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MLA BOLSTERS THE RETURN OF JAPAN JAM MSI JAPAN deploys a Martin Audio system to soundtrack the triumphant return of JAPAN JAM, the country’s first live music festival under strict COVID-19 conditions.
JAPAN JAM 2021 took place at Soga Sports Park in Chiba over the country’s May public holiday weekend. The annual event, which has already taken place three times at this venue, had to be cancelled last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic – making its return the first live music festival to take place in two years, under strict transmission control conditions. Last time around, more than 30,000 people participated in the festival daily, however, this year audience numbers were limited to 10,000 per day. Alcohol was prohibited, face masks were mandatory and audience members had to be registered on a contact-tracing app to gain entry. “Japanese audiences are keen to adhere to regulations to ensure the success of live events,” said MSI JAPAN’s Bunshiro Hote, overseeing audio system planning and tuning for all three stages. “Of course, the maximum
capacity is limited now. However, increased vaccination will bring the reopening of the industry to full strength in the coming months.” As in previous years, Martin Audio MLA was adopted as the main speaker, with 10 MLA elements including an MLD downfill and three stacks of subwoofers, nine per side in total, on the main stage, with the middle sub rear-facing for the cardioid pattern. In addition, four WPM were equipped for front fill / outfill duties. “We chose an MLA system because it can control the leakage, and it can change the coverage area,” Hote reported. “I changed the audience area settings according to the conditions.” Many precautions were taken to avoid the transmission of the virus – even on stage. “The microphones that would normally have been reused were replaced. As a result, we used five lines including spares to operate 22
