22live has announced a trans-Atlantic partnership with Spectrum Sound, based in Nashville, USA. The move follows months of collaboration on various projects. With more jobs in the pipeline, both parties have now formally announced their partnership, which enhances their d&b-focused services available to their respective clients.
Ken Porter, president and founder of Spectrum Sound, made an initial visit to 22live in early 2023 following an introduction to 22live’s commercial director, Alex Penn. The duo reportedly ended the visit with a mutual feeling of positivity in establishing a partnership. Ken commented, “It was clear to me that 22live and Spectrum Sound share similar values. Both companies are fiercely independent, are driven to deliver intelligent solutions, and are focused on d&b. We knew instantly that this was a great opportunity to collaborate, enhancing the experience for our customers using d&b on both sides of the pond.”
Soon after, Bobby George, Spectrum Sound’s director of business development, was introduced to 22live and travelled to the UK; and 22live’s hire director, Paul Timmins, travelled to Nashville to visit Spectrum’s warehouse. Timmins commented, “To me, the Spectrum shop felt like a home away from home. Everyone was happy, the kit looked great, and it was a good vibe. Exactly the type of place we like to work!”
22live has invested heavily in d&b audiotechnik systems since its launch. Thus, 22live has the capacity and capability to deliver the largest shows in the UK and Europe, utilising GSL, KSL and XSL systems. Spectrum Sound, along with 22live, are both users of DiGiCo, Yamaha Rivage, Allen & Heath and SSL Live consoles, as well as complimentary wireless packages.
Spectrum Sound is a long-established supporter of d&b. Spectrum holds substantial rental stock; spanning the whole of the d&b product range and including one of the largest global inventories of the SL-Series. George commented, “We have a strong d&b customer base in the United States, and it doesn’t always make sense for us to ship gear for shorter tours, especially when it comes to PA systems. We started to send a few of our jobs in 22live’s direction to see how they handled it. All our customers who were sent to 22live have had a great experience. We greatly appreciate the relationship with 22live and feel it is mutually beneficial as it ensures our customers feel the Spectrum love, even when they are in the UK and Europe.”
Spectrum Sound and 22live are teaming up to deliver a large trans-Atlantic tour in 2025. Spectrum Sound servicing the d&b element for the North American leg of the tour is further evidence that this partnership is already in full swing, with more to soon follow.
Spencer Beard, 22live managing director, commented, “We feel that the service we can provide between us is unrivalled. We are both small enough for every job to matter, and big enough to cover the 2 key markets of America and Europe to deliver audio systems to any scale of tour, utilising d&b as their FOH PA System. We are both experts within our respective territories, so we see this partnership as ensuring both 22live and Spectrum Sound are as relevant as any other rental company on a global scale.”
George concluded, “We see this as a long-term partnership where we each offer mutual support to protect the interests of our two companies, while better serving our clients’ needs. Our partnership gives our clients the option for us to support them in North America, the UK and Europe. We are still independent businesses, but through our partnership, Spectrum can now react more flexibly to our clients’ needs for global support. Spectrum can also ensure we have a local presence for all tours that work with us across the Atlantic.”