight+Sound Director Michael Biwer.
New this year is also the Manufacturers’ Forum, at which companies present the latest trends from the world of event and AV-media technology illustrated by specific projects.
The companies and organizations that will be presenting successful projects and pioneering products include ALC NetworX, AV Stumpfl, Barco Entertainment, d&b audiotechnik, DPA Microphones, ETC, Gerriets, Klippel, Lawo, Meyer Sound, Microtech Gefell, Osram and the Fraunhofer Institute for Digital Media Technology. Details about the program can be found at www.prolight-sound-programm.com.
The lectures are free to trade fair visitors and bundled into two series of seminars. The Prolight+Sound Conference focuses on professional users in all areas of event technology., while the Eventplaza Conference communicates trends and strategies for event and incentive managers, marketing managers, communication and human resources along with congress and conference organizers. As in the past, a component part of the Eventplaza Conference is the International Event Safety Conference (I-ESC) on Wednesday, 6 April. One of the highlights will be the keynote lecture by internationally successful theatre expert and art director Guang Jian Gao from the Chinese National Centre of Performing Arts in Beijing.
Prolight+Sound will also promote the traditional award cerimonies: The Opus German Stage Award, presented since 2002 for outstanding achievement in the areas of theatre and stage production, live events and open-air events; the Sinus Systems Integrations Award, recognizing projects noted for the innovative and pioneering use of media technology and systems integration: the Prolight+Sound International Press Award (PIPA) and the Musikmesse International Press Award (MIPA) recognizes the best products in the professional audio, lighting industry, recording technology, and musical instruments. The award ceremonies take place on April 7 2016 as part of a festival evening event in the ‘Europa’ room (Hall 4.0).
Musikmesse 2016
Synergies between Prolight+Sound and Musikmesse, the international trade fair for musical instruments, sheet music, music production and music business connections, will be maintained in a different format. Musikmesse takes place from 7 to 10 April 2016, which means that it coexists with Prolight+Sound on Thursday and Friday. On these days the entry ticket for Prolight+Sound also enables entrance to Musikmesse. Musikmesse 2016 is open from 10.00 to 19.00 hrs, while opening the fair for the whole weekend gives retailers the chance to attend Musikmesse outside of their normal business times without having to shut their shops. The organizers have taken this step in response to many requests from the sector.
Musikmesse 2016 features an expanded range of facilities and services for retailers, distributors and everyone working in the music sector. The new ‘Business Academy inspired by SOMM’ will create a valuable competitive edge for participants via over 30 workshops and lectures on subjects such as communication, sales, law, compliance and marketing. The Future Shop, a modern and interactive presentation area, shows innovative approaches to digitalization in the retail trade.
The established Musikbiz Congress will be held again for the seventh time with high-grade seminars and an attractive area for exchanging ideas and information about the music and creative business, as well as digital content exploitation. “As in the past, the new Musikmesse concept focuses clearly on trade visitors from all parts of the musical and instrument industry”, says Stephan Kurzawski, Senior Vice President, Messe Frankfurt Exhibition GmbH. “With specialized programs and facilities, we aim not only to reinforce the position of the event as a business platform but also to provide interesting food for thought about future business developments and, together with our partners, move ahead with the sector into the future.”
Visit the website to understand all the new locations and plan carefully.
5-8 - Prolight+Sound Frankfurt
7-10 - Musikmesse
www.messefrankfurt.com
www.musikmesse.com | www.prolight-sound.com
