Ye Olde Editor: a portrait (Photograph by John Robinson)
Last week PF published an "Open Letter to Joel Davis of JD Events/AXPONA 2020" in our Industry News section. It included some 20 supporting signatures from those protesting JD Events' unwillingness to give exhibitors either the option of cancelling their reservation and receiving a full refund, or of a partial refund and a roll-ahead of the balance for AXPONA 2021. Given the current pandemic, and the unlikelihood of AXPONA 2020 being a meaningful show under the current circumstances, this was viewed by very many in the industry as a foolish and heavy-handed response on the part of JD Events. This is especially since so many companies need those funds to help offset their losses of business during these very troubled times.
We thought that the approach used for the cancellation of Munich 2020, and the stance that Marjorie Baumert has taken with respect to RMAF 2020…both either providing or promising to provide full refunds in the case of show cancellation due to the pandemic…was the only wise and humane position to take.
But this is apparently either unpalatable, or possibly impossible, for JD Events and AXPONA. Perhaps they have already paid the Schaumburg and associated hotels for the event, and have no recourse that they have been able to find yet. That would be a nightmare scenario. Only the complete cessation of the pandemic and a return to fully normal business could possibly retrieve that situation, and I don't know anyone who thinks this to be very likely at all.
Even if this is so, however, and if it means that JD Events proposes to balance the loss of the show on the backs of exhibitors…either show up or forfeit your pre-paid payment…then we'll be seeing a slow-motion train wreck in 4K high-definition. The consequences for the future of AXPONA as an audio show, heretofore the biggest audiophile event in the USA, would be horrific. I leave it to your fertile imaginations to speculate on what a major exhibitor boycott of AXPONA next year would produce.
"No more AXPONA," I would say…and that's a pretty safe bet.
(Drawing by Dan Zimmerman)
Regardless, the ongoing contretemps between exhibitors and JD Events, and the self-evident inadvisability of a major audio show occurring in Chicago during the pandemic in early August of 2020, led Positive Feedback to issue its unprecedented statement of non-coverage for AXPONA 2020. We also included THE Show Long Beach 2020, since that event obviously could not go forward in the first week of June. (Since then, THE Show has announced that it will be changing the date of that show, but I haven't seen any specific new date announced yet.)
As a follow-up to our recently published statement about refusing to cover AXPONA 2020 and THE Show 2020 during the current pandemic, and the initial list of exhibitors who have announced their demand for the option of a full refund for that event, I've received an update from Luke Manley of VTL. The list of supporters for the open letter is now up over 80.
And it's a helluva list of names.
To bring our readers up to date, I've re-published the text of the original open letter, together with the updated list of supporters below.
As we receive updates to this list, I'll be sharing them with you here.
We'll keep you posted.
Quoted text follows:
Dear Joel,
Hi-Fi Shows have long been an important and familiar part of the audio landscape, as important to manufacturers and magazines as they are to consumers. But the shadow of the Covid-19 pandemic has clearly altered that landscape out of all recognition.
Large segments of the US (and World) population are enduring limitations on travel and social interaction. Governments and city administrations are banning audiences from sports and cultural events, with many major festivals and conferences that were scheduled between now and the end of the year already choosing to cancel. Public willingness to travel or attend live events is dramatically reduced, and the health risks of doing so are well documented.
Unfortunately the conclusion is as inescapable as it is serious. With no widespread testing or vaccine in sight, there will be no quick return to normal. According to economics experts, the economy is nowhere near re- opening, and we are all looking down the gun barrel of a recession.
The postponement of AXPONA from April to August this year partially recognizes this reality, but we do not believe it truly reflects the gravity of the situation faced by your exhibitors. Any suggestion that the industry want and broadly support the idea of a show in August is also wide of the mark.
Far from supporting your exhibitors, clinging to the prospect of holding AXPONA in August is actually making their situation worse. Facing the almost total loss of at least three-months' revenue, the resultant drain on available cash and the additional costs of re-starting supply and production, many companies are facing a critical cash-flow crisis.
Even once business re-starts, consumer confidence is likely to be cripplingly low, directly impacting revenue for the rest of the year. The risks of social interaction and communication, as well as the substantial additional costs, make attending any show in an effort to stimulate sales a very real threat to both exhibitor and business health.
Visitors (and please remember that many audiophiles are in the most vulnerable demographic groups) will have similar health concerns, especially as regards the risks of travelling to and attending such an event, with the small rooms and crowded nature. Press will be similarly inhibited, and the prospects of a positive visitor experience, decent levels of attendance, or coverage are clearly minimal.
The whole world is facing a health and economic crisis – and the audio industry is no different. Supporting the industry that AXPONA serves means helping hard-pressed companies by cancelling the show and releasing the money they paid in advance for an event that will not now happen.
Under the circumstances we feel that it is no longer reasonable or responsible for JD Events to try to use the promise of a postponed AXPONA show to withhold exhibitors' (in many cases desperately needed) funds, and we urge you to follow the lead of other events and announce the cancellation of the show immediately.
Even if you do not cancel, the fact that you simply cannot deliver the show as originally sold (in terms of attendance or coverage) means that all exhibitors should be offered the option of withdrawal and an immediate refund.
We are confident that this would be as widely welcomed as it would be appreciated, a genuinely positive step towards preserving your exhibitors and the possibility of next year's event.
Yours Sincerely,
[Current list as of 4/26/2020 of signatories to Open Letter to Joel Davis (original signatories in bold):]
Jim White, Aesthetix
Daniele Coen and Paola Arduini, Alsyvox Audio
Peter Wellikoff, Andover Audio
Cristian Anelli, Aqua Hi Fi
Ralph Karsten, Atmasphere
Mark Cohen, Audeze
Frank Van Alstine, Audio by Van Alstine
Dave Gordon, Audio Research
William E. Low, The Quest Group (dba AudioQuest and Golden Ear)
Ron Hoering, Auranas
John-Paul Lizars, Aurender USA
Conrad Mas, Avid
Jolanta Conti, Basis Audio
Zoltan Bay, Bays Audio
Bob Visintainer, Rhapsody Audio
Elliot Goldman, Bending Wave USA
Kurt Denke, Blue Jeans Cable
Jay Rein, BlueBird Music
Florian Cossy, CH Precision
Rob Robinson, Channel D
Irv Gross, Constellation Audio
Lou Hinkley, Daedalus
Andy Regan, Dan Clark Audio
Vinh Vu, Ginko Audio
David Kasab, David Michael Audio
Greg Hovsepian, DH Labs
Don Better, Don Better Audio
Scot Markwell, Elite AV Distribution
Jacky Dai, ESD Acoustic
Jean-Pascal Panchard, Stenheim
Sandy Gross, Golden Ear
Sebastian Schmidt, Goya Acoustics
Alvin Lloyd, Grand Prix Audio
Chris Sommovigo, High Fidelity
Paul Manos, High Fidelity Services
Amelia Santos, Nuno Vitorino, Innuos
Jeff Rowland, Jeff Rowland Design Group
George Vatchnadze, Kyomi Audio
Brian Tucker, Lateral Audio Stands
Adam Johnson, Brian Kane, Madisound
Peter Mackay, Magico
EveAnna Manley, Manley Labs
Jeremy Bryan, MBL North America
Mike McGary, McGary Audio
Merrill Wettasinghe, Merrill Audio
Dan Wright, Modwright
Drew Baird, Moon Audio
Leland Leard, Music Hall
Carl and Marilyn Marchisotto, Nola
Dave Cope, Old Forge Marketing
Philip O'Hanlon, On A Higher Note
Ulrik Madsen, Organic Audio
Andreas Koch, Playback Designs
Steven Norber, PranaFidelity
Paul McGowan, PS Audio
Ze'ev Schlik, Pure Audio Project
John Stratton, Pure Fidelity
Dave Thomson, Raven Audio
Roger Gibboni, Rogers High Fidelity
Chris Seymour, Seymor Screen Excellence
Caelin Gabriel, Grant Samuelsen, Shunyata Research
Donna Bodinet, Christan Griego, Sota Turntables
Mark Gurvey, Source Systems
Clayton Shaw, Spacial Audio Lab
Charlie Schnyder, Stereo Haven
Paul Wakeen, Stillpoints
Ron Sutherland, Sutherland Engineering
Tony Crocker, Swan Song Audio
Dan Eakins, SweetVinyl
Stephen Daniels, The Sound Organization
Konnie Chuang, Tien Audio
Jim Leveille, Tri-Art Audio
Francisco Jileta, Eliseo Vega, Troy Audio
Kevin Deal, Upscale Audio
Richard Vandersteen, Vandersteen Audio
Njoo Hoo Kong, Venture BVBA
Todd Sutherland, Vivid Audio
Ray Leung, Von Gaylord Audio
Inès Adler, VOXATIV
Mat Weisfeld, VPI Industries
Luke Manley, Bea Lam, VTL
Daniel Weiss, Weiss Engineering Ltd
Jeff Wells, Wells Audio
Lily Luo, XLO International
David Komatz, Dick Diamond, Kerry St James, YG Acoustics
