ARTIST APPROVED
Sweetwater Publishes 2024 Impact Report S weetwater has released its 2024 Impact Report. Carrying out its mission to “al- participation in professional development programs.
The R&B guitarist, who defines his sound as ‘electric soul,’ talks Gibson Flying Vs, Chroma Con- soles and more. JORDAN HAWKINS Music Inc.: What was your first instrument? JORDAN HAWKINS: An Epiphone Les Paul Standard. MI: Very nice. What would you say is your all-time favorite guitar? JH: My all-time favorite would be the Gibson Flying V. The action is set per- fectly so it literally feels like I’m flying all over the fretboard when I play it. It has a rockstar quality to it, and the tone that I’m able to achieve with it lends itself to the electric soul music I create. MI: What gear is currently in your arsenal? JH: Currently, I’m playing the Flying V, a Yamaha Pacifica, a Fender Stratocaster 1970s remodel and Taylor GS Mini. It’s nice having a few good options just in case you want to pick up something different for inspiration’s sake when recording and writing. MI: Are there any new or emerging pieces of gear you’ve recently tried that have caught your atten- tion or inspired you in the music-making process? JH: My favorite piece of creative gear right now is the Chroma Console by Hologram. I’ve been able to get endless tones out of it, and it’s become a staple in songs I pro- duce for myself and others. The secondary controls open up the possibility to turn the guitar into other instruments completely, and the standard tones offer distortions and modulations that include both things that guitarists would consider traditional, like distortion or fuzz, and also unfamiliar and innovative options like Broken, Howl and Collage. — By Kimberly Kapela
ways do the right thing,” Sweetwater’s 2024 report showcases strides in the categories of People and Employee Wellbeing, Com- munity, and Environmental and Supply Chain Responsibility. “All that we do centers around build- ing relationships that positively impact the lives of our employees, our customers, our partners and our communities,” said Mike Clem, Sweetwater’s CEO. “Just as creating great music is an ever-evolving process, we are always striving to expand our impact.” In 2024, Sweetwater earned national accolades its workplace, its culture and its professional development opportunities. Highlights of the company’s 2024 efforts include: Earning 10 Comparably Awards; and increasing employee engagement and
Through its Amplifying Change phil- anthropic platform, Sweetwater’s efforts center on caring for the music makers of today and tomorrow. More specifically, in 2024 the company donated nearly $1 mil- lion in philanthropic giving to its nonprofit partners; provided 42 under-resourced public schools across the country with tools and a curriculum to explore music creation through Save the Music Foundation’s J Dilla Music Technology grants; and more. In 2024, Sweetwater also sought out ways to protect the planet and to build a sustainable future, including generating 1.4 million kilowatt hours of electricity across 93,000 feet of solar panels on the roof of Sweetwater’s Fort Wayne Fulfill- ment Center. {sweetwater.com}
JOHN PACKER WINS KING’S AWARDS FOR ENTERPRISE
J ohn Packer Musical Instru- ments, the U.K.-based mu-
legacy of HM Queen Elizabeth II by recognizing outstanding U.K. businesses. Rob Hanson, managing di- rector of John Packer Musical Instruments, will now be invited to attend a royal reception at Windsor Castle.
sical instrument manufacturer, distributor and retailer, has won the King’s Award for Enterprise in the International Trade cat- egory, recognizing the interna- tional growth of the business. The company was announced as a recipient of the honor on May 6. This is the second time JP Musical Instru- ments has won the award, having received the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in the International Trade category in 2018. The King’s Awards for Enterprise, pre- viously known as The Queen’s Awards for Enterprise, were renamed in 2023 to reflect The King’s desire to continue the
John Packer Musical Instruments’ managing director Rob Hanson.
“To win the King’s Award for Enter- prise in International Trade for a second time is a huge honor for JP Musical Instru- ments,” Hanson said. “The business has grown demonstrably over the past few years, welcoming prestigious brands to our stable, and showing a tremendous level of agility and resilience in what is a fast-paced and continually-evolving international trading landscape.” {johnpacker.co.uk}
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