Live Sound International

What Live Sound International does

Live Sound International is a B2B trade publication serving live audio production and installation professionals, including sound engineers, production managers, audio technicians, and system installers working across concerts, venues, churches, theaters, and commercial spaces. The title is published 12 times per year by EH Publishing from Framingham, Massachusetts, with editorial coverage spanning live venue profiles, expert techniques, industry news, and new product/technology coverage. The publication also maintains a specialized church-sound vertical and draws on a contributor network of senior editors and technical consultants.

The company's core products are its print magazine, a free worldwide Digital Edition delivered through a non-PDF interactive platform (clickable table of contents, keyword search, bookmarking, zoom/print, and direct advertiser links), and back-issue retail. Distribution relies on USPS mail for US print subscribers and email-driven digital delivery globally. Subscription lifecycle (new, renewal, change of address, cancellation) is managed through the B2B Media Portal (b2bmediaportal.com) provided by an external fulfillment partner. The underlying technology stack is a standard WordPress CMS augmented by a hosted digital edition platform; no AI/ML features, mobile applications, or public APIs are disclosed.

Commercially, the title operates a freemium model: domestic print subscriptions are free, international print subscriptions are paid ($60 Canada/Mexico/Central America; $140 rest of world per 12-issue year), the digital edition is free worldwide, and back issues are sold at $10 US / $20 international per copy. Revenue mechanics are not publicly disclosed, but the structure (free subscriber acquisition, modest international print ARPU, interactive digital edition with advertiser deep-links) is consistent with an advertising-led B2B media business model monetized primarily through print and digital advertising sold to pro-audio manufacturers, integrators, and service providers, rather than subscription revenue.

Name

Live Sound International

Legal name

Live Sound International

Website

https://livesoundint.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Live Sound International is a B2B trade magazine (12 issues/year) and free global Digital Edition published by EH Publishing, serving live audio production and installation professionals with technical techniques, venue profiles, and product coverage.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Framingham

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Print Subscriptions (Domestic): Free print subscriptions within the United States, distributed via mail delivery to live audio professionals
2. Print Subscriptions (International): Paid print subscriptions for international readers: $60 Canada/Mexico/Central America, $140 for all other countries. One-year subscription (12 issues).
3. Digital Edition Subscriptions: Free digital edition worldwide, delivered via email notification with searchable, eco-friendly electronic format access
4. Back Issues: Sale of back issues at $10 each for US, $20 for international customers

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Live Sound International is a B2B professional audio trade magazine dedicated to the art and science of sound reinforcement, publishing 12 issues per year in both print and digital formats. Each issue delivers current and proven sound reinforcement techniques, analysis, applications, and business insight for live audio production and installation professionals, including venue profiles, expert tips, industry news, and coverage of new products and technologies. The publication is offered free domestically in the US and via paid international print subscriptions, with a free worldwide digital edition.

Product overview

Live Sound International is a professional audio magazine offering both print and digital editions. The core product is the Live Sound International Magazine, a publication dedicated to the art and science of sound reinforcement for live audio professionals. Subscribers can access content through free domestic print subscriptions or paid international print subscriptions, while the Digital Edition provides interactive electronic access with features like clickable navigation and keyword search. The company also offers subscription management services through an online portal for customer self-service.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Live Sound International Magazine
• Print Subscription (US)
• Print Subscription (International) Paid annual print subscription for international readers of Live Sound International, with 12 issues per year delivered via mail. Payment by check, money order, or credit card (American Express, Visa, MasterCard); international orders must be prepaid in US Dollars.
• Digital Edition Free electronic non-PDF format edition of Live Sound International available worldwide, with clickable table of contents, keyword searches, bookmark pages, direct links to advertisers' websites, zoom/print/send pages functionality, and monthly email notifications.
• Back Issues Individual past issues of Live Sound International available for purchase at $10 per issue for US customers and $20 per issue for international customers, with prepayment required in US dollars.

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Mix Magazine: Established pro audio trade publication covering recording, live sound, broadcast, and post-production. Broader scope than LSI but overlapping professional audio audience and advertiser base.
• ProAudio Review (PAR): Pro audio product review and news outlet covering studio, live, and installed sound. Comparable audience of audio professionals and product-driven editorial, broader in scope than LSI.
• AV Technology Magazine: B2B publication covering AV integration and technology in venues and enterprises. Comparable end-customer persona (systems integrators, venue techs) and overlaps with LSI's installation coverage.

Regional players

• Audio Media International: Pro audio trade publication serving the European and UK pro audio market, including live sound and installation. Comparable editorial focus and audience, but geographically distinct from LSI's US-anchored distribution.

Direct peers

• ProSoundWeb: Online trade publication for live, installed, and recording sound professionals, owned by the same parent (EH Publishing) as Live Sound International. Direct peer in audience, coverage area, and advertiser base, with digital-first delivery versus LSI's print+digital hybrid.
• Sound & Communications: Trade publication covering installed sound, AV integration, and commercial audio — overlapping directly with LSI's audio installation professional segment and shared systems-integration advertiser base.
• Systems Contractor News: B2B publication covering AV systems contracting and integration, including installed audio. Comparable to LSI in serving the installation professional persona and adjacent AV advertisers.
• FOH (Front of House) Magazine: Long-running trade publication dedicated to live sound touring and front-of-house mixing. Directly comparable as a niche monthly serving the same live audio production professional audience with overlapping advertiser ecosystem.

Emerging players

• Church Sound Magazine: Trade publication and resource dedicated to audio in worship environments — a vertical that LSI explicitly addresses with a dedicated Church Sound Editor. Comparable niche authority with overlapping house-of-worship advertiser base.

Others

• r/CommercialAV / r/LiveSound community resources: Industry forums and social communities increasingly used by live audio professionals for peer learning. Represents a non-traditional, digitally-native channel competing for the same reader attention LSI's magazine historically captured.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/live-sound-international

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Live Sound International