MARYVILLE, TN (10.13.25) – From September 27 through October 4, the Volunteer Audio team was set up in Maryville TN at the Smoky Mountain Bike Rally. Brian Cargile and Greg Wallace with 3 Phases Marketing were on site supporting Jay Bradshaw and the Volunteer Audio Team.
Jay Bradshaw relayed “What a week it was. We spent eight days on site doing live audio demos and installing full Hertz, Soundtream Reserve and Velocity Systems. By the end of the rally we had completed installs on 58 motorcycles… Yes, 58 bikes in one week!”
The huge Volunteer Audio work tent area was packed throughout the week.
Greg Wallace (C) answering questions for bikers.
Continuing “But more than just the installs what made this event truly special were the people. We met so many amazing riders, many long time Volunteer Audio customers, and many we have known only through the phone calls or online chats. Getting to finally meet those people, face-to-face, and hear their stories was amazing. We could see the excitement in their eyes as they listened to our systems in person and it was incredible.”
“My partner Brian Gargile and I worked the 3rd Annual Smoky Mountain Bike Rally to support Jay and our brands he supports. Those brands include Soundstream Motorcycle Audio, Hertz, SoundSkins, Velocity Speaker Designs, American Hard Bag, Breezy Ryder and Hog Badges. Live demos of several of these brands took place throughout the Rally. Tons of Harley riders were very impressed with the Soundstream V2 and full line of replacement head units. The Rally was such a great opportunity for thousands of Volunteer Audio’s YouTube followers to hear systems in person….and they were certainly not disappointed. It was also a super opportunity to support Jay and our vendors,” Greg stated.
Brian Cargile (L) talks with a biker on the show stopping 2024 Road Glide Volunteer Audio decked out at the event.
The Volunteer Audio area covered a large area at the Smoky Mountain Bike Rally.
Beyond the scheduled installs, the Volunteer Audio Team also helped hundreds of riders with polarity tests, radio updates and configuration checks to make sure every system was sounding and performing to the max.
Volunteer Audio had vendor support from Elettromedia/AdvancedMarketing (Hertz US):Steve Bolden, Rob Wempe and Chris McNulty. Logan at American Hard Bag jumped in on installs. Jeff and Jamie from Hog Bag were onsite to connect with bikers.
Concluding Bradshaw offered “While part of our crew was on the road, we could not have done it without the team that held down the fort back home. A huge thank you to Jared, Erwin and Trent for keeping the day-to-day business running smoothly, answering calls, fulfilling orders and taking care of customers so we could focus on serving riders at the rally. You made it possible for us to be there and we appreciate you more than you know. Thank you to everyone who came out, supported us and made this event one we will never forget. We can’t wait to see you all again in 2026.”
DENVER, CO (10.13.25) – VOXX hosted a Snake Pit tactical training at the Progressive Distribution facility in Denver on Thursday, October 9th. Justin Gear, VOXX Product Specialist, and West Coast Regional Airon Ayala orchestrated the presentation. Progressive Distribution’s Jeremy Foss and Alvino Raigoza worked to make all run smoothly.
Dealers filled the meeting area in the Progressive Distribution Denver location with Justin Gear up front.
The Snake Pit presentation included covering cutting-edge firmware solutions, new hardware innovations, expanded T-Harness coverage plus expert installation tips from Justin Gear upfront.
Jeremy Foss related “Dealers started to show up early and the meeting area was packed with engaged attendees as Justin was upfront showcasing the latest VIPER and Avital products to get the remote start season kicked off in high gear.”
An area in the large warehouse was arranged with a large display screen upfront and tables positioned so all could enjoy the presentation after the catered Panda Express dinner.
Gear relayed “Members in the audience were certainly engaged and ready to work to get consumers into their stores to drive business for this year’s remote start season.”
Dealers were able to spend time connecting with each other during dinner.
DIAMOND BAR, CA (10.13.25) – The SEMA Professional Restylers Organization (PRO) has announced the six automotive restyling shops that will compete in its coveted PRO Cup Challenge at the 2025 SEMA Show, Nov. 4-7 in Las Vegas, Nev. The finalists are: Auto Additions Inc., Auto Trim Restyling, Automotive Concepts, DV8 Customs LLC, MARS of Billings, and Sun Line Sunroofs.
Taking place in the West Hall in the PRO Booth (#50197), the PRO Cup Challenge celebrates the creativity, craftsmanship, and innovation of the restyling industry while demonstrating the value of working with manufacturers and dealers to offer market-ready vehicle accessory packages.
The competition challenges finalists to:
Design an accessory package for a new-model vehicle that appeals to a broad audience.
Deliver a dealer-ready build, with criteria of no more than 40 labor hours per package installed and a wholesale cost under $12,500.
“The PRO Cup Challenge provides the best opportunity for automotive restylers to showcase their skills and talents on the industry’s global stage,” said Kevin Gillis, PRO Chair. “From stylish designs to accessory upgrades that enhance convenience and comfort, this year’s competition will shine a light on builds designed to excite enthusiasts and deliver greater profit to dealers.”
Bringing its proven expertise back to the competition is Auto Trim Restyling, named the 2024 PRO Cup Challenge’s People’s Choice Award winner for its customized ’24 Toyota Land Cruiser. Meanwhile, newcomers DV8 Customs and Sun Line Sunroofs will make their PRO Cup Challenge debut, showcasing their vision and talent alongside other great shops.
“Attendees can expect a build that shows off our style, creativity, and attention to detail,” said Nick Svec, Managing Partner at DV8 Customs. “We do have a theme locked down and are currently in the creative process of really making it come to life.”
Building on the momentum of past competitions, the 2025 PRO Cup Challenge will feature parts and accessories from leading manufacturers in the restyling realm. While buyers can visit the West Hall and see new products from exhibitors’ booths directly, the PRO Cup Challenge brings their products together in real-world applications, demonstrating how their parts can be used to create stunning, marketable vehicle customizations.
A panel of expert judges will select the PRO Cup Challenge winner based on vehicle marketability, ease of reproduction, creativity, and profitability. Showgoers can also vote for their favorite build, recognizing it with the People’s Choice Award. Winners will be announced at the PRO Happy Hour on Wednesday, Nov. 5, from 4-5 p.m. in West Hall, Booth #50197.
For more information on the PRO Cup Challenge, visit www.semapcc.com.
Qualified SEMA Show attendees are encouraged to register now to secure discounted rates and maximize their ROI. Registration is $75 through Sept. 26. Hotel reservations at guaranteed low rates are available exclusively through SEMA’s official hotel provider, onPeak.
12VOLT CENTRAL STUDIOS (10.11.25) The 12volt Spin-to-Win Wheel was created to bring an element of fun to the 12volt industry. The weekly 12volt Spin-To-Win Wheel is now spinning in Year 7.
The 12volt Spin-To-Win Wheel rolled for the 342nd time on Friday morning on October 10th. The Wheel landed on the VIPER space and the SineWave Car Audio slip was drawn from the jar. An Instagram post of the winning spin slip was posted. A video of the Wheel spin was also posted.
We reached out to the winning retailer in GraysLake, IL and owner Joe Giallombardo answered the phone and was very happy to hear the news about winning a VIPER prize as the remote start season us getting ready to crank up with winter on the way.
Spinning out a winner each Friday, a lucky 12volt retailer can win a cool prize and top brands receive visibility across the 12volt industry.
12volt brands with a space on the 12volt Spin-To-Win Wheel include KICKER, RDV, PowerBass, CRUX, JBL, Kenwood, JVC, Race Sport Lighting, EBS Audio, King Boxes, Massive Audio, Q Power and VIPER. 12volt News and 12voltBeat $100. cash awards also have spaces on the 12volt Spin-To-Wheel for the winning 12volt retailer.
Past winners of the 12volt Spin-To-Win include…Stereo & Video Center-Tyler TX, The Outlaw Garage-Franklin TN, Exotic Sounds-West Palm Beach FL, Endless Possibilities-Aurora IL., Go Auto Sound in Union City NJ, Al&Ed’s South Bay CA, No Limitz Car Audio in Upland CA, Neil’s Specialty-Eureka CA, Sturgess Customs-Lexington SC, Audio By Art-San Antonio TX, SMS Car Audio in Marreo LA and Sweet Wheelz in Mississauga Ontario Canada, Cartronics in Biscayne FL, The CarAudio Shop in St Louis MO, Exotic Sounds in West Palm Beach FL, High North Customs in Grand Prairie Alberta Canada and AMS Audio in Bakersfield CA, Team QRT in Abbeyville LA and California Sound in Fontana CA and Jackie Cooper Electronics, Oklahoma City OK, MARS Audio-Orlando FL, All American Audio in Nutley NJ, Proline Car Stereo in Brooklyn NY, Custom Shop Miami, Tunes and Tint in Lakeland FL, Mobile Concepts Inc in Mokena IL, Seismic Auto Sound in Concord CA, Brooklyn Car Audio in Brooklyn NY, Audio Solutions in Florence MS, Enhanced Customs in Largo FL, Rayco Auto Clinic, Audio Design in San Jose CA, Go Bass Mode in Florida, Avenue Sound in Freeport NY, Audio Plus in Riverview FL, Stereo Zone in Whittier CA, In-Phase Car Audio in Omaha NE, AutoLife Group, N&H Electronics, SK Customs, Land & Sea, The Audio One, NC Custom Shop,Tint World Orlando, Ricky Smith’s Audio, VIP Custom Woks, Mobile Audio Concepts, Audio Lad, Sound Sensations, Dave’s Stereo, Stereo Design, Badlands Customs, Custom Audio-Erie PA, Voltz Autosports-Bridgeport CT, Infinity Sound and Security-Kissimmee, Autosport Plus-Canton OH, Stereo City Pros in Carmichael CA, Devine Concepts in Naples FL, The Sound Shop in Indian Trail NC, Extreme Performance Audio in Fresno CA, Audio Depot in Arlington TX, Audio Security in Houston TX, Earmark Car Audio and Marine in Lewisville TX, Audio Jam in Bear DE, Stereo City Ontario, Ontario CA, Audio By Art, San Antonio TX, Code Zero Customs in Tulsa OK, Ken’s Car Tunes in Mobile AL, Soundz Plus in Naperville IL, Markland Designs in Lithonia GA, Electronics Plus in Salinas CA, Xtreme Autosports in Santa Clarita CA, Superior Audio Sounds in San Angelo TX, Model Electronics in Ramsey NJ, Texas Dreamz Customs in Spring TX, Wired Electronics in Linden NJ and Intense Car Audio in OKC, OK, Underground Auto in Sarasota FL, Car Toys Tulsa in Tulsa OK, Real Audio in Erie PA, Go Autosound in Union NJ, DFM Stereo in Ukiah CA, Impact Tint and Audio in Tyler TX, Mobile Sound Systems in Arlington TX, Redline Audio and Performance In Spindale NC, Car Audio Land in San Diego CA, Audio X Custom Car Audio in Florence AL, River Oaks Car Stereo in Houston TX, American Radio Orlando in Sanford FL, Illustrious Customs in Woodbridge VA, Remote Start Pros in Lawrence MA, HiPro Audio in Victoria TX, AudioPlanetNY in Huntington Station NY, Endless Possibilities in Aurora IL, Audio Finesse in Santa Monica, Drive Customs in San Luis Obispo CA, Custom Works, Noblesville IN, AtoZ Detail in West Haven CT, Cars 843 in Charleston SC, CarTunes Atlanta in Atlanta GA, Mobile Concepts in Garwood NJ, Duke’s Car Stereo in Flint MI, Infinity Auto Sound, King Car Audio in Norwalk CT, PopTronics in Baltimore MD, Sanford Sound in Sanford ME, Angelvip2474 in Draper UT, Dynamic Car Audio in Baltimore MD, Hi-Pro Audio in Victoria TX, Car Stereo Max in Houston, Pro Audio Center in Richland MS, Rhodes Off-Roads in Farmington MO, Model Electronics in Ramsey NJ, Class A Sounds in Athens OH. Just Audio Video in North Providence RI, CT_Custom in Philadelphia, Audio Solutions in Florence MS and The Audio Shop RC in Rapid City SD, DG Motorsportz in High Point NC, ST Mobile in Texarkana TX, AR Custom OC in Orange CA, Temecula Mobile Sound in Temecula CA, Unique Auto Sound in Lindenhurst NY, D’s Garage in Corona CA and DS2 Mobile Solutionz in Tomball TX, C G Car Audio in Kissimmee FL, California Audio in West Valley City UT and The Action Audio Store in Wethersfield CT, Eclipse Car Audio in Vancouver WA, Electronics Depot Car Audio in Altamonte Springs FL. Car Audio Garage in Pearland TX, Pinnacle Autosound in Lake City FL, J H Audio in Bowling Green VA, The Car Audio Shop StL in High Ridge MO, Anthonys Car Stereo in North Highlands CA, Flynn Audio in Middleton WI, Living Loud Car Audio in Pelham AL, Trail Star Audio in Minnesota, On The Spot Audio in Pennsauken NJ, Animated Car Audio in Essex MD, West Coast Car Audio in Citrus Heights CA, Modified Auto Sound in East Alton IL, Star Car Audio in Hermiston OR, VapeNAudio in Clovis CA, SoundWorks in Millersville MD Eclipse Car Audio in Vancouver WA, J A Custom Audio in Houston TX Jose Electronics in North Hills CA, Sound Proof Car Stereo in Douglasville GA, Auto Additions in Springfield IL, Elite Car Audio in Hollywood CA, Masters Car Stereo in Greenville SC, Audio Plus in Eden NC, Seismic AutoSound in Novato CA, Car Audio Addicts in Pittsburgh PA and AudioKing Tinting in Yakima WA, Arias Tint and Alarms in Duncanville TX, Odeh Car Audio in Gadsden AL, 12volt Specialist in Newark DE, Cutting Edge Audio in San Diego CA, Southern Auto Fab in Lafayette LA, California Sound in Fontana CA, Big Boyz Toyz in Florence SC, 740 Audio in Athens OH and 12volt Outfitters in Hollywood FL., High Quality Auto Sound, Lawrence MA, Custom Car Stereo SC in Spartanburg SC, Zier Box in Dallas TX, Maximum in Manville NJ, Audio Car Stereo in Miami FL, Mach 1 Audio in Washington MO, Doren Car Stereo in Queens Village NY, Side-x-Side Audio in South Charleston WV, Sound Concept in Nanuet NY, Pda Road Gear in Littleton CO and A-Plus Audio and Tinting Newington CT, Audio Electronics in Indianapolis IN, Tint and Sound in Frederick MD, Tint World Wilmington DE, VIP Autoworks in Mentor OH, All Out Audio in Killeen TX, Yong’s Audio in Indianapolis IN, Custom Audio Concepts in Lima OH, Clear Vibrations in Quakertown PA, The Outlaw Garage in Columbia TN, Xpert Car Audio in Layton UT, No Doubt Window Tint in Ardmore OK, San Diego Car Stereo in San Diego CA, Smart Audio in Lawrence MA, Car Audio One in Chula Vista CA, Audio Excellence in Orlando FL, Ultimate Sounds 1 in Wilmington NC, King Kong Custom Audio in Albuquerque NM. Manny’s Customs in Stockton CA, OD Car Audio in Pasco WA, Car Tunes on Line in Largo FL, INOV8 Audio in Houston TX, Kartel Mobile Electronics in Waterbury CT, Pro Auto Sound in Hialeah FL Mobile AVC in Brunswick ME, Fabulous Auto Alarms in Passaic NJ, Jimmy_Sound_System in Lawrence MA, American Audio Concepts in Houston TX, Arias Tint and Alarm in Duncanville TX, Big Papas Car Audio in Cincinnati OH, Houston Audio Lab in Houston TX, 901 Sound in Memphis TN, Kurtz Car Stereo in Traverse City MI, Sound By Stephen, Music In Motion in Alsip IL, Current Automotive Design in Sparta NJ, Prestige Sounds in Pompano Beach FL, Mobile AVC in Brunswick ME, Telza Audio in Columbia SC, Limelight Automotive in Webster NY, Victory Lap Auto Restyling East Moline IL, Unique Audio VA in Lorton VA, Builds by Paul in Litchfield AZ, Voodoo Customs in Haltom City TX, Elevated Design in Phoenix AZ, Mobilework/Tintworks in Santa Maria CA, Nappo Car Audio in Houston, Platinum Car Audio in Washington, Ballistic Audiowerks in Smithsburg MD, Xteme-Car Audio in Bremerton WA, Beltline Motors in Decatur AL, Ultimate Sounds in Chattanooga TN, Santa Fe Auto Sound in Overland Park KS, Soundelux Car Audio in Chula Vista CA, Kartele Mobile Electronics in Waterbury CT, BK Audio in Pasco WA, CenCal Audio in Madura CA, Xtreme Auto Sound in Louisville KY, Victorylap Auto Styling in East Moline IL, Car Trendz in Alexandria VA, BLVD Customs in Lakeland FL, Audio Systems in Montclair CA, Fitment_nyc_shop in Jamaica NY, King Audio in Norwalk CT. Foss Audio in Tukwila WA, OG Car Audio in Kissimmee FL, Tint and Tunes in Sacramento CA, Dr Dashboard in Evansville IN, The Sound Shop in Chino CA, Extreme Concepts in Albertville AL,The-King of Custom in Longwood FL, Car Audio Depot in Modesto CA and Audio Dreams in Acworth GA, PCH Custom Audio in Long Beach CA, Crazy Ralph’s Car Stereo in Gonzales LA, Joe’s Cycle Therapy in Somerset MA, Cal Custom Audio in Tracy CA, NWA Audio in Bentonville AR, XT Audio in Miami, Tim’s Audio in Newport OR, Build’s By Paul in Litchfield AZ, DAW Discount Audio in Paramount CA and M12 Audio in Bluefield WVA, Jam City Pros in Caddo Mills TX, Finishline Shop in Lumberton NJ, Genuine Custom Audio in Riverside CA,Ballistic Autowerks in Hagerstown MD, Jeff’s Custom Car Audio in Royce TX, Pitbull’s in Houston, Aspen Sound in North Spokane WA, CP Designs in Jarrell TX and D&B Sales in Ft Wayne IN, Precision Custom Audio in Riverview FL, The King of Custom, Active Sound in NC, Car Stereo Plus in Sumter SC, Audioworks DE in Newark DE, Active Sounds in NC Speed Car Audio in Dallas, Voodoo Customs in Luling LA, BK Customs 616 in Grand Rapids MI, TPD HiFI in Broken Bow OK, HiFi Crusin’ in Hattiesburg MS, Superior Audio Sounds in San Angelo TX Intense Kustom Audio in Brentwod NY, California Audio in West Valley UT, H A Ross Entertainment, Voodoo Customs in Haltom TX, Absolutely Creative Customs in Boulder CO, Mobile Sound in Temecula CA, Redline Auto Sports in Hicksville NY, Sparked Innovations in Knoxville TN, Boosted Build in Warrenton OR, Prodigy Car Audio iManteca CA, Snow’s Auto in Spokane WA and PMC Customs, White Oak PA, InTune in Redmond OR, Tint Wrap Audio Guys in Fresno CA, Ultimate Sounds and Tinting in Chattanooga TN, MetJoe Auto Electronics in Kenilworth NJ, Pyramid Customs in Fort Worth TX and California Audio in Salt Lake Valley City UT.
Congratulations to all.
WTF……Win This Friday……See the next 12volt Spin-To-Win Wheel on Friday, October 17th!
TAMPA, FL (10.10.25) – Once again in Tampa, IBEX showcased the latest in marine audio and accessories. IBEX, the International BoatBuilders Exhibition and Conference is North America’s premier tactical trade event for the recreational marine industry held annually at the Tampa Convention Center. This year‘s event took place October 7th through the 9th.
This year there were over 700 exhibiting companies with attendance of 8,000 industry professionals reported. The pace of innovation in the marine industry is making waves. Overall, the event focused on the latest in boat building, design and service with a focus on sustaining a strong future of innovation and education.
Attendees line up as they get set to hit the IBEX2025 event floor.
See action from the IBEX2025 event #ibex2025_12v.
A growing number of traditional 12volt companies are making statements in the marine marketplace. Several of those companies communicate with the 12volt Center Studios and were on site with a booth and activities at the event.
The activities of KICKER, MODUS, Alpine Marine and JBL are spotlighted in the graphic in this article. #ibex2025_12v to see IBEX2025 activities.
Stay tuned for follow up IBEX2025 press press from each for thee companies.
DIAMOND BAR, CA (10.10.25) – Automotive enthusiasts and builders can discover new products from trusted aftermarket brands with speed, relevance, and accuracy thanks to a new digital platform powered by the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) and SEMA Data.
SEMA Connected is the automotive aftermarket industry’s new online hub for enthusiasts to find high-quality automotive parts and products, manufacturers to showcase their latest innovations, and resellers to reach high-intent buyers. It’s a product discovery engine, brand showcase, and buyer connection tool all in one, built for everyone in the automotive aftermarket ecosystem.
“When parts data is messy or inconsistent, everyone loses time—and trust,” said Gigi Ho, SEMA Vice President of Technology, Data, and Strategic Initiatives. “We built SEMA Connected to help buyers save time and eliminate frustration, providing them with results that are organized and informative.”
Like the SEMA Show, But 365 Days a Year SEMA Connected is the first platform of its kind designed to mirror the organization of the SEMA Show floor, allowing visitors to select their area of interest, browse by vehicle, explore featured products and vehicles, or create their own build list.
Organized by enthusiast-driven categories like Hot Rod Alley, Racing & Performance, or Trucks, SUVs & Off-Road, users can explore the platform in a way that feels familiar and purposeful with product details and content at their fingertips.
Key Features Include:
Smart, vehicle-specific search that delivers relevant, accurate product results
Showcase opportunities for brands to highlight promotions, new product announcements, and company news
Retailer and location directory with geolocation tools to guide enthusiasts to purchase points
Data request functionality for resellers to easily connect with brands and access product information through SEMA Data PIMS portal
Powered by Precision, Backed by Data Excellence SEMA Connected is more than just a digital tool: It’s an online marketplace designed to help the automotive aftermarket industry make more informed decisions. All brands that appear on SEMA Connected must meet SEMA Data standards to ensure the product information on their website is accurate, complete, and useful to buyers. At launch, brands that have achieved Data Excellence status within the past two years are featured.
Automotive aftermarket manufacturers and brands can feature their products on SEMA Connected by becoming a SEMA Data member. Likewise, resellers, distributors, or eCommerce businesses can appear on the “Where to Buy” section for products by registering through SEMA Data.
LIBERTYVILLE, IL (10.10.25) – Designed as a DIRECT UPGRADE for the factory rear speaker soundbar, the ALL-NEW MBQJ-48CRGB24+ packs in (4) 8-inch coaxial speakers in a premium enclosure and brings booming, crystal-clear audio in a sleek, Plug-and-Play design tailored exclusively for the latest Jeep Wrangler (JL) and Gladiator (JT) models (2024 through current models). Get ready to BRING THE CONCERT!
Innovative and dynamic addressable RGB LED lighting packs a concert-like stage atmosphere and displays your customer’s songs through moving audio. Embrace LOUD and undistorted MB Quart performance that is tuned exclusively for Jeep® Wrangler (JL) / Gladiator (JT) 2024-Current models.
DIAMOND BAR, CA (10.9.25) – Attendees at the 2025 SEMA Show, held Nov. 4-7 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, will get to explore a Show floor full of advanced technologies, interactive demonstrations, networking opportunities, and action-packed outdoor activations, stunts, and live motorsports demonstrations that turn automotive innovation into real-world action.
Nitro Circus Moto Mayhem will bring top freestyle motocross riders to the stage, performing impressive feats, precise tricks, and remarkable maneuvers. These performances demonstrate the skill, creativity, and technique of world-class riders, giving audiences a close-up view of their talent and control.
Performances will take place multiple times daily, giving attendees numerous opportunities to catch the action: Tuesday, Nov. 4, to Thursday, Nov. 6, at 10 a.m., 12 p.m., 2 p.m., and 4 p.m. Friday, Nov. 7, at 10 a.m., 12 p.m., 2 p.m., and 3 p.m.
“The outdoor activations are an essential part of the SEMA Show experience,” said Tom Gattuso, SEMA Vice President of Events. “They allow attendees to see how innovations on the show floor translate into real-world performance, highlighting the creativity and technical skill that drive the automotive industry.”
“Once outside, attendees are immersed in the action,” said Andy Tompkins, SEMA Trade Show Director. “Engines roar, tires squeal, and performers push their vehicles to the limit. Visitors can watch this artistry up close, see skilled riders and drivers in real time, and feel the energy of the crowd. It is an experience unlike any other and adds a dynamic element to the SEMA Show and complements the trend and product discovery they experience on the Show floor.”
Other featured outdoor activations include Horsepower Rodeo, which will bring burnouts, drifting, and spectacular motorsports exhibitions to the Diamond Lot adjacent to West Hall, and the OPTIMA Peak Performance Challenge, a timed acceleration and braking competition that establishes the ability of the car and driver to accelerate, negotiate tight turns, and stop in a designated spot. SEMA Show Friday ticket holders can expect plenty of action as well from an elite group of OPTIMA-powered drivers that will be burning rubber the entirety of the day. Demonstrations run throughout the week, giving attendees multiple chances to see automotive skill, with professional drivers and riders providing interactive experiences and photo opportunities.
The 2025 SEMA Show gives attendees the opportunity to explore cutting-edge products, forge new business connections, and gain insights into the latest trends in the aftermarket industry. For more information and to register, visit www.semashow.com.
All enthusiasts are invited to experience SEMA Show Friday – Open to the Public on Friday, Nov. 7, along with SEMA Fest. Tickets are available at SEMAFest.com. Highlights from the Show can also be followed throughout the week on SEMA Live, streamed on YouTube and Meta.
HOLLY HILL, FL (10.9.25) – Metra Electronics is excited to announce its return to the 2025 SEMA Show, taking place November 4th to 7th at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Attendees can visit Metra at booth #10439 in the North Hall, where the company will feature its latest products across its family of brands. Highlights will include new additions to its line of premium all-in-one audio kits, introduced last year. These innovative solutions – designed specifically for the Toyota Tacoma, Jeep ® Gladiator, and Ford F-150 – will be on display and fully installed in three demo vehicles, offering hands-on product experiences with expert guidance.
Featuring premium amplifiers, carefully selected speakers tailored to each vehicle’s unique acoustics, high-quality subwoofers and enclosures, and vehicle-specific plug-and-play amplifier interfaces, these audio kits were a standout hit at last year’s SEMA show. Each kit includes everything needed for a complete premium aftermarket audio upgrade, all in one convenient package. Engineered for flawless integration and superior sound, every component is designed to work together seamlessly, delivering unmatched audio quality and easy installation.
Metra’s product developers will introduce other items designed to make it easier to install or upgrade audio systems. Showgoers can learn about advanced radio interfaces engineered for broad compatibility across a wide variety of brands and models – ideal for integrating radios purchased from online retailers. Also featured at the booth will be speaker adapters, harnesses, and direct-replacement upgrade speakers designed to fit select Tesla and Mercedes vehicles. These plug-and-play speakers are precision-engineered to fit seamlessly into factory locations, delivering a straightforward installation process and significantly improved sound quality.
Metra is expanding its lineup of dash kits that can be installed with its Axxess radio replacement interfaces, making aftermarket audio upgrades easier than ever. The latest vehicle-specific solutions will debut at SEMA, featuring new integrations for select models, including the Honda Accord and CR-V, late-model RAM ProMaster, Jeep ® Wrangler, Nissan, Toyota, and others.
Additionally, Metra will introduce updated versions of several popular dash kits, now redesigned to better accommodate modern Double-DIN radios and contemporary screen styles for an improved factory-fit appearance.
The Heise LED section of the booth will spotlight exciting additions to the Heise Connect Universe (HCU), including new white wide-angle rock lights and a 5-meter chasing COB LED strip light kit. When connected to the brand’s Heise Connect chasing controller, these products can be controlled via the Heise Connect app, available for download on smart devices.
Metra’s booth will also showcase a range of upgraded vehicle accessory cameras, featuring enhanced resolution, active parking guidelines, and versatile mounting options. These innovations are designed to improve driver safety and visibility. Among the highlights are updated spare tire camera kits, specially engineered to fit larger aftermarket tires.
Metra will also introduce new professional-grade tools and accessories under its Install Bay brand. The latest additions include an advanced ground loop isolator, wire reducers and adapters, a variety of speaker grills in multiple sizes, and more. Each product is engineered with high-quality materials and built for long-lasting durability, offering installers reliable performance and ease of use on the job.
Additional product announcements will be released with more details leading up to the show, and new product catalogs will be available to download at MetraOnline.com shortly after the event begins.
NEW YORK, NY (10.9.25) – Yesterday in New York City, more than 200 advertisers and industry executives gathered for SiriusXM Media’s first-ever audio advertising showcase, “Built with Audio.” Featuring a variety of A-list talent and new announcements, the event highlighted SiriusXM Media’s extensive reach, its wide-ranging portfolio, and the underlying product and advertising technology advancements driving it forward.
At the event, SiriusXM leaders underscored audio’s untapped potential, with digital audio making up 21% of consumer media time but only 4% of ad spend. Executives highlighted the massive opportunity for advertisers to reach SiriusXM Media’s 170 million monthly listeners in the moments that matter most, while appearances from audio’s top talent and voices brought that vision to life on stage—showing the power of connection, authenticity, and influence that only audio can deliver.
Highlights from “Built with Audio” include:
Opening remarks from SiriusXM CEO Jennifer Witz.
“At SiriusXM, we are guided by one essential truth: that success is built with audio.”
“While SiriusXM was founded on an ad-free music promise, as our organization has grown, advertising has become a central part of our business. And I’m extremely proud to say that we have the best team in the world driving its growth with SiriusXM Media.”
Newly-named SiriusXM Chief Advertising Revenue Officer, Scott Walker, made his stage debut to discuss the power of audio, SiriusXM Media’s differentiation in market, and announced that the company now reaches more than 170 million listeners across North America.
“We are your #1 strategic partner in audio. We believe the ads running across SiriusXM should be as entertaining and engaging as the audio fans come to listen to, that media buying and planning should be as simple as turning on SiriusXM in your car, and that when you work in true partnership the whole is always greater than the sum of its parts.”
“Our strategy means that when you work with us you don’t just access listeners on our owned and operated platforms. We open the door to a network of premium publishers with diverse and loyal followings that represent true incremental reach. It also means that it doesn’t matter where listeners are engaging with their favorite podcasts – whether it’s on SiriusXM, Pandora, Spotify, Apple, YouTube – chances are they’re hearing ads powered by SiriusXM. This is a huge reason why the biggest creators in the world want to work with us: we give them the freedom and flexibility to control their own destiny and build their business.”
Head of B2B Marketing and Advertising Innovation, Lizzie Collins, highlighted SiriusXM Media’s leading position in podcasting.
“Our open ecosystem approach attracts the best creators to our network. In fact, their voices and stories are the reason that we continue to be #1 in the podcast Edison Ranker [among listeners 18+]. And with the SiriusXM Podcast Network, you get access to 12 exclusive publisher partners, over 1800 podcasts, and 70 million podcast listeners.”
Alex Cooper, host of “Call Her Daddy” and founder and CEO of Unwell, sat down with Collins for a fireside chat.
“I am a CEO and I’m a podcaster. But all of that wouldn’t be successful if I wasn’t a marketer. Every single day I’m thinking about, ‘How can I push my product?’, ‘How can I push my podcast?’, ‘How can I push my movies, television shows, consumer products?’. At the core of it all, none of it would be as successful if I wasn’t thinking with my marketing cap at all times.”
“I think when it comes to Unwell with SiriusXM, we own Gen Z women [as an audience]. That is what SiriusXM and Unwell are doing currently. We’re looking to fill each category… We’re looking to fill the niche categories that we haven’t explored yet.”
“It’s honestly been such an incredible partnership [with SiriusXM] and the way that they have allowed me, as a creator, to grow at this company while also giving me so many incredible tools that I wouldn’t have had on my own. I am forever grateful to them.”
True crime podcasters Alaina Urquhart and Ash Kelley celebrated “Morbid” joining the SiriusXM Podcast Network.
“I really think that since we’ve been here, it’s been the highest point in our career thus far. Our listeners have definitely noticed how happy we are, and we have a lot of exciting things coming down the pike… We just found out we are being considered for a Golden Globe nomination in podcasting, and since we started with SiriusXM, good things just keep coming. We’re really excited about forming creative and collaborative partnerships and we can’t wait to do it with SiriusXM.”
SiriusXM Chief Operating Officer, Wayne D. Thorsen, doubled-down on the company’s leadership position in-car.
“The truth is, the majority of drive time listening is live radio, not on demand. For the first time, we can combine that scale with digital precision for SiriusXM and Pandora, understanding who our listeners are, how and when they engage, and what they love most with the connected capabilities in the dashboard. We’re bringing more digital capabilities to what is a unique and incredibly high-attention moment in the car. That means marketing the right message at the right time, and in the right context, delivering more impact. The car is the final frontier for digital ad-supported media at SiriusXM. We are boldly claiming it and we invite you to chart the course forward with us.”
Sherene Hilal, the company’s new Chief Advertising Product Officer, shared her vision for adtech at SiriusXM and announced an expanded agreement with Snowflake.
“The driving mechanism behind our roadmap is to prove audio works, so you can include audio everywhere that you buy your media today. The way we do that is by making the process more powerful, more simple, and more measurable.”
“We are announcing a new tentpole data warehouse provider with Snowflake. Together we have unlocked a centralized organized data set that will power the future of your SiriusXM Media ads everywhere that they are… We have structured 170 million listeners and years of active listening data, so that you have every show, every play, every song in every genre, and can have better insights and knowledge about how your listeners are engaging with you, in the moment and in every moment after. This kind of data means real world results – better forecasting, building actionable segments, optimizing campaigns directly and driving stronger unified insights and measurement.”
Chief Content Officer Scott Greenstein underscoring the power and position of content and creators at SiriusXM.
“At SiriusXM, content has always been the key to what we do. It’s not just the king, it’s our entire kingdom. We’re the number one audio company that talent wants to work with. We take rising voices and try to make them stars, and then we give stars the platform to build their own empire.”
SiriusXM host Andy Cohen celebrated 10 years of his entertainment and talk channel, Radio Andy, with the announcement of his upcoming interview with Howard Stern and a special onstage segment featuring a variety of Radio Andy talent including: Jeff Lewis (host of “Jeff Lewis Live”), Tinx (host of “It’s Me, Tinx), and Kelly Ripa (host of “Lets Talk Off Camera”).
“It’s hard to believe it’s been 10 years of Radio Andy. I am so proud to say that this channel has become a real destination for pop culture, whether we are talking about the stories, breaking the stories, or being the story. But for me personally there’s been one elusive interview which I’ve wanted to do for 10 years, and my decade-long campaign has paid off. I am flipping the script and I am interviewing the one and only King of all Media, Howard Stern, premiering this Friday on Radio Andy. Full video will be out for the world to see next Friday. I can’t wait for this interview. I have a lot of questions. I love my home at SiriusXM.”
Comedians Jenny Slate, Gabe Liedman, Max Silvestri took the stage to announce their new SmartLess Media podcast, “I Need You Guys,” premiering October 21.
“The idea of “I Need You Guys” is that we are bringing [the] group chat to the public and including our famous friends and getting a lot of advice, and etiquette questions. From audience members and for each other, because we help each other through the tough stuff in our lives.”
GRAMMY award-winning British folk rock band Mumford & Sons joined for a special four song performance which featured the band previewing their upcoming single with Hozier, “Rubber Band Man,” following a conversation between SiriusXM Alt Nation’s Jeff Regan and Marcus Mumford.
“[Mumford and Sons Radio on SiriusXM] has been an ambition of ours for a very long time… being able to have a bigger canvas to paint on and to present our North American audience with more of the collaborative things we’ve done over the years… This really feels focused on music and that’s a really fun thing for us.”
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