Sunday, June 6, 2010

Make a comment on the Jands and Johnston merger

Australasia’s leading touring audio suppliers; Jands Production Services Pty Limited (JPS) and Johnston Audio Services (JAS) have entered into a head of agreement to merge the two companies. The heads of agreement is subject to undertaking of due diligence which is expected to be completed by the end of June.

Both companies have long histories in the touring sound market and over the past four decades have supplied production services to nearly every major tour and music event in Australia and New Zealand.

Eric Robinson, CEO of JPS, commented, “In our discussions it has become clear that we’re both facing the same challenges on large tours and music events. Our clients are looking to us for increased efficiencies and jointly we’ll be able to respond in a way that reduces costs, expands our equipment offering, and solves logistical problems. Potentially it brings major benefits to promoters and touring artists”.

The companies will continue to operate from their existing premises in Sydney and Melbourne and both expect to benefit by having access to a larger pool of equipment and expertise. The merged group expects to use the synergies of working together to deliver outstanding service for their clients.

Commenting on the move JAS managing director Bruce Johnston stated, “I am excited about the new equipment and services we’ll be able to bring to our customers. The combination of JAS and JPS will create one of the best audio companies in the world, providing real benefits to Australian and international artists".

The merger of the two companies will increase the level of support and service available to JPS and JAS clients and reinforces the group’s ongoing commitment to meeting the challenges of the modern touring market. Together the companies intend to remain at the forefront of technology, clearly demonstrated by the recent introduction of new speaker systems and significant investment in control and amplification packages.

Jands Production Services was founded in 1970 and operates in the theatre, corporate and touring audio markets.

Johnston Audio Services commenced operation in 1985 and provides audio for tours festival and fixed installations.

You can make an anonymnous comment!!!

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

I think it will be a disaster....
JANDS have such an attitude and will definitely not work well with Johnstons who are friendlier!!

Anonymous said...

I know for a fact I would never work for JANDS...

Anonymous said...

WTF??? Who sold who down the river!!!

Anonymous said...

MONOPOLY MONOPOLY MONOPOLY equals $$$$

Anonymous said...

Regardless of whether it works or not, it should be of concern to all that it's even been considered as it highlights how challenging this industry has become. Look around people. The number of players are dwindling. The costs keep increasing and promotors keep playing/screwing suppliers. Either prices must go up, or PM's must get realisic about what they 'need' to do a show. The 'arms' race must stop.

Anonymous said...

I work for JPS and it will be interesting to see how the the companies, previously locked in competition, will fare working together.
I myself am looking forward to it...
I would say that JPS will eventually takeover johnston audio because that it what we do.... dominate!!

Anonymous said...

'Price fixing with competitors created a greater incentive for companies to unite and merge under one name so that they were not competitors anymore and technically not price fixing.' WIKI entry. Mergers and Acquisitions.
You should read it!!!

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mergers_and_acquisitions

Anonymous said...

As someone who has worked for JPS in recent years, I am interested by the continuing perception that Jands has some kind of attitude problem. I believe this used to be the case back in the 'good ol' days' when the the drugs were flowing as fast as the gear was being trucked around the country. However since selling off the lighting department they downsized quite substantially. The fulltime staff is a shadow of it's former self and the attitude of being the all powerful super production warehouse had to be adjusted.
They say that a company's attitude comes from the top down and anyone who has worked there can soon tell you that Eric takes no prisoners. But an attitude has to be sustained by the rest of the staff as well. After spending some time within the company, what I learnt is that in the last 10 years there's been quite a large staff turnover. The JPS 'oldschool' is more or less on it's last legs and the 'newschool' is slowly making it's mark. If you've worked on a JPS gig recently you'll probably notice that the crewing is usually made up of one or two older guys with countless decades of experience a the top, a bunch of 25-30 something contractors and some younger trainees. So out of a crew of 8, maybe 2 will have come from the 'good ol' days' while the rest will either be unaffiliated contractors or trainees who are learning on the job.
On that note, what other production hire company in Australia has such a large trainee program? Sure you can be cynical and say that they only have the program so they have a endless supply of cheap crew. But at the same time I would love to know to career success rate of those going through a JPS traineeship vs those paying a fortune to attend Mr Grafton's college or JMC. They took on 11 trainees in Sydney last year and rumour has it they will be starting a similar program at Johnstons in Melbourne. These kids aren't just learning on the job but also get proper classroom teaching from some of the best practicing engineers in the country and they're being paid to do it.
Anyway, I hope it doesn't sound like I'm too pro-JPS. I promise you I am not someone from the office trying to make excuses for the company. I'm just an outsider who's made my own observations over the years.

Anonymous said...

I have worked on gigs with the guys from both companies and find the johnston boys easier to work with and much cleaner when it comes to drink and drugs.Clearly JANDS have a lucid policy on the use of drugs and alcohol at work!!