Prolight + Sound Guangzhou has announced a new record of 1,353 exhibitors for the 2019 iteration of the exhibition. Participants came from 25 countries and regions, along with 81,154 professional visitors, an increase of 7% from previous exhibitions. Combined with an overall exhibition area of over 130,000 square metres, Prolight + Sound Guangzhou 2019 was the largest version of the show to date.
The organisers attributed this year’s event’s popularity to extensive cooperation with local and overseas industry associations, leading companies and professional media. Each contributed by inviting a number of buyer groups and organising well-attended fringe events. A total of 11 domestic and international visitor groups attended the fair.
Judy Cheung, deputy general manager of Messe Frankfurt, said: “PLSG is committed to supporting the industry’s development by offering a first-class business and information exchange platform for the entertainment sector. We wanted our exhibitor showcase and fringe events to cover every corner of the industry’s needs, and to echo the growing trends in media technologies and system integration. We’re proud to be able to capture so many opportunities all under one roof.”
The success of the fair and its increased global brand representation were clearly reflected on the show floor. The event served as an opportunity for brands to showcase their latest innovations to the region for the first time in 2019, many of which have been specifically catered to the Chinese market. The show’s display areas were presented under a new arrangement this year too, with the ‘Media Systems and Solutions’ and ‘Communication and Conference’ halls under the show’s Audio Brand Name halls receiving high praise.
In terms of the PLSG fringe programme this year, both attendees and speakers emphasised how each event offered valuable information exchange, networking and educational and training opportunities which added an extra dimension to the show’s offerings. Digital audio networks in particular were heavily discussed, including through a sold-out panel discussion on AVIT and how artificial intelligence (AI) solutions can influence the market, as well as the returning Dante Certification courses.
Meanwhile, the first interactive multimedia display in PLSG, the Lighting and Art Space, was extremely well attended with lots of professional visitors and industry new force across the entertainment, media creative and stage design sectors. The area was established to showcase new media technologies associated with 3D mapping, stage machinery, lighting installation, new media art, stage tech innovations and more.