LAS VEGAS – In mid-July, Timeless Communications, the company behind FRONT of HOUSE and the Parnelli Awards, asked readers to nominate worthy candidates for this year’s Hometown Hero ballot. The nominations poured in July and August and formed the basis for the Hometown Hero ballots posted on fohonlone.com (for regional sound companies) and plsn.com (for regional lighting companies).
Each ballot had 36 production companies on it — six companies in six regions across North America. And for most of September (and a few days into October), FOH and PLSN readers voted on the top-performing sound and lighting company in five U.S. regions (with all of Canada as the sixth region).
On Oct. 8, we announce the regional North American winners: Northeast, Boulevard Carroll; Southeast, Music Matters Productions; Midwest, Mid-America Sound; Northwest, Point Source Inc.; Southwest, Brown Note Productions; and Canada, KiAN Sound.
Along with the truly significant achievement of garnering this kind of recognition from their peers, each of these six companies have earned a spot on the Parnelli Awards ballot as finalists for one of the most coveted Parnelli awards — the one for Hometown Hero Sound Company of the Year.
The ballot can be found at parnelliawards.com/vote. Voting is now underway and will continue until Dec. 13. The regional sound company with the most votes will be called up to the Parnelli Awards stage on Jan. 24, 2025 and be officially recognized as the best of the best in our industry. So let’s meet the contenders for this truly outstanding honor.
NORTHEAST
Boulevard Carroll Entertainment Group, New York, NY
The sound company once known as Boulevard Pro has actually been here before prior to its merger with Carroll Music in 2016. But this is the first time the newer incarnation of the company has made it here. When Anthony Cioffi received the official news asking for information, he called in immediately. “We don’t turn our phones off!” he said with a laugh. “You can get me 24/7, and I own the place!”
This year, they have been particularly busy doing major network broadcasting. With a location in New Jersey, it’s not surprising that they are especially proud of their work on behalf of The Bruce Springsteen Archives & Center for American Music’s American Music Honors awards ceremony, which takes place in April. They also continued to provide for the sound reinforcement needs of summer concert series, including the New Jersey PAC Sounds of the City in Newark, NJ; the Alive @ Five concert series in Stamford, CT [featured this month in FRONT of HOUSE’s Showtime section, this issue, on page 20]; and Seaside Heights Live in Seaside Heights, NJ. Live television work, meanwhile, included Saturday Night Live, Good Morning America, The Today Show, and more.
To keep up, Boulevard Carroll has invested in their growing L-Acoustics inventory, adding more K2, K3, A15 and KS21 enclosures along with Syva and LA-RAK II AVB components. “We’re a little over 400 boxes [in L-Acoustics] now, plus their racks,” Cioffi says. Other additions include DiGiCo’s 338 and 326 consoles, AVID S6L 32D desks and Yamaha Rivage PM5 and DM7 EX consoles. “More importantly, we have made the financial investment in people,” he adds. “The key to our success is our staff. They are the main reason for our growth.”
As it speaks of his gratitude for the recognition, Cioffi is quick to deflect the kudos to his associates. “It takes a long time to build a good staff, and that’s what we have now. They do the hard work, and at this point, it’s my job to give them the tools that they need to do the best work possible” for the company’s customers.
SOUTHEAST
Music Matters Productions, Atlanta, GA
Music Matters has had another good year. “We’ve had the honor of working on many unforgettable events, but a few really stand out,” reports Lindsay Schwartz, director of marketing. “Bruce Springsteen’s homecoming at Sea Hear Now in Asbury Park, New Jersey, was a legendary show on the beach. We’re also proud to have handled back-to-back sold-out weekends in Ocean City, Maryland, for Oceans Calling and Country Calling Festivals.” They also have partnered with ShowPro at Mercedes Benz Stadium for Sunbelt Rentals’ conference that was capped off with a Zac Brown Band concert which “was nothing short of epic.”
Along with growth in the number and size of the gigs they support, Music Matters Productions has been bolstering its inventory of audio gear, including the addition of a d&b audiotechnik GSL speaker system and several DiGiCo Quantum 338 consoles.
“We’ve seen incredible growth in the festival and esports spaces, and we’re now taking on larger corporate productions and venues,” Schwartz continues. “The future is looking bigger and brighter, and we’re all in. There are national and international sporting events that will call Atlanta home in the next three years, and we’re so excited to jump in on as many of those productions as possible.”
None of that growth could happen, of course, without an expert team of production pros. Schwartz credits the combination of Music Matters Productions’ 35 full-timers along with a valued network of assisting contractors. “This combination of talent and dedication makes MMP what it is.”
She continues: “We’re thrilled to receive this honor. It’s a testament to the hard work and passion our team puts in week after week. The Parnelli Awards are an incredible opportunity to connect with industry leaders and keep pushing to reach new heights every year.”
MIDWEST
Mid-America Sound, Greenfield IN
Mid-America Sound was founded over 30 years ago, and today, it is a large, full-service concert and event production company. This year they have been busy with many events and are especially proud of a gala staged in March by Damar Services, Inc., an organization that supports people with intellectual, developmental, and behavior disabilities, that featured Boyz II Men. “Also, every year we support many events at the Indiana University from the May Commencement Ceremonies to the recent dedication of the John Mellencamp at IU Bloomington,” says Jason Wells, President/CEO. As far as investing in future growth, he says that Quantum 225 and 338 consoles were added to their DiGiCo inventory, plus some DM7s to their Yamaha inventory. “We also increased our ever-expanding inventory of L-Acoustic speakers and controllers.”
This year has been a year of expansion for Mid-America. “A lot of people might not realize the depth of our company,” Wells says. “We are full sound, lighting, staging, LED displays, and more. We have been expanding into more corporate events and having a full production turnkey solution has been welcomed by our clients.” They have also been handling multiple venues in their area, making them busier than any year before. It’ll get busier, too: “There two new event centers and another mid-size venue in the plans for the area.” The team making it happen is 18 full timers strong, and they are looking to add more hands next year.
“We are very proud to have won this award. It confirms the hard work everyone has put in coming back from the pandemic. I am personally excited that our peers have noticed.”
NORTHWEST
Point Source Inc., Tacoma, WA
Since 1991, Point Source has provided audio, video, and lighting systems for live events, big and not-so-big. This was a year of expansion for them, starting with operations in Oregon and Washington. They brought on Portland-based Will Lewis, an industry veteran, who joined as GM. “Ilani Casino & Resort was added to the list of venues for which Point Source exclusively provides a Meyer Sound Panther/2100-LFC system,” says president/CEO Curt Hare, adding that the system is providing excellent sound for the 2,000 seat Cowlitz Ballroom at the Ridgefield, WA-based resort.
The list of notable events/productions include Hayden Homes, a new development in Bend, OR (32 shows this summer); Marymoor Park in Redmond, WA (20 shows this summer); a celebration of 25 years as the exclusive audio vendor at the Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP) in Seattle, which got its start in 2000 by Paul Allen, co-founder of Microsoft; and several large corporate events for Boeing’s Employees’ Credit Union, the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and Seattle Children’s Hospital.
“We’ve added a third Meyer Sound Panther 2100-LFC concert system, plus some Midas HD-96 consoles,” Hare says. “We’ve also deployed a second fully restored Gamble EX-56 to our concert production inventory to support the analog resurgence.” They have a crew of 12 full timers deftly handling it all.
“We appreciate the acknowledgement of our efforts to provide the Pacific Northwest the highest quality audio experience we possibly can,” he says. “We are proud of the Point Source crew for all of their exceptional work throughout our busy summer concert season and beyond — and we look forward to continuing to expand our marketplace, staff, and inventory in 2025.”
SOUTHWEST
Brown Note Productions, Thornton, CO
Brown Note went on the road as the audio vendor for tours with Nathaniel Rateliff as well as Deep Purple. They delivered 175 performances for Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, CO and also oversaw 360-degree sound for Illenium’s sold-out Trilogy shows at SoFi Stadium. Additionally, they supported Danny Wimmer Presents festivals across the U.S. including Bourbon and Beyond, Louder Than Life, and Aftershock. Their Integration department stayed busy as well with audio placed in permanent venues and performance spaces throughout the area.
Additions to inventory included DiGiCo Quantum 852 and 225 consoles, L-Acoustics loudspeakers and amplifiers, Yamaha DM7 and DM3 mixers, and d&b audiotechnik sound systems. Next Spring, Brown Note will open its new 120,000-square-foot facility. “With this strategic expansion, Brown Note will not only strengthen its capabilities for live events and touring but also provide clients and partners with unparalleled access to top-tier resources for rehearsals and production logistics,” says Anna Taylor, events & marketing manager. “This move signals an exciting new chapter for the company.” They need the extra space because they are now at over 100 employees.
“Brown Note Productions is deeply honored to have won in our region and to once again be nominated for the prestigious Parnelli Hometown Hero Sound Company of the Year Award,” she says. “This recognition means the world to us, and we are incredibly grateful for the continued trust and support of our clients, partners, and the live events community. With five previous Hometown Hero Award wins, this nomination reflects the dedication and passion our entire team brings to every project. Thank you to everyone who has supported us on this journey!”
CANADA
KiAN Sound, Richmond, BC
KiAN Sound, based in the Vancouver, BC area, has landed on this list multiple times over the last decade and a half and took home the Parnelli Award for Hometown Hero Company of the Year in 2013. Having recently celebrated a milestone 50 years in business, owners Mark Reimann and Derek Mahaffey say the key to their success is a small but well-oiled team that prioritizes client satisfaction above all else. Part of ensuring that client satisfaction is continued growth, including the current expansion of KiAN’s warehouse operations with a larger facility and larger team. The company will also be taking delivery of an L-Acoustics L-Series system early in 2025.
KiAN Sound’s client base includes national touring acts, arenas, large-scale festivals, corporate conventions, and televised events. In recent years, the company has provided audio production for the Canadian Football League’s BC Lions Home Opener, the Pacific National Exhibition’s Summer & Winter Concert Series, the Malkin Bowl Summer Concerts, Theatre Under the Stars, Vancouver Sun Run, Celebration of Light International Fireworks Competition, and FVDED in the Park. As local heroes are prone to do, they are also supporting good causes — in September, they were sponsors of the Canadian Cancer Society CIBC Run for the Cure.
“It’s always an honor just to be nominated for the Hometown Heroes award,” says Reimann. “We want to thank everyone at the Parnelli Awards and FRONT of HOUSE Magazine; but more importantly, we want to express our gratitude to our outstanding clients across Canada and internationally who are the reason we’ve been in business more than 50 years.”
KiAN Sound is part of the KiAN Group of Companies, which also includes Universal Show Services and Vancouver Backline Services.
