Simply in from RED…
Microphones LLC has as we speak introduced the acquisition of iconic American professional audio chief Mackie. The acquisition represents a brand new chapter within the evolution of RØDE and establishes The Freedman Group – dad or mum firm of RØDE – as probably the most well-rounded professional audio corporations on the earth, with an enviable catalogue of merchandise spanning a variety of audio options for content material creation, dwelling and studio recording, broadcast, and reside sound manufacturing.
“I’m completely thrilled to welcome Mackie to The Freedman Group’s roster of iconic audio manufacturers,” says Founder and Chairman Peter Freedman AM. “They’re true legends, with a pedigree of reside sound experience that’s merely unmatched. At this time, RØDE and Mackie are each leaders in audio, and we share the identical ardour for creating progressive, high-quality merchandise with a robust buyer focus. With this acquisition, The Freedman Group is now a premier audio expertise firm providing world-class merchandise to a good wider vary of shoppers, from up-and-coming content material creators to professionals working in reside manufacturing and everybody in-between.”
Since 1989, Mackie has been a number one designer and producer of professional audio merchandise, together with mixers and loudspeakers for dwelling, studio and stage use. An integral participant within the dwelling recording revolution within the Nineties, Mackie shortly made a reputation for itself as a extremely progressive model with a concentrate on ‘built-like-a-tank’ high quality and affordability. Groundbreaking merchandise just like the 1602 and D8B mixers and SRM450 loudspeaker have been immediate classics and, mixed with a singular strategy to advertising, established Mackie as a go-to model within the recording and reside sound industries – a standing they uphold as we speak with main merchandise just like the ProFX sequence of compact mixers, the Thump sequence of powered loudspeakers, and the favored CR sequence of desktop manufacturing screens.
“Mackie is without doubt one of the nice success tales in professional audio and I’ve admired them for a very long time,” says Mr Freedman. “My background is in reside sound manufacturing. It is one thing I’ve at all times been keen about, ever since I noticed Tom Jones on the Chevron Lodge in Sydney as a child again in ’69 – my father Henry put in the sound system there, in addition to many different venues throughout town. Reside sound is the place I reduce my enamel in audio, so this very a lot seems like that a part of my profession coming full circle.”
He continues: “Having met Greg Mackie earlier than I even began RØDE, I discovered his ardour for audio and strategy to enterprise inspiring. Their origin story is uncannily just like ours. Each manufacturers helped gasoline the democratisation of DIY recording in their very own means, Mackie with their mixers and audio system and RØDE with our microphones. We shared an analogous path and as we speak each manufacturers are leaders in what we do, so I’m extremely excited to convey these two audio icons collectively.”
Talking in regards to the acquisition, Alex Nelson, CEO of Mackie says: “The complete Mackie crew is worked up to be becoming a member of forces with Peter, Damien and their unbelievable crew. Having labored within the audio trade for a few years, I’ve at all times held RØDE in excessive esteem. Their manufacturing functionality and expertise management is second-to-none in professional audio and I believe they’re the right companion to assist Mackie increase as we enter an thrilling new chapter in our historical past. Additionally, the timing couldn’t be higher. We have now an unbelievable product roadmap forward of us, which we’ll be making some huge bulletins for main as much as NAMM ’24. That is an especially thrilling time for Mackie, and we could not be happier doing all of this alongside the RØDE crew.”
Greg Mackie, founding father of Mackie and audio trade legend, shares an analogous sentiment, saying: “I am unable to consider a greater firm for Mackie to be related to than RØDE”.
“RØDE and Mackie are extremely harmonious manufacturers,” says Freedman Group CEO Damien Wilson. “This acquisition diversifies our product providing in a really complementary means. We now provide end-to-end audio options for everybody from musicians organising a house studio to skilled reside sound engineers. While Mackie’s model, manufacturing and operations will stay unchanged, there are unbelievable alternatives to mix the complementary IP, infrastructure and assets of each manufacturers in highly effective methods. I’m very excited in regards to the potential this provides RØDE and Mackie.”
Commenting for RØDE Microphones LLC, Joe Hockey says: “This acquisition provides highly effective development alternatives for RØDE and is a big milestone of their international enlargement. It’s thrilling to see RØDE proceed to put money into their future, and I’m trying ahead seeing the continued success of those two legendary manufacturers.”
Authorized counsel for RØDE was offered by Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom and Gilbert + Tobin, with monetary advisory from PwC. Funding was offered by Amicaa & Carlyle, with authorized counsel from Baker McKenzie. Vendor Transom Capital Group obtained authorized counsel from Kirkland & Ellis and monetary advisory from Lincoln Worldwide.
“It has been our pleasure to work with the Mackie management crew over the previous a number of years,” says Russ Roenick, Managing Accomplice for Transom. “Their spirit of innovation, customer-facing strategy, and total drive for excellence has constructed an organization tradition that’s unparalleled. I want the crew continued success because it takes the subsequent step in its journey alongside the excellent crew from RØDE.”
