After 60 years of controlling the iconic guitar amplifier company, the Marshall family is preparing to hand over its ownership to Zound Industries, a Stockholm-based firm. The Marshall family will keep a 24% stake in the new joint entity, which will be known as the Marshall Group. Zound Industries will acquire Marshall Amplification, which was developed in the family’s drum shop in 1962 and grew to become one of the most recognized music brands worldwide, favored by rock giants such as Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, and Paul McCartney.
The amplifiers’ distinctive crunch sound was recognizable across scores of British and American blues and rock tunes in the 1960s, 1970s, and beyond. Even today, contemporary models remain popular with guitar students and enthusiasts. Terry Marshall, the founder’s son, expressed confidence that the Marshall Group would continue to deliver the pioneering Marshall sound to music lovers worldwide. Since the original Marshall amp was created in 1962, the family has looked for ways to spread the love for the Marshall brand.
The deal between Marshall and Zound is the culmination of a decade-long partnership, during which the Swedish company developed some of the technology behind a fresh range of consumer products, including Bluetooth speakers and headphones. The success achieved with the Marshall brand in recent years is about to be taken to a new level, according to Konrad Bergström, the founder of Zound Industries. The new British-Swedish partnership will undoubtedly shake the tech and music industries to their foundations.
The Marshall family’s decision to hand over its ownership marks the end of an era, but it is also the beginning of a new chapter for the Marshall Group. With the backing of Zound Industries, the Marshall brand is poised to reach even greater heights, continuing to inspire guitar players worldwide and bringing the Marshall sound to new generations of music lovers. The deal between Marshall and Zound is an exciting development that will undoubtedly have a significant impact on the music industry for years to come.
