Is High End Audio Market in Recession?

I just had a look. Personally, I think it’s brilliant. Jaguar is a tired brand, anyone in the UK will tell you that. This is pure rebranding, not least a new logo after more than 50 years of the old one, a pretty slick video that is clearly designed to take the brand into a completely new customer base. It’s controversial, divisive, has attracted a lot of attention and tweet from Elon Musk. I suspect that is exactly what they were hoping to achieve and probably consider it a success.

It is obviously not about selling a product, but about repositioning a brand. When they do actually launch a new product, and they invited Elon Musk to the launch in Miami, I guarantee you it will receive many times more attention than if they hadn’t done this rebranding exercise.
I guess we'll just agree to differ.
How's it going for Bud Light, Gillette, Target etc?
One thing the ad got right, the strapline Copy Nothing.
Certainly, don't copy this suicide note.
 
I think you'll find Jaguar will be as fucked as Bud Light after their recent, ahem, "inspired" promotional launch, lol.
Incidentally, two people I spoke to last week were Victor Hochhauser's son and Tash, the head of UMG Classical (DGG, Decca, Hyperion and other labels).

Victor was by far the greatest classical music promoter of his generation. He learned Russian, went to Russia when Stalin was still the boss, persuaded them to allow the likes of Oistrakh, Shostakovich, Gilels and Richter to tour in the West and promoted them like no one else had done before, with huge success. He popularised a dusty industry.

Tash is (a) in her 30's, (b) a woman and (c) has a haircut never before seen in the classical musical world. She is tasked with breathing new life into classical music, and she's doing a fine job. One thing she's doing much like Victor, is taking some star talent like Lang Lang and promoting it to death. We bumped into her at a Max Richter premiere at Covent Garden, he's one of her key artists, because he's "classical" who mixes with electronica, tape loops and brings in a new audience. The crowd was very young and trendy, not the normal Covent Garden mob.

Going to Sadlers Wells tonight with our oldest friends. Their daughter is a hugely successfully photographer, she does major shoots for global campaigns for some of the biggest brands, from Neymar for Puma, Nike, Adidas, Dr Martens, Manchester City and many more.
She's 27 years old.
She's the age of her audience. That said Yves St Laurent changed the fashion industry when he was 21 years old.

Half, or more than half the problem, of high end hifi seems to be that it is designed by old people for old people. The comments here don't surprise me. It could probably do with younger people to take new products to younger people. I doubt that will happen to any significant degree because high-end audio is such a small product category. My son is a product designer and I suspect people his age are designing audio products for people his age that will make most people hear turn away in disgust.
 
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Incidentally, two people I spoke to last week were Victor Hochhauser's son and Tash, the head of UMG Classical (DGG, Decca, Hyperion and other labels).

Victor was by far the greatest classical music promoter of his generation. He learned Russian, went to Russia when Stalin was still the boss, persuaded them to allow the likes of Oistrakh, Shostakovich, Gilels and Richter to tour in the West and promoted them like no one else had done before, with huge success. He popularised a dusty industry.

Tash is (a) in her 30's, (b) a woman and (c) has a haircut never before seen in the classical musical world. She is tasked with breathing new life into classical music, and she's doing a fine job. One thing she's doing much like Victor, is taking some star talent like Lang Lang and promoting it to death. We bumped into her at a Max Richter premiere at Covent Garden, he's one of her key artists, because he's "classical" who mixes with electronica, tape loops and brings in a new audience. The crowd was very young and trendy, not the normal Covent Garden mob.

Going to Sadlers Wells tonight with our oldest friends. Their daughter is a hugely successfully photographer, she does major shoots for global campaigns for some of the biggest brands, from Neymar for Puma, Nike, Adidas, Dr Martens, Manchester City and many more.
She's 27 years old.

Half, or more than half the problem, of high end hifi seems to be that it is designed by old people for old people. The comments here don't surprise me. It could probably do with younger people to take new products to younger people. I doubt that will happen to any significant degree because high-end audio is such a small product category. My son is a product designer and I suspect people his age are designing audio products for people his age that will make most people hear turn away in disgust.
This is nothing to do with "old people", or any perceived phobias (feel free to add as many prefixes as you like).
This is cocking a snoop at the broad swathe of peoples, looking to create a negative impression, and then castigating said peoples for having those negative impressions.
The MD has already said any less than positive opinions are borne of "hate" etc.
DEI playbook.
Criticising old people etc is "so 2020", and rapidly out of date.
 
Incidentally, two people I spoke to last week were Victor Hochhauser's son and Tash, the head of UMG Classical (DGG, Decca, Hyperion and other labels).

Victor was by far the greatest classical music promoter of his generation. He learned Russian, went to Russia when Stalin was still the boss, persuaded them to allow the likes of Oistrakh, Shostakovich, Gilels and Richter to tour in the West and promoted them like no one else had done before, with huge success. He popularised a dusty industry.

Tash is (a) in her 30's, (b) a woman and (c) has a haircut never before seen in the classical musical world. She is tasked with breathing new life into classical music, and she's doing a fine job. One thing she's doing much like Victor, is taking some star talent like Lang Lang and promoting it to death. We bumped into her at a Max Richter premiere at Covent Garden, he's one of her key artists, because he's "classical" who mixes with electronica, tape loops and brings in a new audience. The crowd was very young and trendy, not the normal Covent Garden mob.

Going to Sadlers Wells tonight with our oldest friends. Their daughter is a hugely successfully photographer, she does major shoots for global campaigns for some of the biggest brands, from Neymar for Puma, Nike, Adidas, Dr Martens, Manchester City and many more.
She's 27 years old.
She's the age of her audience. That said Yves St Laurent changed the fashion industry when he was 21 years old.

Half, or more than half the problem, of high end hifi seems to be that it is designed by old people for old people. The comments here don't surprise me. It could probably do with younger people to take new products to younger people. I doubt that will happen to any significant degree because high-end audio is such a small product category. My son is a product designer and I suspect people his age are designing audio products for people his age that will make most people hear turn away in disgust.
For someone castigating old people for poor opinions, you're guilty of showing contempt yourself.
No-one I know is "disgusted" by what young people are doing, or this ad, that's preposterous.
We're weary of DEI shoehorned into every aspect of life.
And that's what this ad is, DEI as "art".
Tell me, did you think Dylan Mulvaney's tanking of Bud Light was also a masterstroke?
I mean, giving one to all those disgusted oldies.
 
This is nothing to do with "old people", or any perceived phobias (feel free to add as many prefixes as you like).
This is cocking a snoop at the broad swathe of peoples, looking to create a negative impression, and then castigating said peoples for having those negative impressions.
The MD has already said any less than positive opinions are borne of "hate" etc.
DEI playbook.
Criticising old people etc is "so 2020", and rapidly out of date.
I'm recently retired as of May this year after 32 years as a orthopedic surgeon.
I don't subscribe to the batshit crazy DEI playbook...lol.

Those MD's were either paid for their position statements or they were threatened with having their license yanked for not going along with the insanity.

Just my opinion.
 
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For someone castigating old people for poor opinions, you're guilty of showing contempt yourself.
No-one I know is "disgusted" by what young people are doing, or this ad, that's preposterous.
We're weary of DEI shoehorned into every aspect of life.
And that's what this ad is, DEI as "art".
Tell me, did you think Dylan Mulvaney's tanking of Bud Light was also a masterstroke?
I mean, giving one to all those disgusted oldies.
I've never heard of Dylan Mulvaney and I don't drink beer save for the occasional Belgian brew (my wife is Belgian).

Go to an audio demo or look at images from audio shows (don't do them) and near everyone is of a "certain generation". One of my sons has a larger record collection than me, but a very modest audio system and no interest in high end audio, even if he could afford it. It doesn't bother me that my enjoyment of my kind of audio system may well die with me.

I don't see this Jaguar rebrand video as preposterous at all. It's very clear why it was made and what it's trying to do. Jaguar clearly needs to reposition itself and the simple fact that it got mentioned indicates it has worked. People will now have an expectation that they will be releasing a radically new product to a different potential customer. Whether it is successful is another matter.

Hifi companies don't seem very good at rebranding. Naim did it very well with Uniti. The concept was produced by an external design agency that works with several other brands and in the end Focal Naim hired the creative director as their Design Director.
 
I don't see this Jaguar rebrand video as preposterous at all. It's very clear why it was made and what it's trying to do. Jaguar clearly needs to reposition itself and the simple fact that it got mentioned indicates it has worked. People will now have an expectation that they will be releasing a radically new product to a different potential customer. Whether it is successful is another matter.

Do you have a link to that Jaguar video?
 
I've never heard of Dylan Mulvaney and I don't drink beer save for the occasional Belgian brew (my wife is Belgian).

Go to an audio demo or look at images from audio shows (don't do them) and near everyone is of a "certain generation". One of my sons has a larger record collection than me, but a very modest audio system and no interest in high end audio, even if he could afford it. It doesn't bother me that my enjoyment of my kind of audio system may well die with me.

I don't see this Jaguar rebrand video as preposterous at all. It's very clear why it was made and what it's trying to do. Jaguar clearly needs to reposition itself and the simple fact that it got mentioned indicates it has worked. People will now have an expectation that they will be releasing a radically new product to a different potential customer. Whether it is successful is another matter.

Hifi companies don't seem very good at rebranding. Naim did it very well with Uniti. The concept was produced by an external design agency that works with several other brands and in the end Focal Naim hired the creative director as their Design Director.
I think you're confusing one subset of younger customers with younger customers in general
But the customer is king, let's see if you're right.
I'm sure those initial sales figures will be poured over.
 
In that case keeping what you already have can be considered a huge upgrade. Congratulations BTW.
Understood, lol.
However, seperate rooms needed for marital bliss.
Not bedrooms, lol, but audio AND living.
 
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Covid???

I’m still using circa “ chicken pox” :eek:
According to Futuresource Consulting the luxury audio market ($5,000 +) grew by 12% to $2.8 billion in 2023. See MSNBC reporting on Bose acquiring Mcintosh.
 
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Understood, lol.
However, seperate rooms needed for marital bliss.
Not bedrooms, lol, but audio AND living.
5 years after marriage I built a music room extension and within 3 years it had a table tennis table in it, which remained for about 10 years. Barely listened to my stereo for 15 years, but we always went to shows. Going to one tonight by a choreographer we first saw 25 years ago as an artist in residence doing a one man show. Tonight he is described as "legendary choreographer Akram Khan". These are signals that time is moving on, so enjoy time together, not apart!
 
I bought new equipment for my second home a month ago. My quite a best friend read my latest newsletter about the TAD-CE1TX. When he found out the price he was horrified. But my expenses are not very high compared to what I see here.

20241110-L1000639-1-1536x1024.jpg
 
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Never seen anything more ridiculous. What were they possibly thinking? Doesn’t Ford own them now? That might explain it.

What is Bud Light?
No Ford sold Jaguar and Cosworth 10-20 years ago. Jag is owned by TATA motor in India.
 
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According to Futuresource Consulting the luxury audio market ($5,000 +) grew by 12% to $2.8 billion in 2023. See MSNBC reporting on Bose acquiring Mcintosh.
Do not trust a source with NBC in the name. Head on over to Bloomberg.
 
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I'm recently retired as of May this year after 32 years as a orthopedic surgeon.
I don't subscribe to the batshit crazy DEI playbook...lol.

Those MD's were either paid for their position statements or they were threatened with having their license yanked for not going along with the insanity.

Just my opinion.
Love you man!
 
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Do you have a link to that Jaguar video?
Google dude.
 
ssfas, I take your point entirely, but my Blue Note, Stravinsky and Rush albums come between us and one single shared audio/listening space.
Luckily we both have a shared passion for classical concerts, b&w British movies on Blu Ray, real ale, and walking on the Norfolk coast, so we certainly "connect" a lot of the time.
Luckily I only work away from home two days a week.
I think she quite likes me out of the way a lot of the time.
More seriously, I genuinely can't justify major extra gear spends in light of how COVID turned my business model upside down, and the cost of vinyl today.
Something had to give, and that was thoughts of a pricey new TT etc.
Value added has been my ethos for a few years now, getting the most out of my core gear without the Groundhog Day merry go round of escalating spending.
TT plinth/mat and motor upgrades, SETs surgery and superior tubes, Airblades addition to Zus, room acoustics and dedicated circuit breakers changes, have provided transformation for a fraction of the cost of new gear all round.
 
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We're weary of DEI shoehorned into every aspect of life.
And that's what this ad is, DEI as "art".
Tell me, did you think Dylan Mulvaney's tanking of Bud Light was also a masterstroke?
I mean, giving one to all those disgusted oldies.
No, this is not DEI as "art". Your statement shows that you have no idea what DEI means. David Bowie was not DEI.

This is Jaguar trying to get attention for a dying brand by breaking conventions with a bizarre, shocking and very colorful ad campaign. Here is a link to their follow up. How is this relevant to high end audio? To the extent that Jaguar as a brand and high end audio as a hobby are perceived to be dominated by old men, it might make sense to try to get the attention of a younger audience. Probably not effective, but please don't use this as an excuse to bash people who are different from you.

 

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