Peavey Electronics
Peavey Electronics Corporation is an American company which designs, develops, manufactures and markets professional audio equipment.[2] It is one of the largest audio equipment manufacturers in the world, and is headquartered in Meridian, Mississippi.
Company type
Private
1965
Meridian, Mississippi, United States
Hartley Peavey (CEO)
Audio equipment, Amplifiers, Cabinets
2,400
Peavey Electronics Europe, Ltd.
History[edit]
Hartley Peavey founded Peavey Electronics in 1965, having built his first amplifier in 1957. Peavey Electronics is privately owned.
In 2011, Inc. magazine profiled the global success story of music and audio innovator Hartley Peavey and Peavey Electronics Corporation. "Hartley Peavey dreamed of becoming a rock star," wrote Inc.'s Kasey Wehrum. "Though he lacked the chops to become the next Chuck Berry, his name has been etched into the pantheon of rock 'n' roll history."[3]
Controversy[edit]
In February 2015, the company was featured on an episode of the CBS television show, Undercover Boss. Chief Operating Officer Courtland Gray made visits to a company store and manufacturing plant in disguise, with the founder communicating to him through a hidden earpiece. Before the episode aired, the creator of Undercover Boss issued an unprecedented statement indicating something "unfortunate happened after filming".[13] Peavey Electronics, citing global competitive pressures, partially closed down the same plant featured in the episode.[14] The employees at the manufacturing plant featured in the episode felt betrayed by the move. The company said these moves were necessary to remain competitive against rivals who were already manufacturing in lower-cost locations.[15]
Legal cases[edit]
In 2009, Peavey Electronics Corp. filed two lawsuits against various companies under Behringer/Music Group umbrella for patent infringement, federal and common law trademark infringement, false designation of origin, trademark dilution and unfair competition.
In 2011, Music Group filed suit in the US District Court against Peavey Electronic Corp. for "false advertising, false patent marking and unfair competition". In making these allegations, the Music Group cites an ongoing investigation of its own initiation that has assessed Peavey products with regard to US patent laws and FCC regulations.[16]
In April 2014, Peavey Electronics Corporation was fined US$225,000 (equivalent to $289,583.92 in 2023) by the FCC for violating the digital device laws by not notating required labeling and marketing statements in their owner manuals.[17] [18][19]
On December 10, 2020, Christian Sanchez filed a complaint in New York Federal court against Peavey Electronics Corporation. Plaintiff Christian Sanchez alleges that their site is not accessible per the WCAG 2.0, WCAG 2.1 accessibility standard(s).[20]