COVID-19 Update: More Companies Withdraw from Prolight + Sound

Additional exhibitors have announced they won't be attending this year's Prolight + Sound trade show. DTS, MDG, ionage GmbH (the company behind Madrix), ROE Visual have all pulled out of the Frankfurt-based event. The trade show, which was due to take place at the end of March, was postponed to May 26 - 29 due to coronavirus fears.

These companies have joined a growing list of exhibitors who have formally withdrawn from the annual fair. As of today, these are Adam Hall, Allen & Heath, d&b audiotechnik, ETC, High End Systems, JB Lighting, L-Acoustics, Martin Audio, Nexo, Vari-Lite and Strand, and Yamaha Music Europe.

"Unfortunately, we cannot participate in Prolight + Sound this year," comments Madrix sales manager, Christian Hertel. "This was not an easy decision for us at all. We have been exhibiting at the show every single year since 2005 and had really been looking forward to it. It is an absolute highlight each year for our entire team and all of our customers, partners, and distributors. Due to the show's recent postponement by Messe Frankfurt, we are running into scheduling conflicts and thus cannot attend anymore."

Marina Prak, marketing manager at ROE Visual, says: "Taking the general effect of the outbreak of the coronavirus into consideration, we saw no other option than to re-think our plans for this spring and to decide not to participate in the postponed Prolight + Sound exhibition."

"The quality of our exhibition presence and the total experience of the trade shows will be under pressure, but foremost the safety of our personnel and clients is what is paramount in our view."

ROE's European team is currently organizing alternative plans, including "small-scale events" such as in-house product presentations, open-house meetings, and seminar days. These plans will be finalized in the coming week and announced on the company's social media channels.

In a statement from DTS, "DTS opened an internal consultation with our people, customers, and partners who, given the unclear situation, are intending to give up visiting the show in favor of alternative events to support the normal development of the activities." DTS will take personal contact with its customers "to plan a new professional event."