Hitting Play: The Evolution of Consumer Audio

Hitting Play: The Evolution of Consumer Audio

with Carsten Olesen, President Consumer Audio at HARMAN and Sharon Peng, Senior Vice President, Global Engineering, Lifestyle Consumer Audio, Harman Audio Talks continues celebrating JBL’s 80th anniversary with host Oisin Lunny joined by HARMAN experts to explore the evolution of audio technology — from the early days of portable sound to today’s immersive, personalized experiences. The conversation looks at how innovation in audio has shifted listening from something passive to something deeply felt, with breakthroughs in portable speakers, spatial audio and connected ecosystems transforming how we engage with sound in our everyday lives. At the heart of this journey is JBL, consistently pushing the boundaries of what sound can do to create richer, more emotional experiences. Drawing on real-world insight and forward-looking perspectives, the episode explores how emerging technologies such as AI and biosensing are set to redefine personal audio. From sound that adapts in real time to user behaviour to systems that can respond to emotion, the discussion highlights a future where audio becomes more intuitive, responsive and human. As innovation accelerates, the episode makes clear that the future of sound is not just about what we hear — but how it connects, enhances and moves us. ---------------------------------------- Learn More About JBL's 80th Anniversary here: https://www.jbl.com/our-story.html [https://www.jbl.com/our-story.html] Learn about The Art of Cinematic Sound: https://www.oisinlunny.com/the-art-of-cinematic-sound/ [https://www.oisinlunny.com/the-art-of-cinematic-sound/] Learn more about the Art of Listening here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CA63hS9H9ns [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CA63hS9H9ns] Our Audio Talks Playlist: https://listen.tidal.com/playlist/6d14f4ad-f1c7-404d-ba82-fe8d0a320b93 [https://listen.tidal.com/playlist/6d14f4ad-f1c7-404d-ba82-fe8d0a320b93] Make sure to follow us on Social Media and visit our Art of Listening website to get a full view on how HARMAN helps people get the most out of each moment they spend listening: Instagram @audiotalkspodcast Instagram @HARMAN_intl Twitter @HARMAN_intl Facebook @HARMANint LinkedIn @HARMAN International https://artoflistening.harman.com/ [https://artoflistening.harman.com/]

Hitting the Right Note: JBL’s Connection to Tokyo’s Kissa Bars

with Nick Dwyer, Tokyo-based filmmaker and Mark de Clive-Lowe, composer, pianist and producer Audio Talks continues its latest season celebrating JBL's 80th anniversary with host Oisin Lunny joined by Mark de Clive‑Low and filmmaker Nick Dwyer to explore Japan’s legendary Ongaku Kissa — intimate listening spaces where music, community and craftsmanship come together. The conversation unpacks the origins of Kissa culture and its evolution into “movie theatres for music,” where silence, respect and full‑album listening create a uniquely immersive experience. At the heart of many of these spaces are meticulously tuned JBL systems, engineered to reveal the full emotional depth of every record and deliver sound as it was intended to be heard. Drawing on personal stories and a decade‑long documentation of the culture, Mark and Nick explore how intentional listening — shaped by ritual, design and human connection — transforms how we experience music. From the reverence of the listener to the dedication of Kissa owners, the episode highlights how JBL technology and Japanese listening traditions work in harmony to create deeply transportive moments. --/-- Learn More About JBL's 80th Anniversary here: https://www.jbl.com/our-story.html [https://www.jbl.com/our-story.html] Listen to Mark de Clive-Lowe here: https://markdeclivelowe.bandcamp.com/ [https://markdeclivelowe.bandcamp.com/] Learn about A Century in Sound here: https://db.nipponconnection.com/en/film/2575/a-century-in-sound [https://db.nipponconnection.com/en/film/2575/a-century-in-sound] Learn about The Art of Cinematic Sound: https://www.oisinlunny.com/the-art-of-cinematic-sound/ [https://www.oisinlunny.com/the-art-of-cinematic-sound/] Learn more about the Art of Listening here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CA63hS9H9ns [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CA63hS9H9ns] Our Audio Talks Playlist: https://listen.tidal.com/playlist/6d14f4ad-f1c7-404d-ba82-fe8d0a320b93 [https://listen.tidal.com/playlist/6d14f4ad-f1c7-404d-ba82-fe8d0a320b93] Make sure to follow us on Social Media and visit our Art of Listening website to get a full view on how HARMAN helps people get the most out of each moment they spend listening: Instagram @audiotalkspodcast Instagram @HARMANintl Twitter @HARMANintl Facebook @HARMANint LinkedIn @HARMAN International https://artoflistening.harman.com/ [https://artoflistening.harman.com/]

Driven By Sound: Why JBL Rules the Road

with Kyle Roche, Global Marketing Director, Automotive at HARMAN and Jeff Triege, Head of Automotive Speaker Product Business, HARMAN To celebrate JBL’s 80th anniversary, Audio Talks continues its new season with host Oisin Lunny joined by Kyle Roche and Jeff Treige to explore why JBL remains synonymous with great sound on the road. In this episode, the conversation dives into JBL’s long‑standing partnership with Toyota, unpacking how decades of collaboration have shaped premium in‑car audio and elevated the driving experience for millions of listeners around the world. Tracing the evolution of JBL and Toyota’s sound partnership from its origins in the late 1990s to today’s globally scaled systems, Kyle and Jeff reveal how JBL’s Sonic DNA is carefully translated from concert stages and studios into the unique acoustic environment of the car cabin. From the emotional power of loud‑and‑clear sound to the craftsmanship behind tuning, technology and collaboration, the discussion explores how automotive audio influences brand perception, personal identity and everyday moments behind the wheel — and what the future holds as vehicles become more immersive, connected and autonomous. ---------------------------------------- Learn More About JBL's 80th Anniversary here: https://www.jbl.com/our-story.html [https://www.jbl.com/our-story.html] Read About JBL's Eight Decades of Audio Excellence here: https://issuu.com/jbl80/docs/jbl80yearspoweringvoices [https://issuu.com/jbl80/docs/jbl_80_years_powering_voices] Hear about Legendary DJ Carl Cox On Amazing Sound And Roaring Engines: https://www.oisinlunny.com/legendary-dj-carl-cox-on-amazing-sound-and-roaring-engines/ [https://www.oisinlunny.com/legendary-dj-carl-cox-on-amazing-sound-and-roaring-engines/] (or Podigee) Learn about The Art of Cinematic Sound: https://www.oisinlunny.com/the-art-of-cinematic-sound/ [https://www.oisinlunny.com/the-art-of-cinematic-sound/] Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Miu2vbwRBY [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Miu2vbwRBY] Learn more about the Art of Listening here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CA63hS9H9ns [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CA63hS9H9ns] Our Audio Talks Playlist: https://listen.tidal.com/playlist/6d14f4ad-f1c7-404d-ba82-fe8d0a320b93 [https://listen.tidal.com/playlist/6d14f4ad-f1c7-404d-ba82-fe8d0a320b93] Make sure to follow us on Social Media and visit our Art of Listening website to get a full view on how HARMAN helps people get the most out of each moment they spend listening: Instagram @audiotalkspodcast Instagram @HARMANintl Twitter @HARMANintl Facebook @HARMANint LinkedIn @HARMAN International https://artoflistening.harman.com/ [https://artoflistening.harman.com/]

How Concerts Became Cultural Moments

with Raul Gonzalez, Senior Applications Engineer for Performance Audio at HARMAN and Stew Hume, Managing Editor of Total Production Magazine To celebrate JBL’s 80th anniversary, Audio Talks kicks off a new season with host Oisin Lunny joined by Stew Hume, Managing Editor of Total Production International, and Raul Gonzalez, Senior Applications Engineer at HARMAN Professional, to explore how JBL’s professional audio innovation has helped transform live concerts into global cultural movements. The conversation traces JBL’s deep roots in live sound — from early milestones like Woodstock ’69 and Pink Floyd’s quadraphonic experiments, to today’s stadium‑scale productions powered by JBL Professional systems. Stew shares insight from the production front line, unpacking how evolving audience expectations, theatre‑inspired storytelling, and cinematic stage design have redefined what a modern concert experience looks and feels like. Bringing together creative and technical perspectives, Stew and Raul unpack what it takes to deliver today’s biggest live moments. From production design and storytelling to JBL Pro systems and immersive audio, they reveal how technology and creativity now work hand‑in‑hand to turn concerts into unforgettable cultural experiences. ---------------------------------------- Learn More About JBL's 80th Anniversary here: https://www.jbl.com/our-story.html [https://www.jbl.com/our-story.html] Read About JBL's Eight Decades of Audio Excellence here: https://issuu.com/jbl80/docs/jbl80yearspoweringvoices [https://issuu.com/jbl80/docs/jbl_80_years_powering_voices] Check out Total Production Magazine here: https://www.tpimagazine.com/ [https://www.tpimagazine.com/] Learn more about the Art of Listening here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CA63hS9H9ns [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CA63hS9H9ns] Our Audio Talks Playlist: https://listen.tidal.com/playlist/6d14f4ad-f1c7-404d-ba82-fe8d0a320b93 [https://listen.tidal.com/playlist/6d14f4ad-f1c7-404d-ba82-fe8d0a320b93] Make sure to follow us on Social Media and visit our Art of Listening website to get a full view on how HARMAN helps people get the most out of each moment they spend listening: Instagram @audiotalkspodcast Instagram @HARMANintl Twitter @HARMANintl Facebook @HARMANint LinkedIn @HARMAN International https://artoflistening.harman.com/ [https://artoflistening.harman.com/]

New Years (R)evolution

With Andrew Melchior, CTO Massive Attack On this episode of Audio Talks, host Oisin Lunny welcomes Andrew Melchior—technologist, artist, and creative collaborator with Massive Attack, Björk, and David Bowie—for a deep dive into the shifting ground beneath music, technology, and culture. From Manchester’s vibrant music scene to pioneering spatial audio and mixed reality, Andrew’s career is a journey through the edges of innovation. Together, they trace the arc from classical roots and analog synths to the digital frontiers of streaming, AI, and immersive experiences. Andrew shares candid stories of musical mentorship, band adventures, and the evolution from vinyl to virtual worlds—whether helping Elbow produce their first EP, launching BowieNet at EMI, or building Massive Attack’s experimental Phantom app that remixed music using heartbeats and motion sensors. The conversation explores the risks and possibilities of synthetic media, the rise of generative AI, and the urgent need to protect human creativity and cultural identity From sonifying cosmic radio bursts in a Finnish cathedral to advocating for climate-conscious touring, Andrew’s vision is rooted in sustaining human agency and meaning amidst rapid technological change. Tune in for a masterclass in creativity, resilience, and the future of music—where technology is a tool, not a tyrant, and being useful is the ultimate revolution. ---------------------------------------- Learn more about Andrew here: https://andymelchior.com/ [https://andymelchior.com/] Hear from Andrew here: https://andrewmelchior.bandcamp.com/track/le-cri-de-c-urs [https://andrewmelchior.bandcamp.com/track/le-cri-de-c-urs] Learn about Genotone here: https://genotone.com/ [https://genotone.com/] Our Audio Talks Playlist: https://listen.tidal.com/playlist/6d14f4ad-f1c7-404d-ba82-fe8d0a320b93 [https://listen.tidal.com/playlist/6d14f4ad-f1c7-404d-ba82-fe8d0a320b93] Make sure to follow us on Social Media and visit our Art of Listening website to get a full view on how HARMAN helps people get the most out of each moment they spend listening: Instagram @audiotalkspodcast Instagram @HARMANintl Twitter @HARMANintl Facebook @HARMANint LinkedIn @HARMAN International https://artoflistening.harman.com/ [https://artoflistening.harman.com/]