The public address market - France (2024)

1.2 A global market returning to growth

Global market size:

The sound reinforcement market is expected to register a CAGR of *.*% over the ****-**** forecast period, rising from $*.* billion in **** to $*.* billion in ****[***].

Global PA market size based on *.*% CAGR World, ****-****, billions of dollars, (***) for forecast Source: ****

The industrialization of developing countries should encourage the use of sound systems in certain locations (***). On the other hand, demand from these countries for entertainment has been rising steadily since the end of the Covid, and should lead to an increase in the number of festivals, concerts and shows around the world .

Growing global demand for sound equipment such as loudspeakers, processors, microphones and more in clubs, shopping malls, hospitals, factories, distribution centers and PA systems will drive growth in the PA market.however, due to the high cost of sound reinforcement equipment, the sound reinforcement market is expected to grow slowly. In addition, the lack of manufacturers qualified to use the technology to produce quality sound, despite the use of the best materials, would limit the growth of the sound reinforcement market over the forecast period.

Global market breakdown:

In the sound reinforcement systems industry, North America holds the largest market share. Modern technologies and innovations, the growing use ...

1.3 A dynamic national market

In the case of venue sound services, sales can be obtained from support activities for live entertainment(***). These activities includeall technical services for sound, lighting, scenery, etc., which represent a major segment of the sound services market and are directly linked to it.

sales trends in support activities for live entertainment France, ****-****, in billions of euros Source: ****

After sales stagnated between **** and ****, players saw a sharp increase in sales until ****, when they reached *.*** billion euros. This represents growth of **.*% since ****. The year **** saw a drop in sales to around * billion euros, but business picked up again, peaking at *.*** billion euros in ****, an increase of **.*% in * years. Service providers in the live entertainment sector, and hence in sound systems, are thus benefiting froman extremely positive dynamic.

We can see that this activity generates high sales in France. This is mainly due to the fact that, as it is a service activity (***) and the retail sector, which uses sound systems to create atmosphere in sales areas and enhance the customer experience.

Theshape of this sector is closely linked to that of the live entertainment market, which mainly encompasses the production and broadcasting of shows, technical services, show promotion and organization, and the ...

2.1 The events industry, the number one customer for PA systems

One of the main fields of application for PA systems is event management. Trade fairs, conventions, sporting events, music festivals and fashion shows are just some of the occasions when event and PA professionals are mobilized.

Festivals and concerts :

A SoFest study by France festivals estimates that there are *,*** live entertainment festivals in France, *,*** of which are music festivals. However, this figure is only an estimate, since every year new festivals are created while others disappear. In fact, **% of existing festivals were created after ****. According to a **** survey, **% of French people say they attend at least one festival every year, whether as a volunteer or spectator, for a day or an entire weekend. Despite this constant renewal, some festivals have endured for decades[***].

Ten of the biggest music festivals in France are listed in the table below:

Source: ****

As you can see, all these festivals take place in summer, between June and August.

sports events:

Sporting events represent an important market for sound systems, as stadiums are particularly complex to equip.

France leads the European Union in terms of sports funding, with an annual budget of almost ** billion euros. This funding comes from a variety of sources, including public funds, an ...

2.2 Sound systems in sales outlets

Retailers also represent an important segment of the demand for sound systems. More and more of them are using music to personalize sales areas and enhance the customer experience.

According to LSA Conso, **% of retailers in France reported playing music in ****. a report by Sacem indicates that **% of French people could not live without music, testifying to its importance in everyday life. What's more, **% of employees consider music to be a source of motivation in the workplace. In-store sound is therefore a major challenge for brands, enabling them not only to reinforce their image, but also to enhance the customer experience.

Younger people, however, find it easier to work while listening to music than older people. In fact, a study carried out in the USA shows that **% of **-** year-olds say they work to music, compared with **% of **-** year-olds.

Share of population working with music by age group united States, ****, in Source: ****

Respondents attribute various qualities to listening to music at work. Indeed, **% of respondents believe that music makes them more productive, **% claim that music has therapeutic effects, and **% think it helps them retain information better.

What are the benefits of listening to music at work? united States, ****, in Source: ...

2.3 Sound systems in catering establishments

Catering establishments are increasingly equipping themselves with equipment to create a sound ambience that will make customers want to stay, by making them more comfortable or entertaining them. To study the proliferation of these establishments, we will consider the following NAF codes relating to commercial or collective catering activity:

**.**A: Traditional catering **.**B: Cafeterias and other self-service outlets **.**C: Fast-food restaurants **.**Z : Catering services **.**A : Contract catering **.**B : Other food services **.**Z : Drinks outlets

The number of establishments registered under these activity codes has been rising steadily since ****, with the exception of cafeterias and other self-service outlets. Fast-food establishments, for their part, recorded the highest increase at **.*%.

Source: ****

growth in the number of catering establishments France, **** - ****, in number of establishments Source: ****

The number of catering establishments in France has risen by **.*% in six years, managing to recover very quickly from the health crisis. according to a study, **% of customers prefer music in a café or restaurant, which is linked to the fact that **% of French people feel in a good mood when listening to music. [***]

The technical nature of the sound installations is relatively basic in these cases, consisting mainly of loudspeakers distributed around the rooms with a central ...

2.4 Sound systems for cinemas and theaters

Audio equipment is central to the business of cinemas and theaters. They are equipping themselves with ever more high-performance equipment to enhance the audience's immersive experience. Dolby Atmos sound systems, for example, are adding a vertical dimension to traditional surround sound.

Cinemas therefore represent a major demand for sound systems. Althoughthe number of cinemas has remained relatively stable between **** and ****, despite increased competition from streaming platforms, we are currently witnessing a real transformation of the sector's economic fabric: gradually, the share of multiplexes, ie. cinemas offering at least eight screens, is steadily increasing.

growth in the number of cinemas France, **** - ****, in number of active establishments Source: ****

By ****, the number of active establishments had risen to *,***, an increase of ** on **** and ** on ****. The year saw the opening or re-opening of ** cinemas, while six closed, either temporarily or permanently. Of these ** cinemas, ** had closed by **** due to the health crisis, all of them single-screen cinemas. In all, **.*% of all theatres opened in **** were single-screen cinemas, i.e. **. Three of these had eight screens or more. In addition, three cinemas with three screens, two with four screens, one with five screens and one with seven screens also opened in ****. On average, between **** and ...

2.5 Sound systems for places of worship and transit areas, focusing on public address

Sound systems for places of worship differ from those for the other venues mentioned above, due to their specific architectural and functional features[***].A major market in the United States, it remains very secondary in Europe, where places of worship are fewer in number and, above all, less frequented.

According to the Religious Heritage Observatory, as of May **, ****, there were a total of **,*** registered religious buildings. This figure encompasses all religions and all property types. There are a total of **,*** buildings dedicated to Catholic worship or having been of Catholic origin (***), representing **.*% of the total[***].

Number of places of worship by denomination in France France, ****, in thousands Source: ****

The demand on these places is to be able to provide good acoustics for all worshippers while being as unobtrusive as possible. The main issue is the intelligibility of the sound of the voice, which must be understood throughout the building, despite the reverberation of sound on ashlar for older buildings, or on wood or concrete for modern buildings.

The sound system is different when a choir is present. The problem is to ensure that the different voices can be heard, and that any soloists can be brought to the fore. In churches, ...

2.6 Demand hit hard by Covid-19

The sound industry was hit hard by Covid-**, as its customer sectors were those for whom the crisis was most severe. Indeed, during the entire containment period, theaters and cinemas were closed, and events cancelled. Local businesses also had to close their doors to limit the spread of the virus. Even in companies, public address systems were less used.

In April ****, technical services for live performances were **.*% down on the previous year, ***% down in May, and **% down in June. The gap is gradually narrowing, and August saw a drop of just **.*%.

Sales index for live performance support activities France, ****-****, index base *** **** Source: ****

Movie theaters also saw a significant drop in attendance, which was reflected in sales. Sales were virtually nil from April to June ****, before slowly recovering from July onwards, albeit a long way from previous levels.

evolution of the cinema projection sales index France, ****-****, index base *** **** (***) Source: ****

Recovery is complicated, as even after the end of containment, gatherings of more than *,*** people (***) have been banned. Decree no. ****-**** of August **, **** amending decree no. ****-*** of July **, **** removed the end date for the ban on gatherings of more than *,*** people, which was previously set at August **, ****.

With the second ...

3.1 PA speaker market

Source: ****

The first step in creating a sound system for a venue is for the service provider to purchase equipment such as loudspeakers, either directly from manufacturers or from specialized wholesalers. The manufacturers of this equipment are therefore the first players in the value chain.

Next, the service provider installs the equipment on the customer's premises and designs the sound system. This installation can be temporary (***) or permanent, for bars, restaurants, cinemas and theaters.

3.2 Manufacturers of sound equipment

Sound equipment is an important component of the public address market:

The manufacture of public address equipment includes products such as loudspeakers, speakers, microphones, public information systems, etc. French companies producing this equipment are grouped under NAF code **.**Z (***), which includes audio recording and reproduction systems, sound amplification systems, amplification equipment for musical instruments and public information systems, and microphones. This NAF code is broader than the sector we're interested in, as it includes other equipment such as video equipment, but it does give us a glimpse of trends.

The Ateis company, which specializes in the development, design and manufacture of sound equipment, and is one of the world's market leaders. It has equipped ** subway stations in Marseille, an indoor ski resort in Dubai, the Bastille Opera House and the Lyon Opera House, among others.Also registered under this NAF code is the Bouyer Group, a company specialized in the design and manufacture of electro-acoustic equipment for transport stations, nuclear power plants, shopping centers, restaurants and educational buildings. The group produces voice alarms, surveillance equipment, amplifiers, loudspeakers, batteries and microphones, and also offers acoustics services.

The market, which grew steadily from **** to ****, saw a marked decline in **** following the health crisis. ...

3.3 Public address service providers

Venue PA refers to the services provided by PA companies to end-users. These companies buy from producers or wholesalers and install the equipment on the customer's premises. It is more difficult to assess the activity of PA services, as they are segmented by activity. Some specialize in entertainment, others in public spaces, and so on.

Sound systems for live shows, concerts and festivals:

by way of example, sound services for live entertainment are grouped under NAF code **.**Z (***). This code also includes technical services for lighting and scenery, and therefore encompasses a broader reality than just the sound system for live performances, but it does enable us to analyze the activities of a large number of market players.

Companies such as Novelty and Dushow, which specialize in sound equipment for live performances, are referenced under this NAF code. These two companies generated sales of **.* and **.* million euros respectively in ****[***]. They are mainly active in the events market, providing technical services in all fields, but Novelty also provides sound systems for places of worship, for example.

Sales index for live performance support activities France, ****-****, index base *** **** Source: ****

Sales for companies in the sector were rising steadily from **** to ****, but fell sharply ...

4.1 The main sound-related products

The main products involved in sound reinforcement, especially for events, are generally the microphone, the mixer, the amplifier, the loudspeaker and the speaker (***). Together, they form the electroacoustic chain.

The microphone is a sensor that transforms acoustic energy (***). There are different types of microphone, such as the moving-coil electrodynamic microphone, the ribbon microphone, the electrostatic microphone with or without electret, the pressure-zone microphone, and the electromagnetic microphone. The mixing console, otherwise known as a lectern or console, has the function of pre-amplifying, equalizing and distributing the various microphone waves or broadcast media (***). An amplifier is needed to amplify the audio signal delivered by the mixer, as it is sometimes not powerful enough to move the speaker diaphragms. Amplification therefore consists in raising the level of a signal (***) without modifying its frequency or shape. Loudspeakers are transducers that transform electrical energy into acoustic energy. A loudspeaker consists of a motor that enables the transformation to take place. There are different types of loudspeaker, depending on the frequency range to be reproduced: bass drivers (***) for high frequencies. Finally,the loudspeaker is the assembly made up of a box, loudspeakers and filtering systems.

Generally speaking, customers' needs don't concern a single element, but a ...

4.2 Sound systems for every venue

Each venue is unique in terms of size, architecture and use. Sound systems must therefore be adapted to these characteristics. Below, you'll find a number of sound configurations to suit your venue. The prices quoted for each system represent the average cost of the equipment. For the cost of the entire service, please request a quotation from specialized companies.

Adding sound to a restaurant or bar

Public address systems for restaurants and bars depend on their size and the number of areas to be equipped. The best solution is Public Address, which consists of multiplying small speakers to ensure even sound distribution throughout the space.

Above all, you'll needan audio source that can play USB sticks, CDs, etc., depending on the medium the owner wishes to use. However, it's important to understand the legal implications regarding the source of the music used. Establishments cannot simply use personal streaming platforms such as Spotify or Deezer to play music without complying with certain conditions. These services are generally intended for private, non-commercial use. To use music legally, bars and restaurants must either obtain licenses directly from copyright holders (***). These fee-based services take care of the licensing required for the public distribution of music, ...

4.3 Sound equipment price comparison

Here is a price comparison of the different products needed for sound systems found on the Levenly website:

A variety of fixed and mobile equipment can be used to create a sound environment. Here are a few examples:

active and passive loudspeakers (***) ; mixing consoles (***); microphones (***); audio sources (***); conference systems (***); amplifiers (***).

5. Controlling and limiting public address systems

Controlling noise levels is an important issue for these establishments. Decree **-**** of December **, **** requires a study of the impact of noise pollution "in establishments or premises open to the public and regularly playing amplified music". of amplified music", which can lead to recommendations for work or the purchase of specific equipment. To ensure proper sound management in these areas, it is possible to take action on soundproofing (***). The average cost of an acoustic impact study varies between €*** and €*,***, according to SACEM.

It may be necessary to carry out insulation work, sometimes supervised by an acoustician, in which case the cost varies according to surface, nature, location and choice of materials. According to SACEM, the cost of such work ranges from €***/m² for basic work to €***/m² for top-of-the-range work.

The installation of a limiter (***) is being imposed more and more frequently by the prefectures in France, notably following the completion of an impact study. There are limiters that cut the sound when a predefined volume threshold is reached, and progression limiters that restrict the progression of bass and treble in order to keep the sound within programmed frequencies. The cost of a limiter varies widely, ranging from €*** to €*,*** according to ...

6. Segmentation

• Novelty Magnum Dushow Groupe
• Dushow
• Mood Media
• Rondson
• Bouyer Sonorisation
• Storever
• Deezer
• ATS Studios
• Radioshop
• Yamaha Music
• Bose
• Agora Studio
• TLSA France
• Ateis Europe BV
• Audiotonix
• Vogo
• Videlio
• Sixième Son
• L-Acoustics
• Pekason
• Concept Light
• Atao France
• Devialet