(07.19.2026) Over the weekend, the 12volt Central Studios Staff learned that George Wu passed away Friday night July 17th following a lengthy illness. With heavy hearts, we say goodbye to George, the heart and soul behind Atomic Loudspeakers.
A man of vision, passion, and integrity who dedicated his life to perfecting sound and building a brand respected worldwide.
He was an amazing engineer. A brilliant mind with an unmatched dedication to innovation, quality, and precision. He turned ideas into performance- a true pioneer. He built Atomic Loudspeakers from the ground up with hard work, determination, and a love for music and performance. He was an innovator in the early years of the Car Audio research and development era. His legacy will live on in every speaker, in every note, and in every heart he touched.
George was a loving husband and father. He cherished his family above all else. His love, strength, and values will forever live in their hearts. He will be remembered for his kindness, humility, and unforgettable spirit
BRANTFORD, ON (07.17.26) – The NORTH OF NINE Truck Show took place July 10th and 11th at the ESSA AgriPlex. The event featured Dirt Drags, Burnouts, Truck Pulls a Show and Shine with awards, vendors, beer garden, food trucks and more!
Area retailer Audio Pros, with GEMSEN and KICKER, had a major presence at the event with a large tent, demo vehicles, product, demos, and swag for attendees.
Audio Pros partners Ryan Pite and Mike Tlustos along with Chelsie worked the 2-Day event with the GEMSEN team members. “This was our first year to have a booth. We put the package together with the North of Nine event with great support from GEMSEN and KICKER. The weather was perfect and we had a great event.” Mike relayed.
Audio Pros, GEMSEN and KICKER partnered to drive business north of the border.
Adding “The ESSA AgriPlex is about 200 kilometers from our store. We loaded trucks with tents, products to sell and hit the road. We made social media posts letting all know July 10th and 11th was their chance to score exclusive event pricing on KICKER gear like never before. We did a ton of demos and sold speakers, amps, subs and more. We sold all of the T-Shirts we had and and are getting calls at our store this week. Partnering with GEMSEN and their support from KICKER will help Audio Pros drive business forward. We are looking forward to North of Nine 2027.’”
Livin’Loud and Lightin’Loud grabbed attention!
The Audio Pros team made social media posts to drive traffic to the event.
Mike Danbrook, Sales Manager along with VP of Sales and Marketing Mike O’Connor, were GEMSEN Team members supporting the team from Audio Pros. Two of the hottest demo trucks that grabbed attention were Pite’s bright red truck and Mike O’Connor‘s classic GMC pickup named ‘Rusty’.
The Audio Pros store in Brantford is about 120 miles ESSA AgriPlex grounds.
KICKER was set to show and demo Livin’Loud to all.
Danbrook related to the 12volt Central Studios “The Audio Pros booth was crazy busy! Demos were taking place throughout the event and this is certainly truck country so the KICKER truck products grabbed attention from attendees. Our booth was set up right by the burnout area so there was a lot of action around the booth… with a whole lot of smoke.”
Audio Pros, a proactive 12volt retailer north of the border, is definitely Livin’Loud!
SASKATOON, SK (07.17.26) – Firstech Canada, a leading provider of innovative solutions for the custom integration industry, today announced the appointment of Mike Dummer as Executive Strategic Advisor – Channel Strategy & Integrator Success
In this newly established advisory role, Dummer will work alongside the executive leadership team to help shape the company’s long-term channel strategy and support continued growth across the residential and commercial integration markets. Leveraging decades of industry experience, he will provide strategic insight into market trends, channel dynamics, partner engagement, and business development initiatives that strengthen the company’s position within the custom integration community.
Dummer brings an exceptional breadth of experience to the role, having built his career from the perspective of an integrator while also serving in leadership positions that have helped manufacturers and channel partners navigate an evolving technology landscape. His deep understanding of systems integration, dealer operations, channel development, and emerging technologies has made him a trusted voice throughout the industry. Known for fostering strong relationships and advocating for the success of integration partners, Dummer’s expertise will help guide key strategic decisions as the company continues to expand its presence and deliver greater value to customers and partners.
“Mike is one of the most respected professionals in the custom integration industry,” said Bryan Sack, President of Firstech Canada. “For over 30 years, Mike has built his reputation by doing what every integrator strives to do, building a successful business through innovative builder programs, operational excellence, and an unwavering commitment to customers. We didn’t bring Mike to Firstech because we need someone to tell us what we’re doing right. We brought him here to challenge us, to help us think differently, and to ensure we’re making decisions through the lens of the integrator.”
“Our success is directly tied to the success of our partners. Mike’s experience gives us an invaluable perspective that will help shape our products, programs, and strategies for years to come. Just as importantly, he’ll be available as a trusted resource for our dealers as we launch exciting new initiatives designed to help them build stronger, more profitable businesses. I couldn’t be more excited to have him join our leadership team.”
“I’m excited to join Firstech Canada as Executive Strategic Advisor,” said Dummer. “Throughout my career, I’ve been passionate about helping the custom integration industry grow through collaboration, innovation, and strong channel partnerships. I look forward to working with the team to identify new opportunities, strengthen our relationships across the industry, and contribute to the company’s continued success.”
Dummer’s appointment underscores Firstech Canada commitment to investing in experienced industry leadership and reinforcing its focus on supporting integrators, distributors, and technology partners through strategic growth and market innovation.
WASHINGTON, DC (07.17.26) – The Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) is enthusiastically backing the nomination of Keith Sonderling as Secretary of Labor, submitting a letter of support to the leadership of the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions that urges his swift confirmation.
As a public servant, Sonderling, the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) current Acting Secretary, has exhibited the strong leadership qualities needed to oversee one of the federal government’s most important agencies, with a keen understanding of labor and employment policy.
“It is vital that the individual who leads DOL be someone who will champion career pathways that support a diverse array of industries, engage with the private sector to train our nation’s evolving workforce, and can connect the dots between the activities that enhance Americans’ lives and the robust, job-creating industries that support them. Keith Sonderling is that individual,” the letter says.
SEMA Senior Vice President for Public and Government Affairs Karen Bailey-Chapman expanded on the letter’s sentiments: “D.C. functions best when our cabinet-level leaders walk the walk, and our experience is that Keith Sonderling gets it – he’s shown serious acumen for understanding how to build up industries where innovation is a direct pathway to sustainable job growth and American prosperity.”
SEMA connected in person with Acting Secretary Sonderling last week, and we were excited by his passion for the automotive community and knowledge of motorsports and racing.
The automotive aftermarket industry that SEMA represents employs more than 1.3 millionAmericans and pays wages and benefits in excess of $104 billion; the motorsports industry represents a career path for more than 300,000. These economically significant sectors of the economy employ more Americans than the U.S. airline industry.
BARRIE, ON (07.16.26) – NORTH OF NINE took place July 10th and 11th at the ESSA AGRIPLEX. The event featured Dirt Drags, Burnouts, Truck Pulls a Show and Shine with awards, vendors, beer garden, food trucks and more!
The Audio Pros loaded Chevy Pickup was spotlighted in the booth.
Mike O’Conner’s classic pickup ‘Rusty’ was up front in the booth.
Ryan Pite’s Audio Pros Chevy pickup lights up the bed!
Area retailer Audio Pros, with GEMSEN and KICKER, had a major presence at the event with a large tent, demo vehicles, product, demos, and swag for attendees.
Mike Danbrook, Sales Manager along with VP of Sales and Marketing Mike O’Connor, were GEMSEN Team members supporting Ryan Pite and the team from Audio Pros. Two of the hottest demo trucks that grabbed attention were Pite’s bright red truck and Mike O’Connor‘s classic pickup named ‘Rusty’.
There was plenty to see at the Audio Pros, GEMSEN, KICKER booth at the North Of Nine Truck Show.
This Audio Pros social media post encouraged followers to come to the North of Nine Truck Show.
Danbrook related to the 12volt Central Studios “The Audio Pros booth was crazy busy! Demos were taking place throughout the event and this is certainly truck country so the KICKER truck products grabbed attention from attendees. Our booth was set up right by the burnout area so there was a lot of action around the booth… with a whole lot of smoke.”
Stay tuned for more from Audio Pros, a proactive 12volt retailer north of the boarder, Livin’Loud!
ABILENE, TX (07.16.26) – Kingdom Audio and Whitten Automotive are family owned businesses rooted in Abilene, TX. Kingdom Audio is the mobile electronics retailer and Whitten provides automotive services for members of the community. Kingdom Audio recently relocated to a standalone retail store on the main street in the downtown Abilene.
Kingdom Audio is open for business!!
A well merchandised showroom greets customers.
Inventory is rolling in.
The sales counter ready to go.
This custom installation lets customers see quality work is available at Kingdom Audio.
Behind the showroom, there’s a large installation bay.
Drew Whitten related “We had our grand opening on June 29th and action in the store has been very strong. We have 5300 ft.² and did a lot of custom work to create an in- store experience that our customers would enjoy and tell their friends. Our staff at the store includes Willie Johnson, Chris and my wife Stephanie. We worked on the concept of the new location for sometime. We think it really came together and will drive business going forward. Walk in traffic on the main drag has been very good.”
Stay tuned for more as Kingdom Audio drives business in the Abilene area.
NEW YORK, NY (07.16.26) – SiriusXM has announced its live broadcast coverage of The 154th Open this July 16-19 at Royal Birkdale Golf Club in Southport, England.
SiriusXM will air more than 40 hours of live on-course coverage of golf’s original championship across all four rounds of play on The Open Radio channel, which is available to listeners in their cars on channel 92 and on the SiriusXM app. Championship broadcasts will begin on SiriusXM on Thursday and Friday at 2 am ET, and on Saturday and Sunday at 4 am ET, and will continue through the conclusion of each day’s play.
Listeners will hear The Open Radio broadcast, produced by The R&A, which will feature Marcus Buckland, Sue Thearle, Robert Dinwiddie, Dave Farrar, Matt Adams, Sophie Walker, Raymond Burns, Amy Boulden, Paul Eales, and Harry Ewing, as well as SiriusXM’s Brendon de Jonge and Emilia Doran and talkSPORT 2’s Rupert Bell.
Immediately after each round, SiriusXM will present a live two-hour post round show, hosted by Gary Williams, Fred Albers, Will Haskett and Robert Damron, to recap what happened that day on the course and look ahead to the following day’s play.
Royal Birkdale, located in Northwest England, will be hosting The Open for the 11th time. The most recent Open at the historic venue, in 2017, was won by Jordan Spieth. The win placed Spieth alongside Jack Nicklaus as the only players to secure three different major championships prior to age 24.
In the days before and after The Open, and every week throughout the year, SiriusXM’s weekday golf programming lineup delivers golf fans the most in-depth audio coverage of the game, with live shows that offer news, analysis, expert instruction and more.
Listeners will hear from hosts and former tour pros Rocco Mediate, Johnson Wagner, Brendon de Jonge, Carl Paulson, Dennis Paulson, Colt Knost and John Maginnes; top instructor Michael Breed; as well as experts Drew Stoltz, Gary Williams, Taylor Zarzour, Chantel McCabe and Brian Katrek. For a full schedule of SiriusXM’s programming go to SiriusXM.com/golfonsxm.
BURLINGTON, WA (07.15.26) -On Saturday July 11th Mobile Music hosted the 50 Year Celebration by inviting all 103 past and present employees, factory reps and owners to their store in Burlington WA. Drinks and snacks were provided.
Shawn Gunnells “The celebration went great with lots of memories, smiles, and hugs for sure! The 50 years went by for some of us in a blink of an eye!”
The large Burlington store was filled for the evening with the honored guests checking out the showrooms and displays in Mobile Music’s most recent store opening.
The Mobile Music Burlington Blvd location.
John Manso and his wife Vickie, on the right, joined John Gunnels and his wife Doriane at the 50th Celeration. John and Vickie were the previous owners who sold Mobile Music to John and Doriane 8years ago.
Bruce Gilsdorf was in the house and related “ people shed in 1976. There was no reason to sell car radios… Half the cars already came with radios! Mobile music said let’s put radios in the other half! A business was born 50 years ago that is thriving today that I am pleased to have as a very successful client.
Dan McMillan was also in the house celebrating with friends and industry members. I first met Sean over 30 years ago and quickly realized he is a great operator. His stores are diversified and well merchandised. One of the things that I’ve always marvel about Shawn is his ability to hire a great personnel, both on the sales floor and in the shop. This gathering was fantastic and was great catching up with the industry folks.
This group image is of the reps who have worked with Mobile Music and they are pictured from left to right based on how long they’ve been in the 12volt industry.
“This group image is of the people that came to the event. This is such a great group of people and without them Mobile Music would not be where we are today” John Gunnels related.
“Personally, I would like to say a large thank you to all that have promoted and helped Mobile Music Unlimited with our journey including our Staff, Manufacturers and Representatives… both past and present!” Shawn Gunnels concluded.
DIAMOND BAR, CA (07.15.26) – The Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA), producers of the SEMA Show, today announced the musical lineup for SEMA Fest, taking place Friday, Nov. 6, at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Headlined by multi-platinum punk rock icons The Offspring, the lineup also features anthemic alt-rockers Jimmy Eat World, genre-blending rock reggae outfit 311, and California rock band The Alive. Together these chart-topping, arena-caliber acts will bring their catalog of massive hits to SEMA Fest, delivering the ultimate intersection of high-octane and high-decibels, a one-day celebration of the long-standing bond between music and car culture that closes out SEMA Week with an unforgettable public experience.
Early bird pre-sale tickets are available July 15, with the general on-sale kicking off this Friday, July 17, at 10 am PT via www.semafest.com. General admission and VIP concert access tickets are available, as are combined tickets, offering entry to both SEMA Fest and SEMA Show Friday public access. This exclusive bundle gives automotive enthusiasts rare access to the world’s largest automotive aftermarket trade event – typically reserved for industry insiders – alongside performances from some of today’s biggest bands.
“SEMA Fest represents where our industry is headed, at the crossroads of innovation, lifestyle, and cultural relevance,” said SEMA Vice President of Events Tom Gattuso. “By bringing together the world’s premier automotive gathering with iconic music, immersive automotive experiences, and enthusiast access, we are creating a powerful platform that expands the reach of car culture, strengthens engagement with new audiences, and sends SEMA Week out on a high-energy, high-impact note.”
SEMA Fest serves as the official “closing ceremony” of SEMA Week, transforming the world’s premier automotive trade show into a massive public celebration and extending the energy of the SEMA Show into a day-long experience.
The day begins inside the Las Vegas Convention Center, where attendees can explore the SEMA Show floor, including 2,000-plus exhibiting brands and vendors, thousands of custom builds, and the latest in automotive products and technology.
As the day continues, the action moves outdoors for the legendary SEMA Cruise and high-intensity motorsports demonstrations that keep the excitement building throughout the afternoon.
Then, as the sun sets, attention turns to the SEMA Fest Stage, where live music and automotive adrenaline come together in one immersive environment. The automotive excitement continues into the evening with featured vehicle displays and motorsports performances that keep car culture front and center through the final encore.
2026 Musical Lineup Multi-platinum punk rock icons The Offspring bring decades of Southern California punk-rock energy to SEMA Fest. Formed in Garden Grove in 1984, the band is known for their generation-defining hits such as “Self Esteem,” “Come Out and Play,” “The Kids Aren’t Alright,” and “Pretty Fly (For a White Guy).” Widely credited with helping revive mainstream interest in punk rock during the 1990s, The Offspring has sold more than 45 million records worldwide.
Jimmy Eat World adds its signature anthemic alternative-rock sound to the lineup. The band broke through globally with “The Middle,” which reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Modern Rock Tracks chart and became one of the defining rock songs of the early 2000s.
311 brings its unmistakable blend of rock, reggae, funk, and hip-hop influences to the main stage. The band has released 14 studio albums, sold more than 10 million records in the United States, and remains known for crowd favorites such as “Down,” “Amber,” and “All Mixed Up.”
The Alive rounds out the bill with a fresh California rock sound rooted in surf, skate, and hard-driving live performance. The band cites influences including Black Sabbath, Nirvana, Rush, and Queens of the Stone Age, making them a fitting addition to a lineup built on energy, edge, and attitude.
Featured Experiences The evening’s adrenaline will be amplified by world-class automotive demos, including drifting demonstrations from OPTIMA and the high-energy Globe of Death.
Supercar Saturdays Florida returns to SEMA Fest with a curated showcase of rare hypercars and exotic vehicles following its debut SEMA Fest appearance in 2025, where it presented an exclusive hypercar and supercar display.
For the latest updates, follow @SEMAFestOfficial on social media or visit www.semafest.com.
POMPANO BEACH, FL (07.15.26) – Our website was redesigned to help you find products, vehicle compatibility, and technical information faster than ever.
What’s New?
✨ Cleaner, More Intuitive Design Navigate with ease and find the products you’re looking for in fewer clicks.
⚡ Faster Performance Spend less time searching and more time serving your customers.
📂 Enhanced Product Pages Access detailed product information, features, and specifications — all in one place.
🚗 Smarter Product Search Quickly find the right ZZ2 solution for the vehicle you’re working on.
📰 More Resources at Your Fingertips Stay updated with our latest News & Blog posts, listen to the INZZIDER Podcast, browse FAQs, and quickly access product manuals from our new Manuals page.
Everything was designed with one goal in mind: helping dealers work more efficiently and grow their business.
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