New York, NY. The third World Media Expo next month in Los Angeles is expected to be the last, according to sources connected with the event. The two key sponsors have been unable to resolve differences over the management and direction of the show, and plan to hold separate events beginning next year.

The Radio-Television News Directors Association and the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) Radio Show joined forces in 1994 with the aim of creating a bigger show that could lure larger exhibitors. While that goal was largely accomplished, NAB was apparently unhappy with the revenue distribution arrangement. NAB’s radio members also complained about sharing their show with other groups.

A formal announcement regarding the dissolution of the partnering agreement is expected before the beginning of World Media Expo on Oct. 9. Other organizations involved in staging the fall show are the Society of Broadcast Engineers, and the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers.

New York, NY. The hot place to be this week for audio professionals involved with interactive media, including the world-wide web, CD-ROM, and DVD, is IMA Expo’96 in New York City.

IMA Expo’96 is the annual industry event sponsored by the Interactive Multimedia Association. This year’s event is held at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center (655 West 34th Street). IMA is touting New York and its “Silicon Alley” as the emerging centre of the multimedia universe.

Expo’96 begins today with a series of pre-conference workshop sessions. The regular show begins tomorrow (Sept.17) and runs through Thursday (Sept.19), with three parallel tracks concentrating on Business, Design, and Technology.

The overwhelming emphasis of the show is the web, and everything related to making content for the web. The secondary focus is the new DVD format (including DVD-Video, DVD-ROM and DVD-Audio), including the “DVD World Summit” session on Thursday (Sept.19).

There is an increased interest in audio technology at this year’s IMA Expo, probably because audio has taken a leading role in enabling true multimedia on the web. Audio also owns a large stake in DVD technology.

Audio manufacturers and organizations exhibiting at IMA Expo’96 include Dolby Labs, Imation, Kurzweil Technology Group, NAB, SMPTE, Sonic Foundry, Inc., and Sonic Solutions.

The audio highlight today is an extended workshop looking at the major platforms for interactive audio, including Intel-standard PC’s, Macintosh, Sega Saturn, Sony Playstation, and the Internet. The session is moderated by Tom White, President and CEO of the MIDI Manufacturers’ Association, and features panelist Martin Wilde of Viacom New Media. The workshop runs from 1:00pm – 5:00pm (Monday September 16).

Tomorrow, the main audio event looks like the “New Technologies For Interactive Audio” session, moderated by Mark Miller of Crystal Dynamics. Panelists include Tom White of the MIDI Manufacturers Association, Dale Gulick from Advanced Micro Devices, Josh Rosen, Director for Audio Development at Macromedia, Inc., Toder Fay of Microsoft, and Michael D’Amore from Yamaha. They will present an overview of the state of the art and industry in 3D audio, downloadable samples, MIDI and audio in the year 2001. 1:00pm – 2:30pm (Tuesday Sept.17).

On Wednesday, aesthetic and creative issues surrounding the use of audio and soundtrack in interactive media will be the subject in a session called “Audio For Interactive Media: What’s The Difference?” Starting with a broad overview of interactive vs. linear audio, the panel will look at current technology limitations, the role of music in interactive applications, and how to make music work in interactive settings. Moderator is Dominic Milano, Editor of InterActivity and Keyboard Magazines, with panelists James Grunke, Director of Audio for On-Live Technology, Ken Ritvo of Pixound Technology Partners, and independent sound designer Dave Javelosa. 1:00pm – 2:30pm (Wednesday Sept.18).

In addition to the DVD World Summit, which is sure to be of broad interest to the audio community, Thursday brings a session dealing with streaming audio and video on the Internet and the web. Panel experts will separate the hype from reality and explain what is viable today, technically, creatively and from a global market perspective. The panel includes Sandra Morris from Intel, Marcos Sanchez, Shockwave Product Manager at Macromedia, Byron Wagner, CEO of Metawire, Giovanni Mezgec of Microsoft and Mark Dunsmuir of Progressive Networks. 10:30am – 12:00pm (Thursday Sept.19).

Nashville, TN. Bill Monroe, bluegrass trend-setter and star of Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry for more than half a century died yesterday at Northcrest Home and Hospice Center in Springfield. He was 84 years old. Monroe had suffered a stroke earlier this year, said Tony Conway, his booking agent.

Monroe was a regular at the Opry starting in 1939. He recorded and broadcast constantly throughout his career, except for the war years 1941 – 1945. He recorded for RCA Victor, Columbia, and Decca/MCA. He sold more than 50 million records and remained active well until a couple of years ago.

His innovative emotional singing style and hot mandolin work inspired generations of musicians, including 1950’s rockers like Elvis Presley, folk revivalists of the 1960’s, and country stars of the current generation like Ricky Skaggs. In the mid and late 1940’s, his band the Blue Grass Boys featured Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs, who went on to become influential bluegrass stars in their own right.

Monroe received the National Medal of the Arts from U.S. President Bill Clinton in 1995.

Los Angeles, CA. A celebrity panel will offer a symposium on the GRAMMY Awards process tomorrow (Sept.10) in Los Angeles. The symposium is presented by the Los Angeles Chapter of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, as part of its annual membership meeting.

“The GRAMMY: From entry form to acceptance speech,” takes place 7:00pm on Tuesday at A&M’s Chaplin Soundstage at 1416 N. La Brea in Los Angeles. Admission is free to all NARAS members and $5.00 for all non-members.

The panel will discuss the GRAMMY process, who is eligible, who votes and what effect winning a GRAMMY can have on a career. It will be moderated by Greg Knowles, NARAS LA Chapter President and a producer of books on tape for RandomHouse, Vintage and his own label, Helion Audio Books.

Panelists include . . .

• Don Was, GRAMMY Winner/Album of the Year for “Nick of Time” (Bonnie Raitt) and producer of artists such as The Rolling Stones, Iggy Pop, Bob Dylan and Elton John.
• Brian Avnet, President of 143 Records and former manager of artists such as Bette Midler, Roseanne Cash, Take 6, Cyndi Lauper, and currently working with David Foster
• Michael Greene, President/CEO of NARAS
• Eddie Lambert, National Vice Chairman of NARAS, currently Director of Music Licensing, Film & Television at EMI-Capitol Music
• Diane Theriot, Vice President of Awards of NARAS
• Al Schlesinger, Trustee of NARAS and music business attorney

Dallas, TX. The Dallas Convention Center is the place to be this weekend for manufacturers and contractors involved in the booming home theatre and custom audio installation market.

The Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association’s (CEDIA) annual industry show Expo’96 went into high gear today, with a keynote address by Gregory Riker, Director of Microsoft’s Advanced Consumer Technology Group.

Riker painted a picture of the coming era of residential technologies, with special emphasis on interactive TV and audio applications, mid and broadband communications, and personalized entertainment. He wowed a packed room of more than 800 CEDIA members with demos of audio on demand, and integration of Internet web technology with home electronic systems.

A highlight on Saturday will be the presentation of CEDIA’s Electronic Lifestyles Awards: the Lifetime Achievement award, and category awards including Best Dedicated Home Theater, Best Multi-Purpose Media Room, Dealer of the Year, Best New Product, and Best Product Design.

Expo ’96 began on Wednesday with two days of educational programming for industry professionals, including seminars on subjects ranging from sales techniques to technical skills upgrading and systems integration. The show proper opened today with a full slate of activity, including a large exhibit floor, and an extensive program of manufacturer product training seminars.

The exhibit floor features displays by more than 250 manufacturers and service providers, including most of the leading names in consumer audio, as well as smaller niche-market manufacturers with products targeted to the high-end home theatre and stereo market.

Many of the 7,000 attendees go to CEDIA Expo for the manufacturer product training seminars. These provide up-to-the-minute information for professionals in the custom electronics installation and contracting business, from companies such as Audioaccess (intelligent multi-zone, multi-source audio systems), Monster Cable (wiring the perfect home theatre), Citation (intro to multi-channel audio systems), and JBL Synthesis (synthesis system design and calibration with AC-3 and digital EQ).

Expo ’96 continues at the Dallas Convention Centre until 4:00pm Sunday.