Sound Hunters

Sound Hunters, formally the International Federation of Sound Hunters (FICS; French: Fédération internationale des Chasseurs de Sons; German: Internationale Tonjäger-Föderation), was a defunct international umbrella organization for national associations of audio and video amateurs. It was founded on 21 October 1956 in Paris by radio professionals including Jean Thévenot of France and Fredy Weber of Switzerland, who supported the 'sound hunter' movement from its early days. At its founding, the federation consisted exclusively of audio amateurs, known as 'Tonjäger' (sound hunters). The FICS served as the governing body for amateur recording enthusiasts across Europe and beyond. Its main purposes, as stated in its statutes, were to promote sound and image recording worldwide, foster international relations among hobby amateurs, assist in the founding of clubs and associations, represent the interests of amateur audio and image recorders before radio and television broadcasters, the UE industry, and copyright societies, and encourage international exchange of recordings through competitions and other events. From 1956 to 2016, the FICS Congress was held in conjunction with the International Competition of the Best Sound Recording (IWT), which had existed since 1952. The IWT was organized annually by a different member country, with national competitions feeding into it; amateurs from non-member countries could participate directly as 'isolated' entrants. Over time, video and multimedia categories were added. At its peak, the FICS counted seven member countries: Germany (Ring der Tonband- und Videofreunde e.V., RdT), France, the United Kingdom (British Sound Recording Association, BSRA), the Netherlands (Nederlandse Vereniging voor Geluid- en Beeldregistratie, NVG), Slovakia (Slovenská Spoločnosť Elektronikov, SSK), Switzerland (Schweizerischer Bild- und Tonjägerverband, SBTV), and the Czech Republic (Český Fonoklub, CF). It also maintained contacts with Austria, Luxembourg, and the Dominican Republic. In 1990, the Jean-Thévenot Medal was established, awarded at international competitions involving sound recording or where sound played a special role. After the pioneering era of the 1950s, the federation experienced declining membership after 2000 due to a lack of young recruits, leading to the dissolution of the Austrian and Italian associations. Secretary-General Helmut Weber attributed the decline mainly to the 'decline of club culture.' On 16 October 2016, the 60th and final FICS Congress was held in Grandvaux, Switzerland, together with the 65th IWT. By then, the FICS had already lost Denmark, Norway, Belgium, Austria, Italy, and the Czech Republic as member countries, and activities in the remaining six countries had also dwindled. The 2016 Congress unanimously decided to dissolve the association. Its website remains online for documentation purposes.

The International Federation of Sound Hunters (FICS) was founded on 21 October 1956 in Paris. Among its founding members were radio professionals Jean Thévenot of France (1916–1983) and Fredy Weber of Switzerland (1926–1996), who had been involved in the sound hunter movement from the beginning and promoted it. At the time of founding, the federation consisted exclusively of audio amateurs, also known as 'Tonjäger' (sound hunters). The FICS served as the umbrella organization for national associations of audio and video amateurs. Its statutes defined its main purposes: worldwide promotion of sound and image recording; fostering international relations among hobby amateurs; assisting in the founding of clubs and associations; representing the interests of amateur audio and image recorders before radio and television broadcasters, the UE industry, and copyright societies; and promoting international exchange of sound and image recordings through the organization and support of international competitions and other suitable events. From 1956 to 2016, the FICS Congress was held together with the International Competition of the Best Sound Recording (IWT). The IWT had existed since 1952, with the first competition held in Bern. Later, video and multimedia were added as competition categories. The IWT was organized each year in a different country by a member country. National competitions could submit up to six works per country for the audio/video and multimedia categories. Amateurs in non-member countries could participate directly as 'isolated' entrants. In 1990, the Jean-Thévenot Medal was created. It was awarded on the occasion of international competitions dealing with sound recordings or in which sound played a special role. At its peak, the FICS counted seven member countries: Germany (Ring der Tonband- und Videofreunde e.V., RdT), France, the United Kingdom (The British Sound Recording Association, BSRA), the Netherlands (Nederlandse Vereniging voor Geluid- en Beeldregistratie, NVG), the Slovak Republic (Slovenskej Spoločnosti Elektronikov, SSK), Switzerland (Schweizerischer Bild- und Tonjägerverband, SBTV), and the Czech Republic (Český Fonoklub, CF). Contacts existed with Austria, Luxembourg, and the Dominican Republic. After the pioneering era of the 1950s, the federation experienced a decline in membership numbers after 2000 due to a lack of young recruits, which already led to the dissolution of the associations in Austria and Italy. Secretary-General Helmut Weber saw the main reason in the 'decline of club culture.' On 16 October 2016, the 60th and final FICS Congress took place in Grandvaux, Switzerland, together with the 65th IWT. Developments had shown that member associations were no longer able to obtain enough works for the competition. After the FICS had already lost Denmark, Norway, Belgium, Austria, Italy, and the Czech Republic as member countries, activities in the remaining six countries also declined. The 2016 Congress therefore unanimously decided to dissolve the association. The homepage remains in operation for documentation purposes.

• 2016

  60th and final FICS Congress held in Grandvaux, Switzerland, together with the 65th IWT; dissolution unanimously decided.

• 1990

  Jean-Thévenot Medal established, awarded at international competitions involving sound recording.

• 1956

  FICS founded on 21 October in Paris by radio professionals including Jean Thévenot and Fredy Weber.

• 1952

  First International Competition of the Best Sound Recording (IWT) held in Bern.

International umbrella organization for national amateur audio and video recording associations, promoting sound and image recording worldwide.

• International Competition of the Best Sound Recording (IWT)

  Annual international competition for amateur audio, video, and multimedia recordings, organized by a different member country each year.

• FICS Congress

  Annual congress held alongside the IWT from 1956 to 2016.

• Jean-Thévenot Medal

  Medal established in 1990, awarded at international competitions dealing with sound recordings or where sound played a special role.

1. 1Wikidata: Sound Hunterswikidata.org
2. 2Wikipedia (German): Internationale Tonjäger-Föderationde.wikipedia.org