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Gibson to Turn New Leaf
Gibson Brands Inc. plans to take a new approach regarding brand protection. “Recently, there has been a wide spectrum of both support and criticism with the approach that has been taken by Gibson in the market regarding brand protection. While there are clear lessons to be learned around tone and legal explanations, the past few weeks have provided a ‘real-time’ opportunity for Gibson to start making the pivot from less legal leverage to more industry collaboration, with appropriate levels of awareness,” the company stated in a news release. “Since emerging from bankruptcy less than a year ago, Gibson has made significant progress in the key areas that matter most to guitarists around the world. With a clear focus on quality, a new collection of original and modern guitars, and a more confident dealer and artist base, the new team at Gibson have proven they can listen to the market to create new solutions. But there is still more work to be done, and the new team at Gibson remains on a mission.” Added Gibson, “While new management is building on the legacy, quality and craftsmanship that guitarists have come to love and expect from Gibson, they will also continue to manage and attempt
Nady Systems Acquired by Chicago Company
Nady Systems has been acquired by PromarkBRANDS, a Chicago-based company that manufactures, distributes and markets several lines of photographic/audiovisual equipment. Going forward, Nady will be a division of Promark. The addition of Nady’s long-established, innovative line of wireless/ pro audio gear will complement Promark’s current lineup and expand its reach into this new market. According to Nady, the impetus for the sale of its company at this time is John Nady’s decision to retire after 43 years as president and CEO of the company. His development of modern-day analog wireless microphone technology earned him an Emmy Award in 1996 and changed the face of live performance worldwide. Throughout his career, Nady has been devoted to manufacturing and marketing a broad range of innovative audio products that includes virtually every piece of gear used onstage and in the studio. His patented wireless technology, still in use today, is acknowledged as an industry standard. “I began working on wireless in 1968 as a young electronics engineer/rock guitarist just out of school,” said Nady. “Nady Systems has been my life’s work, and extremely gratifying on many levels. We’ve always done our best to provide the MI/pro-audio industry with top-notch gear at affordable pricing, and it’s been a privilege to have served our millions of customers throughout the world. As I retire from Nady, I want to express my deepest gratitude to all of those who have enabled us to achieve such great success. The countless players, touring artists, peripheral industries, and of course, our loyal and devoted staff. We know Nady will be in good hands with PromarkBRANDS, and we look for ward to their continuing the legacy in the years to come.” Nady Systems will maintain an office in Richmond, Calif., working in conjunction with its new Chicago-area offices. Until further notice, Nady can still be contacted in California. MUSIC & SOUND RETAILER
to resolve the conflicts of the past. With regards to other guitar brands and companies in the marketplace, Gibson has filed specific lawsuits over the past several years with the intention of protecting its original trademark(s) rights and to avoid consumer confusion in the market,” noted the guitar manufacturer. “All of the recent attention on the few lawsuits in process stem from several years of legal action initiated well before the new leadership arrived in November 2018. With specific regards to the inherited and ongoing legal dynamic with Dean Guitars, the new Gibson team has made several attempts to communicate with them directly to avoid a prolonged legal battle. Gibson has genuine intentions of constructive resolution that could be beneficial to both sides. This recent situation has led the team to re-evaluate their approach going forward with the intention of finding more constructive solutions to managing brand protection in the industry. Over the past few weeks, Gibson has made significant progress in reducing counterfeit ‘attacks,’ and they have entered into creative collaboration agreements with key boutique guitar makers and other related industry parties — a clear indication of their intentions going forward.” “I am proud of the progress we have made with our attention to quality, with the launch of the new collections and with our renewed engagement to our Gibson-authorized dealer base,” said James ‘JC’ Curleigh, president and CEO of Gibson. “At the same time, we acknowledge there are still legacy challenges to solve going forward, especially around brand protection and market solutions. It is time to make the modern-day shift from confrontation toward collaboration, while still protecting our brands, and we are committed to making this happen starting now.”
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