Hope you’ve had a chance to put up the Christmas tree already because, for now, it’s time for the week in Playback. Things are still quiet in the industry this week—at least in terms of news. From our conversations with integrators, it seems things couldn’t be farther from the truth. I suppose a lot of it is just making up for lost time.
It’s no secret that the industry started the year off with somewhat of a slow start. Truth be told, not a one—not even us—knew how things were going to shake out with the upheaval in global policy that took place. Truth be told, a lot people still don’t really know how that’s going to shake out, but all that matters a bit less now.
There’s uncertainty still, don’t get me wrong, and there are parts of the industry that haven’t quite caught up with others, which makes having this open dialogue with you (our audience) even more important. It’s why, this year, we’re starting our own reflection series where we reach out to integrators directly to see how business fared.
Think of it as an add-on to our annual state of the industry coverage (which the survey for that is still open if you haven’t had a chance to reply to it). Throughout the month of December we’ll be reaching out to integrators for their reflections, however, don’t sit around waiting for an email.
If you want to participate and have yourself featured in our year-end coverage, reach out directly to [email protected] and I’ll send you the questions we’re looking to get some feedback on. There’s also some opportunities in future predictions we’ll be running in January, so again, feel free to reach out to me if you have some thoughts.
We’re not quite yet at the “Year in Playback,” though, so, for now, let’s dig into the weekly news. We’ve got a few good reasons for people to be jamming out to their favorite music during the holidays, our latest findings from the Business Resource Deep Dive, and some nice fireside chats with Mohamed Ali Vaid of Nice North America, and Kyle Steele from Global Wave Integrations. Catch them while they’re here, and enjoy your Sunday.
The Week in Playback
- More Research is Showing How Music Can Shape Emotions and Health
- An Interview with Mohamed Ali Vaid, CEO of Nice North America
- Hisense Nabs Former Samsung Home Entertainment Marketing Chief to Steer U.S. Growth
- CE Pro’s Business Software Deep Dive Reveals How Integrators Are Balancing AI and Complexity
- Kyle Steele of Global Wave Integration on The CI Industry’s Biggest Lessons From 2025
This is Your Brain on Music
Listening to music on a good set of speakers is an enjoyable experience all its own, but recent bodies of research show that getting that fix of deep focus or groovy jams might offer more health benefits than a tingling of the neurons.
One such Japanese study found that listening to music that entices someone to move with the beat can “significantly increase measures of executive function.”
Another from McGill University found that human brain rhythms sync with sound when listening to music.
It might not be as essential as lighting to the appreciation of a space, but audio seemingly has the potential to influence our own thoughts and emotions in each area.
A Fireside Chat with Mohammed Ali Vaid
CE Pro sat down with Nice North America’s new CEO earlier this week to discuss the company’s renewed focus on the professional integration channel.
Vaid joined the company earlier this year with a clear mandate: strengthen dealer relationships, simplify brand alignment, and deliver a more unified ecosystem across its expansive portfolio.
“Nice, our parent company, has put together a very impressive collection of brands that, when you put them together, the ability to create a seamless experience—not just for the end customer, but all of your integrator partners, making it easier to integrate these great brands,” Vaid explains.
“We’re listening [to integrators]. Everything we’re doing—from product strategy to training—is based on feedback from our partners. Our goal is to make their lives easier and help them deliver the best experience possible to their clients.”
Hisense Nabs Former Samsung Chief as New CMO
Hisense continues to ramp up its premium TV business in North America with the addition of Sarah Larson as Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) for the company.
Larsen, according to her LinkedIn profile, served as the head of Samsung’s home entertainment as marketing chief from November 2021 to December 2024.
Larsen will now oversee brand strategy, product marketing and consumer engagement for Hisense as the company continues to grow its U.S. presence in a bid for a bigger share of the home entertainment space.
Integrators Continue to Navigate AI and Complexity in Software Choices
Many integrators are still wrestling with complexity, compatibility and culture as they adapt to a new era defined by cloud-based software and AI. It’s all essential to business, but in the cases such as AI, many of the tools represent new frontiers being explored with the benefits being moderate, but measurable.
According to the 2025 CE Pro Software & Business Resources Deep Dive Survey, the biggest challenge in that comes from being able to leverage AI in ways that actively empower workers without removing the human connection many see as being vital to their businesses.
For many, AI tools remain in their utility phase, helping with minor tasks, but not yet revolutionizing entire workflows.
Reflections on 2025 with Kyle Steele
The first of CE Pro’s reflection series kicked off this week with Kyle Steele of Global Wave Integration.
“In 2025, homeowners weren’t just asking for smart homes and started expecting intelligent, wellness-driven living environments,” Steele says. “Clients now want outcomes in terms of better sleep, less stress, seamless living with technology, not more devices.”
Steele also saw 2025 as being a “watershed” year for AI-driven platforms and next-gen infrastructure, such as power and energy.
