Bryan Stanton, a public relations fixture in consumer electronics for nearly 50 years, passed away on February 20, 2023. Stanton founded J.B. Stanton Communications way back in 1977. Over the years he served many different brands, including Lenbrook for 16 years and later Pass Labs.
Stanton, along with his team of writers that over the years included Stan Pinkwas and Kim Thomas most notably, focused primarily on high-end audio brands. The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) was their primary venue for press meetings, press conferences, and, of course, lengthy dinner meetings. (A dinner with Bryan, Stan and Kim was one of my first meetings at CES back in 2001.)
Stanton, who lived in rural northern Connecticut, led his AV-oriented agency’s focusing on brand-building, marketing and PR efforts for upscale companies, products and technologies. His citations include helping to create and define what is now the home theater market for client Dolby Laboratories to establishing brand new technologies and product categories in the market.
Stanton also worked to represent Chinese OEMs looking to bring their own brand name to the U.S. market.
Prior to forming his own agency, Stanton was the editor of a leading Hi-Fi trade magazine of its time from 1968 to 1977. He later became executive editor of parent company, St. Regis Publications, overseeing 13 different titles. He started many new magazines and media, including the first “Daily” newspaper at the CES (Consumer Electronics Show), as well as a European AV trade magazine.
According to Stereophile magazine, Stanton suffered from ALS in later years. His obituary from the Norfolk Now website says he moved to the small town, known as the “icebox of Connecticut,” in 1996. From there, he ran his business primarily electronically and via telephone, rarely leaving the confines of his adopted home town. He is survived his longtime companion and later spouse, Barry Webber, and a sister, Ellen Nebus Smith, and family of Winter Park, Fla.
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