The 2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at the Peacock Theater required an audio system capable of supporting one of the industry’s most complex live productions. The five-hour program featured dozens of musical performances, from Sly and the Family Stone tribute by Stevie Wonder to performances by RAYE and Teddy Swims, speeches lasting up to 40 minutes, all delivered to a live audience and a broadcast stream. With inputs ranging from approximately 150 to more than 220 across multiple console splits, limited rehearsal time and a production footprint spanning three truckloads of equipment, the event demanded consistent speech intelligibility, musical balance and reliable performance across rapidly shifting dynamics.
Longtime Rock & Roll Hall of Fame account manager Mark Dittmar again partnered with Firehouse Productions and JBL Professional to deploy a full JBL VTX system powered by Crown amplifiers. The audio package included JBL Professional VTX V25 line arrays supported by JBL VTX G28 subwoofers and JBL VTX A8 front fills, all driven by Crown I-Tech HD amplifiers and managed through JBL Performance Manager. System design and venue modeling were completed using JBL Venue Synthesis, providing an accurate starting point before load-in and minimizing the need for extensive on-site tuning. The system was installed at a lower trim height to improve coverage and maintain consistency in the theater’s tight sightlines, requiring close coordination with rigging, lighting and set design teams.
The JBL Professional and Crown system delivered clear dialogue and consistent musical impact throughout the ceremony, supporting everything from high-level rock performances to extended spoken tributes without sacrificing clarity. The system’s balance allowed seamless transitions between music and speech, ensuring accurate translation for both the in-room audience and the live broadcast feed. By combining precise modeling, efficient deployment and dependable amplification, Firehouse Productions and JBL Professional once again supported the technical demands of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, reinforcing a long-standing partnership built around reliability, intelligibility and consistent performance.
