CEA and Japan Audio Society to Collaborate on Hi-Res Audio Promotions
December 19 2014 - 10:45AM
Business Wire
Groups agree to provide Hi-Res Audio logo to
CEA members and promote to consumers
The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA)® and the Japan Audio
Society (JAS) today announced a new partnership to help promote and
support the marketplace growth of High-Resolution Audio (Hi-Res
Audio or HRA) devices and content. Specifically, the organizations
have agreed to make the HRA logo, developed and administered by
JAS, available for use by CEA members. CEA also has agreed to
utilize and promote the logo to its members and consumers.
The Hi-Res Audio logo, which currently is only available for use
by JAS members, will be offered to CEA
member companies via a licensing agreement with JAS
for use in product promotion, advertising and merchandising
efforts. In support, CEA will promote the HRA logo at the 2015
International CES®, produced by CEA, and throughout the coming
year. CEA and logo licensees agree to follow the HRA product
guidelines and performance requirements, as specified by JAS.
“We are excited and pleased to partner with the Japan Audio
Society to help advance High-Resolution Audio,” said Gary Shapiro,
CEA president and CEO. “CEA research shows consumers are ready to
embrace Hi-Res Audio, and that the appeal of high-quality audio
electronics extends beyond enthusiasts. Having a common logo will
help establish consistency and assist consumers in navigating this
exciting, steadily emerging market.”
“The JAS is very pleased to establish this partnership with
CEA,” said Ryoji Menjo, chairman of JAS. “We are also particularly
proud that we could join with CEA in developing a worldwide market
for Hi-Resolution Audio and look forward to working with their
member companies to accomplish this.”
CEA will leverage its media relations and marketing tools as
well as its online presence and social media properties to promote
the availability of the logo to CEA members and to encourage
consumers to look for the logo as they shop for HRA devices and
music.
Earlier this year, CEA and DEG: The Digital Entertainment Group
and The Recording Academy®, announced a formal definition for HRA,
in partnership with Sony Music Entertainment, Universal Music Group
and Warner Music Group. The organizations and companies agreed to
define HRA as, “lossless audio that is capable of reproducing the
full range of sound from recordings that have been mastered from
better than CD quality music sources.” Separate from this
definition, the organizations also agreed to designate four
different Master Quality Recording categories, each of which
describes a recording that has been made from the best quality
music source currently available. All of these recordings sound
like the artists, producers and engineers originally intended.
Consumer electronics (CE) manufacturers continue to expand the
variety of HRA-compatible devices, with more than 50 CE companies
offering a growing array of HRA-capable products, at a variety of
price points. In conjunction, music labels are expanding their HRA
catalogs online with tens of thousands of HRA albums already
available for download across every music genre. Every major music
label has expressed support for HRA, including Sony Music
Entertainment, Universal Music Group and Warner Music Group, in
addition to leading independent labels. HRA digital music stores
are already online, with more being added each day.
CEA research consistently shows a strong opportunity for growth
in the HRA market, with four in ten (39 percent) consumers
expressing a moderate interest in audio indicating they are willing
to pay more for high-quality audio electronics devices. Nine in ten
consumers say sound quality is the most important component of an
audio experience. Other factors include compelling content (85
percent) and superior audio electronics (72 percent) as vital to
consumer enjoyment of audio (Notions of Quality: Audio Expectations
of Consumers, July 2011). CEA research also has confirmed that
audio buyers and potential buyers focus on quality as a critical
purchase factor, second only to price (Discovering the Motivations
and Opportunities Behind Home Audio Upgrades, November 2012).
The latest advancements in High-Resolution Audio will be on
display at the 2015 International CES®, running January 6-9 in Las
Vegas, Nevada. The 2015 CES features six HRA-related conference
sessions. CES also will feature a Hi-Res Audio workshop to be held
in Tech West (The Venetian, Level 2, Bellini 2001) showcasing
products and services from leading manufacturers along with the
latest HRA releases from digital music stores.
About CEA:
The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) is the technology
trade association representing the $211 billion U.S. consumer
electronics industry. More than 2,000 companies enjoy the benefits
of CEA membership, including legislative and regulatory advocacy,
market research, technical training and education, industry
promotion, standards development and the fostering of business and
strategic relationships. CEA also owns and produces the
International CES – The Global Stage for Innovation. All profits
from CES are reinvested into CEA’s industry services. Find CEA
online at www.CE.org, www.DeclareInnovation.com and through social
media: http://www.ce.org/social
UPCOMING EVENTS
- CES Unveiled Las VegasJanuary 4,
2015, Las Vegas, NV
- 2015 International CESJanuary
6-9, 2015, Las Vegas, NV
- CES Unveiled TokyoFebruary 18,
2015, Tokyo, Japan
- CEA Winter BreakMarch 5-8, 2015,
Snowmass Village, CO
- 2015 International CES AsiaMay
25-27, 2015, Shanghai, China
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Consumer Electronics Association (CEA)Jeff Joseph,
703-907-7664jjoseph@CE.orgwww.CE.orgorIzzy
Santa, 703-907-4308isanta@CE.org