Sound & Communications

What Sound & Communications does

Sound & Communications is a B2B trade media brand covering the commercial audiovisual industry, in continuous operation since 1955 and published by privately held Testa Communications from Port Washington, New York. The core product is a monthly print magazine, distributed primarily via subscription to professional AV systems integrators, installers, consultants, and technology managers across North America. The publication also produces a twice-yearly IT/AV Report addressing IT and commercial AV convergence, supported by companion products including Doug's Docs (technical documentation resources), annual Industry Surveys for commercial systems integration and worship markets, white papers, the Weekend Wire newsletter, a YouTube video channel, and the Blue Book Supplier Database.

Distribution spans print subscription, a Zmags-hosted digital edition archive, a free content website (soundandcommunications.com), multiple email newsletters (subscription, Wire, Breaking, Weekend Wire), YouTube multimedia, and on-site coverage of principal AV trade events including InfoComm. The business generates revenue across four streams: print and digital subscriptions (recurring), digital content and newsletter sponsorships (recurring and advertising), sponsored product coverage and vendor advertising in print and online (advertising), and trade show events such as DJ Expo. GTM is direct-to-consumer / direct-to-subscription for readers and direct sales for advertisers, with the BPA-audited circulation serving as the principal credibility asset sold into advertisers.

The publication is embedded in the AV industry ecosystem via mutual partnerships with AVIXA, NSCA, IMCCA, and InfoComm, and is BPA-certified for circulation audit. Three named editorial staff (Lead Editor Dan Ferrisi, Associate Editor Anthony Vargas, Multimedia Coordinator Cheyenne Chao) operate under publisher Vinny Testa. Headcount is reported in the 11-50 range, parent Testa Communications is privately held with no external investment or M&A activity disclosed, and the company shows no AI, ML, or proprietary technology platform beyond standard digital publishing tooling.

Name

Sound & Communications

Legal name

Sound & Communications (Testa Communications)

Website

https://soundandcommunications.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Sound & Communications is a 1955-founded, privately held B2B trade magazine and digital media brand serving commercial AV systems integrators, consultants, and technology managers in North America, published by Testa Communications from Port Washington, NY.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Port Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Magazine Subscriptions: Print subscription revenue from the Sound & Communications publication delivered to industry professionals.
2. Digital Content and Newsletters: Email newsletter subscriptions and digital edition access generating recurring revenue.
3. Sponsored Content and Product Spotlights: Product coverage, sponsored articles, and vendor advertising in the publication and on the website.
4. Trade Show Events: DJ Expo, an annual trade event for professional DJ produced by Testa Communications.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Sound & Communications publishes a monthly B2B trade magazine and digital editions covering audio, video, digital signage, IT/AV convergence, and house of worship technology for professional AV integrators, installers, consultants, and technology managers. The publication is supported by a website, email newsletters, video programming on YouTube, industry surveys, white papers, and a supplier database (Blue Book), and is published by Testa Communications from Port Washington, New York.

Product overview

Sound & Communications is an AV technology trade publication delivered across print, digital editions, and online platforms. The core product is the monthly magazine and its digital edition archives, which cover audio, video, digital signage, IT/AV integration, and house of worship sectors. Supporting products include the IT/AV Report (twice-yearly publication on IT/AV convergence), Doug's Docs technical resources, annual Industry Surveys for commercial systems integration and worship centers, White Papers, Weekend Wire newsletter, video multimedia content via YouTube, and the Blue Book Supplier Database. The publication serves professional AV integrators, installers, consultants, and technology managers through comprehensive coverage of industry news, product spotlights, installations, and business perspectives.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sound & Communications Magazine Monthly B2B trade publication covering audio, video, digital signage, IT/AV convergence, house of worship, and installation technologies, distributed to professional AV integrators, installers, consultants, and technology managers.
• Digital Edition Archives Online archive of monthly digital magazine editions covering AV industry topics and vertical markets, accessible through the website and Zmags viewer.
• IT/AV Report Twice-yearly publication addressing IT and commercial AV trade convergence, produced by Testa Communications and targeted at AV/IT professionals.
• Blue Book Supplier Database Online supplier database directory used by AV professionals to find AV industry vendors and service providers.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• AVIXAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry association partnership with AVIXA (Audiovisual and Integrated Experience Association). The publication covers AVIXA events, standards, and initiatives, and the association distributes content to its members.
• NSCAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with National Systems Contractors Association for industry coverage, research reports, and financial analysis of the industry.
• IMCCAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInteractive Multimedia & Collaborative Communications Alliance partnership for collaborative communications and unified communications technology coverage.
• BPA WorldwidecoreOthersBusiness Publications Audit certification for circulation verification and industry standards compliance.
• InfoCommcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing coverage of InfoComm tradeshow including product announcements, education programs, and industry news. Editorial team attends and covers the event.
• PSNI Global AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoverage of PSNI Global Alliance announcements and member news in the AV integration channel.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Commercial Integrator: B2B trade publication serving the same commercial AV systems integrator audience. Closest direct competitor in editorial coverage of installations, product news, and integrator business topics.
• ProSoundWeb: Trade media brand focused on professional audio, with a reader base of live sound, installed audio, and AV integrator professionals that overlaps with S&C's audio and installation coverage.
• TV Tech / TVTechnology: B2B trade media brand covering video, broadcast, and professional display technology. Overlaps with S&C's video, digital signage, and large-display installation coverage for the AV/professional video market.
• Mix Magazine: Long-standing professional audio production and AV media title. Comparable trade-publisher model covering pro audio technology, products, and installation — the same vertical S&C's audio editorial addresses.
• Worship Tech Director: Trade publication focused specifically on house-of-worship AV technology — a vertical S&C covers but does not own. Competes for both reader attention and house-of-worship vendor ad budgets.
• AV Network (AV Technology, Systems Contractor News): Long-running AV trade media brands (now under Future plc) covering the same integrator, consultant, and technology manager segments as Sound & Communications, with overlapping coverage of InfoComm and IT/AV convergence.
• rAVe Publications: Digital-first AV trade publication producing video coverage, blogs, and newsletters for the same systems integration and AV/IT audience. Represents the digital-native format competing for the same reader attention.

Broad incumbents

• AVIXA: Industry association for commercial AV. Produces its own research, content, and events (including InfoComm) and is a documented S&C partner — but its owned media increasingly competes with third-party trade publications.
• NSCA: National Systems Contractors Association, serving the same AV integrator audience. A documented S&C partner, but also produces its own research reports and member communications that overlap with S&C's editorial.

Regional players

• Lighting&Sound America: Trade publication covering entertainment and installed audio, lighting, and AV. Comparable editorial coverage of professional audio and AV installations, with a different primary audience (entertainment vs. commercial AV).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCxY_fXRFKIFBHf_I7YoBoFA
• Xx.com/soundandcomms
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/soundandcomms

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Sound & Communications