Munich – very British
The price is in Sterling. I don’t know the price in Euros.“ This is how we journalists were often answered when we asked about prices of novelties at the High End. It is increasingly not the German distributors who operate stands, but the manufacturers themselves. Two thirds of the exhibitors now come from outside Germany, from 42 countries – above all from the USA and Great Britain. Altogether, the organizers accommodated almost four percent more exhibitors in the halls and atriums of the MOC, which is now filled to the brim.
The number of visitors from the trade increased by a good eight percent, three quarters of which came from outside Germany, with Great Britain at the top here as well. The international share amongst the „normal“ visitors may not have been quite as high, but they also came in large quantities: a total of more than 21,000 people visited the High End 2019, an increase of 6.5 percent compared to the previous year. Most of them showed up on Friday. A big success for the organizers – not least due to the rainy weather.
Among the highlights of this High End were the presence of brand ambassador Steven Wilson, who not only signed countless autographs, but also gave an interesting insight into his credo as a music producer: he doesn‘t let any mastering engineer fiddle with his mix. „I bypass mastering completely“, he revealed in finest Oxford English.
The next High End will take place from 14 to 17 May 2020. However, first we have selected some of the most interesting innovations of the High End 2019 for you.