Audio Giant JBL Celebrates 80 Years In The Sound Business

InnovationConsumer TechAudio Giant JBL Celebrates 80 Years In The Sound BusinessByMark Sparrow,Senior Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Technology journalist specializing in audio, computing and Apple Macs.Follow AuthorApr 23, 2026, 01:00pm EDT--:-- / --:--This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.JBL has sold millions of its poortable speakers and headphones to music lovers around the world. gettyNames in the audio industry don’t come any bigger than JBL, the iconic audio brand owned by Harman, which is celebrating its 80th anniversary. That’s eight decades of bringing sound to the public.Since its founding by engineer James B. Lansing in 1946, JBL has managed to set quite a few milestones in audio innovation. From professional recording studios and home entertainment to powering legendary cultural moments like Woodstock and Tomorrowland, JBL is about delivering authentic and unfiltered sound. Today, the brand’s influence is unmatched in terms of personal audio. According to JBL, there are hundreds of millions of people listening to music using the brand’s popular Flip and Charge portable speakers, as well as the JBL range of headphones. JBL Professional continues to be the power behind more than 40% of the world’s cinema sound systems, while also serving stadiums, recording studios, music venues.gettyOn The Big ScreenOn the specialized side of the business, JBL Professional continues to be the power behind more than 40% of the world’s cinema sound systems, while also serving stadiums, recording studios, music venues and even delivering sound through in-car audio systems. MORE FOR YOU“For 80 years, JBL’s engineering legacy has been the benchmark for high-fidelity audio, and that standard lives in every JBL product made today. As we celebrate this milestone, JBL remains committed to carrying this standard forward in the technologies that will power the nex...