STG News
Celebrating 75 years of audio excellence, 2021 sees JBL enter its diamond anniversary with a look back at some of the monumental history it has helped create.
Contributing to epic moments in live music, sport, pop culture and more, JBL has been the driving force behind revolutionary recordings and iconic events all over the world.
From its humble beginnings in 1946 when James B Lansing, a radio engineer from Utah, decided to create his own brand of speakers, JBL today sits at the forefront of audio innovation on a global scale.
Having a unique role in the music industry and beyond, JBL has been at the centre of some of the world’s largest events from Woodstock, The Grateful Dead Wall of Sound, The Grammy Awards all the way through to the Olympics.
As well as delivering epic sound, JBL believes in making every moment feel big. Throughout the years, JBL has partnered with influential talent across music and sport, from the likes of Quincy Jones, Martin Garrix, Khalid, Bebe Rexha, Armin Van Buuren, Virgil Van Dijk, Jesse Lingard, NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo and 100 Thieves to local New Zealand favourites Jupiter Project and Chaii.
Such collaborations have allowed JBL to connect audiophiles with premium sound quality through its world-class products, from tech-savvy earbuds to powerful bass-featured portable speakers and partyboxes.
A pioneer in providing not-to-be-missed live entertainment moments, JBL professional speakers are behind some of New Zealand’s most iconic venues and memorable events, including the Auckland Town Hall, Good Vibes Festival, Bay Dreams, Sky City, The Lido and Park Road Post Production, the award-winning purpose-built facility owned by WingNut Films, the production company of Sir Peter Jackson.
JBL, 75 years strong, maintains that the ultimate goal of sound is to amplify music’s power to feel good, connected, and alive. From selling over 150 million portables and headphones, JBL’s key highlights include the launch of its first gaming range, JBL QUANTUM and introducing its first portable Bluetooth speaker made of recyclable materials, the JBL Flip 5 Eco.
Winning multiple awards including recognition at 2021 Red Dot Awards for the Go 3, Clip 4 and Charge 5 portable speakers, LIVE Series headphones, Reflect Mini NC earbuds, and its 5.0 MultiBeam soundbar, JBL has remained synonymous with connecting a wide range of audiences to life’s smaller, more intimate moments.
“In an age where brands come and go, JBL’s ability to deliver incredible sound and entertainment experiences has seen its audio products continue to delight customers all over the world for 75 years. We’re proud to be able to bring such an innovative audio brand, backed by an incredibly rich history, to our Kiwi customers. Plus, being able to partner with some of the country’s hottest artists continues JBL’s long legacy of embracing the music industry. We’re excited to see what the next 75 years will bring,” says Michael Sherman, Senior Brand Manager for JBL and Harman New Zealand.
For 75 years and counting, JBL has been the head-banging, impromptu-jamming, iconic-sounding brand for music lovers all over the world. No matter what you listen to or how you listen to it, for the next 75 years JBL will make sure you love every minute.