From a history of live shows that include some of the most talked about events of all time, Woodstock, US Live Aid, the NYC New Year’s Eve ball drop, to some of the most renowned tours ever, including Bruce Springsteen’s The Rising Tour, Lenny Kravitz’ Always On The Run Tour and Heart’s Royal Flush Tour, JBL Professional’s history is steeped in legacy.
Inviting guests to celebrate its birthday, JBL Professional had a jam-packed line-up for those in attendance. From an immersive walk through eight decades of history and even further back through founder of the company, James B. Lansing’s past where he was responsible for creating loudspeakers for radio manufacturers as well as his invention of two-way cinema loudspeakers in collaboration with MGM Studios. This subsequently led Lansing to create the very first studio monitor, The Lansing Iconic, as well as one of the first luxury home speakers in the world, the Lansing Iconic Salon.
The Playback Gallery took place at HARMAN Professional’s base in its Northridge headquarters while attendees were also treated to a surprise performance from FINNEAS later in the trip at The Roxy Theatre. For the JBL team, its birthday celebration was at the forefront of the company’s mind years before it hit 2026. David Glaubke, Director of Global Communications at HARMAN Professional, elaborated: “The planning process has been many years in the making. So much of JBL’s historical material and products have been in storage for a long time, and a big part of the work was not just accessing those pieces but understanding how they connect to the brand’s broader story,” he stated.
“It was as much about identifying which elements of our heritage could best tell JBL’s story – from luxury to professional, consumer, and automotive – as it was about creating a visceral experience showing the full breadth of what JBL has accomplished in 80 years.”
The Playback Gallery started in the 1940s, following the company’s inception, where the D130 Driver was released, which went on to be used in a multitude of applications from cinemas to PA systems, Woodstock 1969 and even featured in The Grateful Dead’s famous Wall of Sound.
The 60s and 70s took attendees through home-use kit and studio monitors, with an inside look at the C38 Baron and the JBL 4320, which was created for and with Capitol Studios in Hollywood. The 4310 was so popular in the late 1960’s for sound engineers that a commercial version was created, and by 1971 the JBL L100 Century was released.
The 80s is where it heated up for live events, with the Cabaret 4623 debuting as part of the Cabaret Series, introducing portable packages for artists. The first model of the EON family was introduced in the 1990s, with EON Power15 – with its success accounting for a category of speakers utilised today.
The 2000s saw JBL introduce its line array technology to smaller venues with the VRX928LA, further signifying the company’s approach to scalable solutions, while the 2010s saw the DD67000 Everest debut as a three-way system as well as JBL’s first all-in-one PA system with the EON One. Entering the 2020s, JBL introduced the Summit Makalu, its 12-inch floor-standing loudspeaker, as well as its PartyBox 720, the JBL Flip 7 and, of course, the JBL Tour One M3 TX headphones.
The celebrations didn’t just feature the Playback Gallery but also a tour of BMO Stadium and a visit to Larrabee Studios. TPi was also taken to the Griffith Observatory and also took in an event at The Roxy Theatre in Los Angeles, which saw a performance from FINNEAS, who also interviewed HARMAN executives Young Sohn, Christian Sobottka, and Dave Rogers, who appeared “not in their usual party attire” having just attended a board meeting – showing that even in the midst of celebrating 80 years of legacy, the show must go on.
The singer-songwriter and producer posed the question to the trio: “What do the next 80 years look like for JBL Professional?” To that, Sohn replied: “The best part of JBL is the experience; it’s young – like my namesake… And for the next 80 years, we want to stay forever young. You don’t remember our products, you remember the experience, what we’re all doing is creating experiences and that’s what I want everyone to take away from the past and next 80 years.”
Sobottka was questioned about the longevity of the company. “It starts in the past,” he commented. “If you want to build something for the future, you have to understand where you’re coming from. We have seen the legendary history, individuals pushing the limits. We have new technology pushing limits, changing customer demands, which influences our entire business – on one side, the respect for the past, and the other, the courage to challenge it and reinvent it every day. Being very proud, respectful and full of courage keeps us alive, and we will stay alive.”
Looking back to the foundation of the company by Lansing, Glaubke recalled the “meaningful moment” of watching the founder’s family, including his two surviving children, walk through the Gallery. “It was a moment that made me think about Lansing’s entrepreneurship, the commitment to his craft, and how involved the family was in the infancy of the business. It was an unforgettable moment for them and those who came to recognise the family,” he said. “Another highlight for me was the sense of pride our employees had when walking through the decades of products that came before them, and in some cases, products they were responsible for.”
JBL Professional will continue the 80th birthday celebrations throughout the year, celebrating eight decades of excellence across multiple disciplines, from professional to consumer, to automotive and, like FINNEAS, TPi cannot wait for the next 80 years…
Words: Alicia Pollitt
Photos: JBL Professional
