ISSUE 133 JUNE 2011 IN THIS ISSUE
NEWS EVENTS
4 PMT buys Dolphin; new-look MIA awards; live music boost
THE LIVE DEBATE IS OVER
27
MIRC 2011 PREVIEW 16 Next month’s big retail conference edges closer
FEATURES COVER STORY
HIS MASTER’S VOICE 24 Studiomaster talks new Horizons with MI Pro
ON THE ROAD 21 Do dealer roadshows still bring in the crowds?
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PAWN COLLECTION 27 Fender’s new Pawn Shop guitars in the spotlight
OSKAR BRAVO 28 Harmonica player Lee Oskar talks business
SAFE HANDS 32 How CPC is handling the vintage British amp brand
SECTOR SPOTLIGHTS 32
SUB-£500 ACOUSTIC GUITARS 45 The market’s volume guitar sector highlighted
PERCUSSION 57 How much bang can you get for your buck?
BUDGET MICS 63 Low-end gear for vocalists and studio use
RETAIL
HARD TO FIND 70 Birmingham-based music technology store found by MI Pro
45
I’LL TELL YOU what I’m not going to comment on this month: Dolphin. There are more than enough people out there adding in their two-penneth worth and more than a few of them taking the opportunity to gloat, for some reason. You don’t need me adding to the debate. Except to say, retailers going bust ain’t good news, whatever the business model. Period. And people need to learn a little about decorum. That was the bad news, the good news is that it looks likely that (grits teeth) the Government is doing something good for once, by liberalising the existing Licensing Act legislation. If that means more pubs, clubs, village fetes or whatever are not prohibited by cost from staging live music, then that can only be good for demand. Of course, it’s a neat little headline grabber for the Minister concerned, but if the end result is that more
people are picking up instruments, buying more live gear and possibly inspiring yet more people to do the same, it can only be good for the industry and I suppose we shouldn’t begrudge him taking the credit. This news comes as figures reveal the importance
“
of large-scale live music events to the British economy. Generating some £1.4bn in revenue in 2009 and attracting audiences of 7.7m. What a gig that must have been. And this is the sort of story that will add weight to any lobbying campaigns going forward. The pounds and pence argument is always the most powerful. Finally, watch out next month for a new-look MI
Pro. We figured the magazine is due an overhaul and a bit of a spring clean. Hopefully, we will end up with a mag that is easier to read and easier on the eye. And, of course, although we’ve been planning it for
a while, and it is mostly a design change, as it coincides pretty much with my arrival as editor I am absolutely going to take full credit for everything. Ronnie Dungan
ronnie.dungan@intentmedia.co.uk
If more pubs, clubs and fetes can stage live music, then that can only be good for demand
EDITORIAL COMMENT
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miPRO JUNE 2011 3
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