News

Welcome to the August issue
Although we are still living in very strange times, congratulations are in order. Over the past few months of lockdown, by hook, crook, lashings of goodwill and sheer bloody determination, suppliers and producers of the equipment we feature have come through for us, often going the extra mile to track down kit that might, under normal circumstances, be readily to hand. Huge thanks for their endeavours.

Not to forget you, our readers who have continued to purchase the mag in encouraging numbers despite the absence of retail outlets at travel points and a nowhere-near fully functioning high street. Salutations to you too.

What’s been remarkable is the ingenuity shown under severe duress. Take Record Store Day. Created to support independent record retailers, this year’s April event had to be cancelled, just at the point when the shops it was created for needed it the most. Did they just give up on it? On the contrary – the organisers rallied the troops and bounced back with three special days, spread across August, September and October. You can read all about it on p82.

That’s the kind of positive action we’re seeing everywhere in our industry right now and this issue is proud to feature great new products from Chord Electronics, Astell&Kern, Copland, AKG, Vertere and Focal among many other companies who refused to let COVID-19 grind them down. Hats off to one and all!