Adlib
Adlib Audio Limited is a UK-based live events production company providing audio, lighting, video, rigging, and staging rental, installation, and sales services to touring productions, permanent venues, festivals, and corporate clients across 15 industry verticals from three UK offices.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1984
- HeadquartersKnowsley, United Kingdom
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Adlib does
Adlib Audio Limited is a UK-based live events production company founded in 1984, operating from three UK locations in Liverpool (headquarters), London (Wimbledon, opened 2024), and Glasgow (Paisley). The company provides integrated audio, lighting, video, rigging, and staging services to touring productions, permanent venue installations, corporate events, festivals, theatre, TV and film, and other live events sectors spanning 15 industry verticals. Its offering combines full technical production support, dry hire of professional equipment, equipment sales via an online store, and a permanent installation business supported by a CAD design studio, pre-visualisation suite using L-Acoustics Soundvision 3D modelling, in-house transport fleet, and a dedicated service centre.
The company's technical stack centres on premium third-party audio systems — primarily L-Acoustics K1/K2/KARA/KS28 loudspeakers with LA12X/LA4X amplification and DiGiCo Quantum 225 mixing consoles — integrated with lighting, video, and rigging infrastructure on an AVB Milan network. Adlib employs 220+ full-time engineers, technicians, designers, logistics experts, and account managers, and serves clients across the UK and Europe. Marquee customers include Academy Music Group (O2 Academy Brixton), Glasgow Life (Glasgow Royal Concert Hall), Cunard, and touring artists such as James Arthur, Rick Astley, All Time Low, and Greg Davies.
The business generates revenue through four streams: equipment rental (usage-based hire fees with deposits), equipment sales (one-time transactions including used inventory), installation services (project-based professional services with ongoing maintenance contracts), and a service centre offering maintenance, repairs, and spare parts. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. The go-to-market is enterprise field sales via regional account managers across the three UK offices, complemented by the e-commerce storefront and direct European touring engagements. The company is privately held with no disclosed external institutional investment and operates under Adlib Audio Limited, registered in England and Wales.
Adlib firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Adlib
- Legal name
- Adlib Audio Limited
- Website
- https://adlib.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1984
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Adlib Audio Limited is a UK-based live events production company providing audio, lighting, video, rigging, and staging rental, installation, and sales services to touring productions, permanent venues, festivals, and corporate clients across 15 industry verticals from three UK offices.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Adlib is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Knowsley
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices4 records
Markets served
Adlib business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Equipment Rental: Full technical production rental and dry hire services for audio, lighting, video, rigging, and staging equipment for live events, touring productions, and temporary installations.
- Equipment Sales: Sale of audio, lighting, video, and rigging equipment including new and used options. Operates dedicated online store at store.adlib.co.uk.
- Installation Services: Permanent installation of Sound, Lighting, AV, and Stage Engineering systems including new build, renovation projects, client direct installations, and ongoing servicing and maintenance.
- Service & Spares: Service centre providing maintenance, repairs, and spare parts for professional audio and lighting equipment. Includes ETC Dimmer Exchange Programme.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Project-based quotation |
| Usage-based | Pay-as-you-go | Equipment hire rates |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Adlib product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Adlib provides rental, sale, and permanent installation of professional audio, lighting, video, rigging, and staging equipment for live events, touring productions, and permanent venue installations. The company offers full technical production support, dry hire, equipment sales (new and used), CAD-driven system design, acoustic modelling via L-Acoustics Soundvision, and ongoing maintenance through an in-house service centre with ETC Dimmer Exchange Programme.
Product overview
Adlib is a UK-based live events production company offering a comprehensive portfolio of audio, lighting, video, rigging, and staging solutions. The core offering consists of Rental Services (dry hire and full technical production support), Sales Services (new and used equipment), and Installation Services (permanent venue installations). Supporting these are the Pre-Visualisation Suite for acoustic modelling, a Service Centre for equipment maintenance, and an Online Store for direct equipment purchases. The company operates across 15 market sectors spanning music, theatre, corporate, festivals, TV & film, and education, with three UK locations in Liverpool (headquarters), Glasgow, and London.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Rental Services Full technical production equipment rental, dry hire, and project support services covering audio, lighting, video, rigging, and set & staging equipment for live events, touring productions, and temporary installations across the UK and Europe.
- Audio Rental Professional audio equipment rental including loudspeaker systems, mixing consoles, wireless microphones, and related peripherals for concerts, festivals, and corporate events.
- Lighting Rental Professional lighting equipment rental featuring automated luminaires, LED fixtures, conventional stage lighting, and control systems for touring and fixed installations.
- Video Rental Video equipment rental including LED walls, projection systems, broadcast cameras, and video processing infrastructure for live events and broadcasts.
- Rigging Rental Rigging equipment rental and motorized hoist systems for suspending lighting, audio, and video equipment safely in venues and temporary structures.
- Set & Staging Rental Set elements and staging solutions for theatrical productions, live events, and temporary installations.
- Sales Services Direct sale of professional audio, lighting, video, and rigging equipment including new and used inventory with access to branded product lines.
- Online Store E-commerce platform for purchasing professional audio, lighting, video, and staging equipment directly, complementing rental and installation services.
- Installation Services Permanent installation of sound, lighting, AV, and stage engineering systems for venues, including new build projects and facility renovations across the UK.
- Service & Spares In-house service centre providing equipment maintenance, repair, and spare parts for equipment across all product categories, including the ETC Dimmer Exchange Programme.
- Pre-Visualisation Suite Advanced 3D simulation and design facility using L-Acoustics Soundvision software for acoustic modelling and system design validation before equipment deployment.
Quantifiable outcome
- Schools outreach programme reached over 6,000 students across 17+ events
Companies that use Adlib
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments10 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Adlib technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Adlib partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.
- triplexcoreStrategic partnership for UK operations expansion. Joint opening of new 8,000 sq ft base in Wimbledon, London, strengthening Adlib's UK footprint.
- Glasgow LifecoreLong-standing partnership for audio solutions at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall dating back to 2016. Collaboration on Celtic Connections festival and permanent venue installations.
- Academy Music GroupcoreLong-standing relationship for designing, supplying, and installing audio and lighting systems at Academy Music Group venues including O2 Academy Brixton.
- L-AcousticscoreTechnology partnership for premium loudspeaker systems. Major installations include K1, K2, KARA, and KS28 systems in venues like Glasgow Royal Concert Hall and O2 Academy Brixton.
- CODA AudiomajorAudio equipment supplier for touring productions including Greg Davies arena tour with AiRAY and CiRAY cabinet systems.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Adlib competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- PRG (Production Resource Group): Global leader in live event production, AV rental, and rigging. Closest direct competitor to Adlib across touring, festivals, and venue installations, but with materially larger fleet and global footprint.
- Solotech (UK: SSE Audio): Canadian-headquartered global AV production company that acquired UK-based SSE Audio. Competes directly with Adlib in audio rental, touring, and venue installations across the UK and Europe.
- SFL Group: UK-based AV rental and event production company providing audio, lighting, video, and staging to live events, tours, and venues. Overlaps directly with Adlib's core rental and integration offering.
- NEP Group: Global provider of broadcast and live event production services including audio, lighting, and video. Competes with Adlib on large-scale touring, broadcast, and venue projects, with broader geographic reach.
- Hawthorn: UK-based AV rental, event production, and integration company serving corporate, live, and installation markets. Directly comparable to Adlib's full-service event production and venue integration model.
- White Light: UK-based supplier of lighting, audio, video, and rigging equipment to theatre, broadcast, corporate, and live events. Direct peer in production rental and venue installations with strong theatre presence.
- Stageco: Belgian-headquartered specialist in staging, rigging, and structural solutions for large-scale tours, festivals, and events. Comparable to Adlib's rigging and staging capabilities with a stronger festival focus.
- Clair Brothers: US-based professional audio system manufacturer and rental company. Comparable to Adlib on the audio rental and tour-production side, with overlapping use of premium loudspeaker systems.
Regional players
- RG Jones Sound Engineering: Long-established UK audio rental and production company serving music, corporate, and broadcast events. Comparable to Adlib's audio rental business with a primarily UK footprint.
Emerging players
- LS-Live: UK-based rehearsal, staging, and live events facility operator. Comparable to Adlib's staging and live production capabilities, particularly around large-scale set builds and tour rehearsals.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Adlib social profiles
Digital presenceAdlib compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance9 records
Adlib financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Adlib leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Adlib funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Adlib M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Adlib
What does Adlib do?
Adlib provides rental, sale, and permanent installation of professional audio, lighting, video, rigging, and staging equipment for live events, touring productions, and permanent venue installations. The company offers full technical production support, dry hire, equipment sales (new and used), CAD-driven system design, acoustic modelling via L-Acoustics Soundvision, and ongoing maintenance through an in-house service centre with ETC Dimmer Exchange Programme.
Is Adlib a public or private company?
Adlib is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Adlib founded?
Adlib was founded in 1984. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Adlib based?
Adlib is headquartered in Knowsley, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Adlib make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Equipment Rental is the primary driver. The others are equipment Sales, installation Services and service & Spares.
Who are Adlib's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are PRG (Production Resource Group), Solotech (UK: SSE Audio), SFL Group, NEP Group, Hawthorn, White Light, Stageco and Clair Brothers. RG Jones Sound Engineering is listed as a regional player. LS-Live is listed as an emerging player.
Does Adlib have an API?
No public API is recorded for Adlib.