Jackie Tien, publisher of Lighting&Sound America (LSA) since its launch in May 2004, has announced a management buyout of the magazine from the Professional Lighting and Sound Association (PLASA), based in the UK. Jackie has partnered with LSA editor-in-chief David Barbour, who has led LSA’s editorial team since its 2004 launch.
Tien said: “I am very proud of what we have accomplished since Lighting&Sound America launched in 2004. Editor David Barbour and I are very excited to continue growing LSA with an amazing group of colleagues and industry supporters and friends in the years to come. Our thanks and best wishes to our PLASA UK peers, with whom we have worked for many years.”
Barbour said: “I’m really looking forward to LSA continuing to cover all the changing technologies in theatre, music and touring, theatre architecture, and all that is the live entertainment spectrum. We have never stopped working for this community we love, and we are excited to do so as managers of our own media group.”
Tien has worked in the theatre and entertainment technology media and trade show industries for 30+ years. Prior to Lighting&Sound America, she worked with the LDI trade show and was the publisher of Lighting Dimensions and Entertainment Design magazines. She is a graduate of Columbia University’s Barnard College with an English major and psychology minor.
Barbour has also worked in theatre publishing and media for over 30 years. Prior to LSA, he was editor-in-chief of Lighting Dimensions and Entertainment Design magazines. He is co-president of the Drama Desk, a member of the New York Drama Critics’ Circle, and a nominator for the Henry Hewes Design Awards. A graduate of Providence College with a degree in English, he also has a master’s degree in performance studies from New York University.
Peter Heath, PLASA managing director, commented, “This move is a natural progression for the publication; it allows LSA to continue being an industry-leading publication and allows PLASA to focus on membership activity. Both PLASA and Lighting&Sound America will continue to work together in our common goals of serving the industry.”
Continued Tien, “I want to thank our incredible advertisers and readers who continue to support LSA every month, many of whom we have worked with since LSA first launched. We look forward to continuing working, creatively and effectively, with all of you. To all LSA’s vendors, thank you for your high-quality work and supporting our LSA community all these years. Most importantly, I want to thank the entire LSA team, and our contributing writers and photographers, for their many years of amazing, top-level hard work, professionalism, loyalty, and friendship. You make coming to work every day easy, satisfying, and joyful. At the end of the day, it’s about collaboration, respect, and fun.”
