Business, legal, and market trend features from across the professional audio market.

Adele’s phenomenal global success capped a terrific 2011 for UK music group Beggars. Now, MD Martin Mills is set for recognition of his own as he prepares to receive the 2012 MPG Outstanding Contribution to UK Music Award, writes David Davies.

From software innovation to the unique characteristics of the Belgian market: PSNE proffers 20 facts about APEX Audio as the manufacturer/distributor celebrates 20 years of business.

While it heralds new commercial challenges, the convergence of transport and control protocols heralded by the efforts of groups including AVnu Alliance and Open Control Architecture (OCA) Alliance may free up manufacturers to focus anew on product features, writes David Davies.

Power amplifier manufacturers are using new energy-saving techniques to make their products more efficient, environmentally friendly and easier to transport. Simon Duff looks at some of the trends and manufacturers that are making a difference.

From a family steeped in recording, UK-born Chris Madden is now one of the most in-demand FOH engineers on the global circuit – and part of the 'Avid Family' of users who advise on software, training and recording shows directly to Pro Tools.

“Individually, we are one drop. Together, we are an ocean,” opined Ryunosuke Satoro. It's probable that the late Japanese poet didn't have professional audio in the forefront of his thoughts when he made that observation, but the sentiment still resonates as a number of manufacturers seek out collaborators who can help them to make waves around the world.

Hugo Nicolson's 20-year music career has been extraordinary. He's toured with Primal Scream - whose album Screamadelica he also co-produced - and his engineering and producing skills have landed him a prestigious Grammy Award.

A year ago we were faced with a flood of compact models at Prolight + Sound, prompting PSNE to ask just how small 'small footprint' digital consoles could get. This spring, on the other hand, we were faced with a flood of compact models proving French writer Jean-Baptiste 'plus ça change' Karr exactly right.

Pro-audio products are often intended to suit multiple market segments, but what are the implications for a business when lift-off is achieved in a less-than-premeditated way?

Wet Sounds brought performance art to London’s York Hall Swimming Pool during a tour of selected swimming facilities earlier this year. Simon Duff took the plunge (but spared us the pictures of him in his Speedos).

The first UK outside broadcast truck fitted with a Lawo digital console went into operation at the end of March and will be among production facilities for television coverage of the Royal Wedding on 29 April, writes Kevin Hilton. The vehicle, OB14, has already been used for a three-week stint on BBC programme Lambing Live.

The Music Producers Guild’s Mark Rose (pictured) has called for unilateral action to resolve difficulties surrounding the implementation of the UK Digital Economy Act (DEA), which is currently the subject of a partial judicial review in the High Court, writes David Davies.

The BAFTA headquarters in Piccadilly, London opened its doors at the start of February to members of the audio community as the venue for the 41st AES International Conference, which this year focused once again on the audio for games industry, writes Mike Hillier.

Not many people can claim to have played in front of 2.5 million people. Frederick Rousseau can. He was up on stage with Jean Michel Jarre at the Paris La Defense concert in 1990 – at the time, the biggest gig in the world. Twenty-one years on, he's a key player at audio/music research institute IRCAM, writes Dave Robinson.

Not many people can claim to have played in front of 2.5 million people, writes Dave Robinson. Frederick Rousseau can. He was up on stage with Jean Michel Jarre at the Paris La Defense concert in 1990 – at the time, the biggest gig in the world.