LAS VEGAS – Terry Lowe, president of Timeless Communications and publisher of PLSN and FOH, announced that longtime PLSN contributors Michael S. Eddy and Debi Moen will be the new editors of PLSN magazine, starting Nov. 1. Nook Schoenfeld, who has edited the magazine for seven years, announced his retirement Oct. 10.
“We’ve been fortunate to have remarkable, experienced editors over the years, each bringing their own specific skillset to the job,” Lowe says. “What’s exciting about Debi and Michael is that combined they bring all the skillsets. Together they have more than six decades of deep knowledge and experience of everything live entertainment. In addition to decades of writing about entertainment technology, Michael brings hands-on backstage experience as well as years of handling sales and marketing duties for some of our most illustrious design firms and manufacturing companies. Debi too has worked for great companies and publications, and her prolific writing in many areas has made her one of the most known and respected journalists in the business.”
Eddy will handle the coverage of products and technology as well as the market segments of theater, film, and television. Moen will cover news, live music, events, and tours. “We are on the cusp of getting our industry back to business as usual. With Debi and Michael’s contributions, PLSN has never been in a better position to deliver the coverage our readers and advertisers have come to expect from PLSN for the past 22 years,” Lowe adds.
Michael S. Eddy
“Michael has a deep understanding of the technology in our industry, and everyone who knows him knows he is a ‘technology geek,’” Lowe says. “He is sure to keep our readers up-to-date on the tools of the trade.”
Eddy has worked as technical editor and contributing editor for several of the entertainment industry magazines. In January 2017, he took the helm of Stage Directions magazine, a role he held until Stage Directions recently merged with PLSN. He brings over 35-years experience in the live entertainment technology industry, having held positions from stagehand, theater electrician, designer, product manager, to marketing and product consulting, as well as being an industry journalist.
A graduate of the theater program at the University of Evansville, he started as a theatrical electrician and lighting designer in New York City. He then held positions in sales and marketing with ETC, Rosco, Barbizon, and even Kliegl Bros. For the last 18 years, Michael and Kathy Eddy have also operated Eddy Marketing & Consulting where they worked with production companies, rental houses, manufacturers, and design firms throughout the entertainment field. As a freelance writer, he has covered production and design work as well as the technology of theater, concert touring, film, and television—including regular articles and his “1,000 Words with…” column in PLSN magazine.
“I can’t wait to learn about all that’s new and exciting and getting to bring that to our PLSN readers,” Eddy says. “I also look forward to speaking with all the designers, technicians, crews, shop teams, rental and production houses in addition to the manufacturers who make this industry great. The ingenuity and inventiveness in our business is second to none. I love that I will be able to inform the industry on what is coming next and all the incredible ways our industry uses technology every day.”
Debi Moen
“My professional association with Debi started at Performance magazine back in 1989,” Lowe says. “So I know firsthand of her dedication and knowledge of the industry. We like to say that there isn’t a designer of note who Debi hasn’t interviewed, and I don’t think we’re exaggerating. In addition to her duties as editor, Debi will continue reporting on designers for her popular monthly column, Designer Watch.”
After receiving a journalism degree from the University of Texas at Austin, she launched a successful and varied writing career that includes years as a newspaper editor; as a senior editor of concert touring trade publication, Performance; years as marketing/PR specialist for lighting manufacturer High End Systems; and a decade as a freelance PR professional in the entertainment technology industry. Over the years she has also written lighting articles for the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America’s LD+A trade magazine. She been onsite to cover major events such as Rock in Rio II in Brazil, a theatre opening in Tokyo, the launch of the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts in England, and twice to the Grammy Awards as a NARAS member. She also lent editorial help to the Event Safety Alliance’s first published guidebook. Since 2011, she has written for PLSN and even served a few years as associate editor.
“I got my start in this industry when I was hired not only as a writer but also to gather the box office figures each week from Bill Graham Presents, JAM Productions, Louis Messina and all the major concert promoters in the U.S. and Canada,” she says. “This culminated in the year-end charts for top grossing artists, promoters and venues in the touring industry, which were reported in the national media.” Moen has interviewed everyone from national and international booking agents, personal managers, major artists and record label executives along with production industry professionals. “Joining the team at Timeless Communications is like going home. I’ve enjoyed working with Nook Schoenfeld, Terry Lowe and friends at Timeless for many years, and I am delighted with what Michael Eddy and I can accomplish together on the new team.”
“I have always been proud to be a contributing writer to PLSN and getting to work closely with Nook during his tenure editing the magazine,” Eddy says. “His are truly big shoes to fill, thus they need two of us to do it! I look forward to working with Debi as we continue to build upon Nook’s outstanding work at PLSN.”
Moen adds, “I love the live event industry — it’s become my family over the years. There is always a new story to tell about the creative talent behind the scenes. Thanks to PLSN, we can continue to promote the unsung heroes — from newbies to veterans — to bring their stories to light.”
For more info about PLSN, visit: www.plsn.com.
