SAN FRANCISCO: The 121^st AES Convention has announced an expanded list of retail, distributor and rep sponsors who will be promoting qualified end-user attendance to the prestigious Audio Engineering Society Convention, Oct. 5 – 8, 2006 at SF’s Moscone Center.

Last year’s record-breaking attendance at the 119^th Convention at NYC’s Javits Center was achieved with the help of a collaborative promotional campaign devised by five leading pro audio retailers promoting the show as “Official Retail Sponsors.” Geared towards building end-user attendance, the campaign proved an unqualified success.

AES executive director Roger Furness reports that five new participants, Leo’s Pro Audio, Cutting Edge Audio & Video Group and Audio Images, all of San Francisco, along with Musician’s Friend (OR) and distributor, Hermes-Music (TX) have joined returning Retail Sponsors: All Pro Sound, Dale Pro Audio, Full Compass, Guitar Center/GC Pro and Sweetwater Sound in the 2006 program. “We are particularly gratified at having doubled the number of Retail Sponsors for this year’s Convention,” Furness remarked. “End-user attendance growth is advantageous to all of our exhibitors. It also serves as a literal example of the expanding interest in professional audio.”

The unified promotional effort of these participants will incorporate their extensive mailing lists and a wide-range of related media including print, radio and on-line advertising tie-ins and special promotions. As a result, over 1.5 million customer impressions will help promote the 121^st AES Convention to professional recording, sound reinforcement and broadcast/video professionals, and next-generation professionals making their first visit to an AES Convention.

“The AES is the most respected and comprehensive venue for pro audio manufacturers to showcase important additions to their lines,” said Sweetwater Director of Business Development Adam Cohen. “The increased emphasis on the end-user market makes the convention all the more valuable for pro audio manufacturers to acquire direct feedback as to what their customers are looking for. Our continued participation as a Retail Sponsor in the 121st AES Convention is doubly important.  We are helping our customers gain access to the latest and greatest music technology while supporting a key industry event.”

“We are delighted to join the local community in promoting 121^st AES to our customers,” remarked Cutting Edge Audio & Video Group co-owner Tom Richardson. “The fact that the Convention is in our hometown makes it particularly meaningful to us. As long-time AES fans we are happy to do anything we can to promote the success of this critically important event. No other Convention in the U.S. is so ideally focused on our industry. The unified goal of driving more end-users to the site is to everyone’s benefit.”

Musician’s Friend Senior Vice President Gene Joly concurs: “As a Retail Sponsor representative for Guitar Center last year I was extremely impressed with the response from the marketplace. I strongly recommended participating in this year’s campaign when I moved to my new position. The AES is the most respected source of technical information for the professional audio industry. Musician’s Friend is a long-time AES supporter and we are very pleased to do whatever we can to expand attendance. The opportunity to demo the latest recording and sound technologies to larger groups our customers is an added plus."

“Full Compass has supported the AES for 29 years,” adds company VP Sales & Marketing Janine Masten. “Throughout that time we have maintained an early position in the introduction meaningful new technologies, particularly in the broadcast and studio markets. The AES remains a constant and invaluable resource in enabling us to preserve that all-important edge.”

Dale Pro Audio will be working to drive NY audio professionals out West this year. Commenting on the campaign, company General Manager Tim Finnegan said, "By reaching out to more end-users, the AES has launched a significant drive to increase awareness and attendance for this year’s convention in SF. We are excited to lend our support as an Official Retail Sponsor. We will bring the Convention to our customers’ attention and make sure they are aware of the opportunity not only for product demonstrations and first looks at interesting new gear, but for the equally important educational opportunities available to them this October.”

“By highlighting the Convention in their stores, catalogs, on-line presence and on-air radio advertising, these major retailers will dramatically raise AES awareness throughout their customer base,” said AES Business Development Consultant Marty Porter. “The 2005 AES Convention in NYC attracted a record 20,000+ attendance with half the number of retail and rep sponsors. “We are extremely optimistic about raising the bar once again with the 121^st Convention in San Francisco’s Moscone Center Oct. 5-8 2006.”

Wayne Dolnick, AES Business Consultant working in concert with Marty Porter emphasizes, “One of the messages to impress upon all pro audio manufacturers (exhibiting or not), is that the AES is a ‘Not-For-Profit’ whose primary goals are developing standards used in everyday life, and educating future generations in technology both soft and hard.. This can not be accomplished without the continued support of companies like these retailers and distributors.”