Exclusive Interview With CanJam Global Producer Ethan Opolion
Ethan Opolion, the passionate and dedicated producer behind CanJam Global, spearheads the world’s premier headphone audio show, a series of annual events in major cities including New York City, Singapore, Los Angeles, London, Chicago, and Dallas. Produced by Head-Fi.org, the largest online audio community, CanJam Global stands as the leading platform in the headphone audio industry. It provides an unparalleled opportunity for brands to expand their product distribution channels, engage with customers and industry peers, and connect with the international audio, lifestyle, and technology press.
In this exclusive interview, Ethan unveils the dynamic world of CanJam, a place where show attendees are not just spectators, but active participants in the latest advancements in headphone and personal/portable audio technology. With interactive product demos, enlightening seminars, and more, CanJam is not merely a show, but a thriving community for audio enthusiasts and professionals to connect and learn.
TWICE: How did CanJam start, and why did it start?
Ethan Opolion (EO): CanJam started as a community event from Head-Fi.org, an online community for headphone enthusiasts. The first CanJam event evolved from independent meetups hosted by members of the Head-Fi community. The initial CanJam events took place around 2006-2007. In 2009, CanJam became part of the Rocky Mountain Audio Fest (RMAF), where it remained until about 2018. In 2015, CanJam began hosting independent events. Before 2015, CanJam was part of the larger RMAF audience, but the organizers decided to pursue independent events that year. I joined during this transition, having previously participated in some independent meetups. Together, we decided to take CanJam in a new direction.
TWICE: Where was the first CanJam event? How were other cities added?
EO: In 2015, we held the first independent CanJam in SoCal and London, totaling two events that year. In 2016, we added Singapore, increasing the number of events to three. By 2017, we expanded to New York, bringing the total to four events. In 2018, we grew by including China, making it five events that year. In 2020, we were slated to add Shenzhen, a second show in China, and also Chicago. However, the COVID-19 pandemic hit, forcing us to put all those plans on hold.
TWICE: What happened after the pandemic?
EO: We hosted a couple of events in Chicago. The first one took place during the tail end of the COVID-19 pandemic. We held another event in 2023. Additionally, we organized an event in Dallas. Based on these experiences, we’ve decided to stick with three US shows for now.
Dallas will be in November this year. We’ve learned that organizing multiple events is challenging for us because our exhibitors have budget constraints and need to prioritize where they see the most potential.
TWICE: What is your biggest show?
EO: Last year, SoCal surpassed New York’s record, and then SoCal itself broke that record. Now, this event is set to be our biggest ever. It’s amazing, both in terms of exhibitor count and attendees!
TWICE: I noticed you are doing seminars for the first time; how has this been going?
EO: We’ve been conducting seminars recently. We had to move downstairs to access the necessary rooms.
TWICE: What makes CanJam Global different from other Headphone shows?
EO: Outside of Japan, CanJam is essentially the largest independent headphone audio event, with China hosting another significant gathering. There are a few smaller ones scattered around, but CanJam stands out as the biggest. We’ve cultivated a global reach over the years, building strong relationships with companies worldwide. They respect us for our community and extensive influence in the headphone audio realm. Anyone deeply interested in headphone audio inevitably finds their way to Head-Fi because it’s where all the pertinent information and product releases are discussed. The community congregates here to engage in discussions about various products.
TWICE: Also CanJam Global has become a buying show, can you tell our readers more about this?
EO: In recent years, the event has evolved into more of a buying show. This wasn’t the case several years ago. Now, many exhibitors sell directly at the show or offer student sales with fulfillment afterward, which is beneficial. It allows attendees to experience products before purchasing and often results in great deals.
TWICE: What’s your most expensive headphone on the floor?
EO: During our first CanJam, we had jeweled FOCAL headphones that sold for $50,000. In 2024 we are showing an imperial gold system valued at approximately $70,000 to $80,000. Additionally, Audio Technica recently unveiled a new headphone amplifier crafted from rare Japanese wood, priced at $108,000. The headphones themselves cost $42,000. Overall, headphone price points have risen due to significant development over the years, resulting in much-improved sensitivity and quality.
TWICE: Can you tell us about the demographic that attends CanJam Global?
EO: Our shows attract a younger demographic. Many who grew up using smartphones and other technologies aren’t accustomed to listening to music on their speakers. So, it’s exciting to see new innovations at the show, especially on the monitor side. There’s a lot of new technology with drivers, including a couple of MEMS companies doing innovative things here. This could be a glimpse into the future of audio technology.
TWICE: What do you see the future for CanJam Canada?
EO: I think I think we’re just right now consumer continuing, we’re, you know, we’ve had Steady, steady growth. It’s still a niche market. It’s not, I don’t really, I don’t see it being a mass kind of consumer thing. It’s still a very niche market but we’re growing. We’ve been growing steadily especially since 2023, like COVID is fully behind us, which is great because we were on this growth trajectory through 2019 and 2020. New York. 2020 was also our biggest show.
TWICE: How did COVID affect CanJam and your clients?
EO: We were really excited about entering 2020. However, a month later, we took a break for a couple of years. I’m glad that we’re now back, and the great thing is that most of the companies actually did well during COVID-19 because people were at home. While some experienced losses, entertainment saw significant growth. Many of the companies we work with managed to stay afloat. It seems more and more companies are realizing the importance of this space in reaching their customers.
TWICE: Will CanJam Global add any new cities in the future?
EO: Yeah, we’re always exploring new opportunities. Currently, Hong Kong is a priority for us; we’re actively seeking a suitable venue there. Looking ahead, Europe presents some challenges due to its decentralized nature with many countries. Being based in London, it’s uncertain how viable expansion there would be. In contrast, Asia seems promising, and we’re also considering potential locations in Canada and Dubai.
TWICE: Are there CanJam Global fans who go to all the shows?
EO: We consistently have a group of guys who are involved in every project. It’s impressive, especially those in the US. They come together for group dinners—it’s like a summer camp experience. The camaraderie is amazing and adds a unique community feel to our event, despite its growth into a large-scale tradeshow.
TWICE: At TWICE, we reach the Retailer, Distributor, and Manufacturer in Consumer Technology. What is the main reason for them to attend the CanJam Global events?
EO: Our focus has always been on facilitating connections. From the outset, we’ve fostered numerous connections between manufacturers and distributors worldwide. When we organized our first event in China, we attracted many Western companies. While events in China exist, navigating the market and language can be challenging without local expertise. Our established presence made it easier for them to participate, leveraging our network and support from our dedicated team in China, without whom this wouldn’t be possible.
The CanJam Global events can be found at www.canjamglobal.com.