Harman Pro Group North America has reached a preliminary agreement to acquire Crown International. According to Mark B. Terry, president of Harman Pro Group North America, the acquisition was expected to close in February, but at press time was subject to the ratification of a definitive agreement. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Once the acquisition is completed, Richard Newberry will continue to serve as president of Crown International, reporting directly to Mark Terry....Matthews Studio Group of Burbank, CA, is selling one of its "brick and mortar" companies to consolidate its core businesses and put more resources behind its online one-stop locale, ShowbizMart.com. MSG's New York-based electrical lighting company, Four Star Lighting, is being sold to that company's existing management and a group of private investors. The new company, Four Star Lighting Group, will be headed by Four Star president Darren P. DeVerna. It plans to purchase Four Star's assets from MSG for more than $30 million in cash, long-term Internet and marketing agreements, and strategic alliances with MSG and ShowbizMart.com. MSG will retain the assets and operations of Four Star's Hollywood operation and consolidate those under Burbank-based Hollywood Rental Company. The sale is subject to board of directors and customary regulatory approvals. Says Carlos D. DeMattos, MSG chairman and CEO, "The planned sale of Four Star allows all of us at Matthews to completely focus on the implementation of our restructuring plans, and returns the helm of a strong niche market to the individuals who will find the most benefit from their localized market placement. We believe that this transaction will be most beneficial to all parties, particularly in the New York metropolitan area, and we look forward to a long and prosperous relationship between our companies." In a related development, MSG has signed a long-term, exclusive strategic alliance with House of Blues Entertainment. The three-year exclusive production supply agreement consists of Matthews supplying all production-related equipment to the House of Blues venues across North America, as well as a web content alliance, with HOB.com supplying streamlining video and audio on demand, music industry news, and related content to ShowbizMart.com....After 18 years in the Bronx, Hudson Scenic has moved back to the banks of the Hudson River, where it was founded over 20 years ago by Gene O'Donovan and Neil Mazzella. Located now in Yonkers, Hudson plans to add a 15,000-sq.-ft. clear span addition with 30' ceilings, giving them cumulative space of 75,000 sq. ft. O'Donovan continues to be affiliated with Hudson as a consultant, and Mazzella is now the sole owner and proprietor of the company. New address: 130 Fernbrook Street, Yonkers, NY 10705, phone (914) 375-0900, fax (914) 378-9134.... Sennheiser Electronic Corporation is now distributing and marketing InnovaSon digital mixing consoles and related products in the US. The French company InnovaSon (which won a 1999 EDDY Award for its Sensory console) manufactures a line of digital products for live touring, radio, and television, performing arts centers, and general sound reinforcement applications. SEC's Jeff Alexander will manage the InnovaSon brand. The new InnovaSon Sensory console was used this summer on the 12-week Audio Denver Gipsy Kings tour and has been widely used in Europe by the BBC, Radio France, in several national performing arts centers, and by J. M. Jarre for the Y2K concert at the Egyptian pyramids. SEC currently distributes Sennheiser, Neumann microphones, DAS Audio loudspeakers, and Chevin Research amplifiers....Strand Lighting has appointed Peter Rogers to the new position of group marketing director for Strand globally. A veteran within the entertainment lighting industry, Peter has held sales and marketing positions within Strand since 1986, and joined Strand in the US in 1991. According to Strand, the development is aimed at improving coordination across all Strand companies globally and to provide a closer liaison with R&D in the creation of new product....Audio connector manufacturers Neutrik USA and its parent company Neutrik AG have filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Switchcraft Inc. over the Neutrik Speakon(R) product line. The suit seeks to enjoin Switchcraft from selling its HPC (High Power Connector) line, which could lead to a permanent injunction and monetary relief....