The Channel
UA Featured International Distributor Interview
by Terry Hardin

In this month's issue of "The Channel," we are pleased to feature our fine French distributor Juke Box, Ltd. headquartered in La Plaine St. Denis, one mile north of Paris. This region is rapidly becoming a center for broadcast, TV, and post-production studios in France. It's a perfect location for Juke Box Ltd., whose primary focus is the sales and support of professional audio products. The company represents an impressive roster of manufacturers from the U.S., UK, and Europe. Juke Box's facility includes a fully functioning 5.1 surround control room, allowing the distributor to provide its clients with product and technology demos under real-world working conditions.

“Juke Box's facility includes a fully functioning 5.1 surround control room, allowing the distributor to provide its clients with product and technology demos under real-world working conditions.”

Juke Box Ltd. comprises:

• Jean-Baptiste Lierre ("JB"), Director
  
• Herve Charlet, Sales and Operations Manager
  
• Frederic Perrin, Sales
  
• Cedric Marion, Technician
  
• Pascal Flork, DAW Sales specialist
  

Juke Box Ltd. is first and foremost a distribution and sales company specializing in professional audio products. Approaching its tenth anniversary in business, the company has a particularly strong relationship with its foreign manufacturers. The result is that customers themselves feel a much closer relationship with the manufacturer, which goes a long way toward building brand equity in any market.

The control room in Juke Box Ltd.'s inhouse studio

Juke Box Ltd. is a market-oriented organization. The company's size, and wealth of experience and expertise provide them with the ability to bring new products to the French market quickly and efficiently. Through quality, service and innovation Juke Box Ltd. has gained the confidence of an elite clientele, along with a network of highly specialized retailers throughout France.

I had the opportunity to conduct an online trans-Atlantic interview with JB Lierre, in which he expanded on the strengths of Juke Box Ltd. and their relationship with Universal Audio.

What makes Juke Box Ltd. unique among European pro audio distributors?
I don't know much about the distributors outside of France--apart maybe from the ones in the UK, having lived and worked in London for many years. We are unique in our passion for sound, our combined experience (all of us have worked in studios and/or are musicians), the long hours we put in, and our new facility, which allows us to welcome clients in a real control-room (definitely unique in France!).

What makes the French pro audio customer unique?
They desire to possess what the top engineers/studios use, so we introduce/sell new machines to our top elite clients and the rest of France follows! Sometimes, it's for the worst, like when digital tape machines appeared: The French quickly threw out the window their Studer analog tape machines (morons!). Sometimes, it's for the best, like the recent popularity of the UA 2192 A/D/A converter!

How many dealers do you currently have in your distribution network?
Over 50 nationwide, out of which 10 deal on a more or less regular basis with the high-end brands we distribute.

Why is Universal Audio important to your business?
The history of UA and the classic models that have been around for more than 30 years make it a must-have brand for Juke Box!

What makes selling UA gear cool?
Your ability to keep producing machines that excel in their domain! (2-610, 6176, 2192, etc.)

Please provide us with any interesting or amusing stories about Juke Box, your clients, or yourselves, or all three combined.
Can't think of anything right now. Why don't you make one up?

So a French audio engineer, a rabbi, and a priest walk into a bar in Paris...