UK music company collapses into administration – pop star clients | UK | News

A UK professional audio manufacturer whose products are used by major pop stars and touring artists has collapsed into administration. Cosmic Ears Ltd specializes in custom in-ear monitors (IEMs) and officially entered administration on 3 February. According to The Gazette’s Data Service, the appointment of joint administrators was confirmed on February 12 following a hearing at Manchester’s High Court of Justice, Business and Property Court.

The business was founded by Philip Gartell, who launched the first official Cosmic Ears IEM in 2015 while living in Sweden. With a background in avionics engineering, Gartell applied his expertise in signal processing and electronics to the design of custom monitors and developed what he describes as the company’s signature “British Sound.”

The company offers “Dual Performance” IEMs with extensive customization options that include more than a million color and design combinations, designed to perform in both loud live environments and detailed studio settings.

Cosmic Ears has a strong reputation in the live music industry and counts a number of pop and mainstream artists among its clients.

The company also supplied monitors to engineers and production crews working on arena and stadium tours, as well as established artists such as New Order’s Bernard Sumner.

Its flagship products included the C8A model, which was named “Best CIEM of 2025” by Headfonia, underlining the brand’s position within the audiophile and professional monitoring community.

The company reacted to the award in a post on social media: “It goes without saying that we are extremely proud of our current flagship model, which is also our best-selling in-ear monitor (followed closely by our C6A and C6R models). ⁠
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“To read the full article, go to Headfonia.com, find the link in the comments…⁠
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“And thank you to all our wonderful customers for the support you have shown us!”

Companies House records show that the company faced a series of compulsory strike notices between 2019 and 2024, but these were suspended or halted each time. Annual confirmation statements and accounts were submitted during this period.

Under the Insolvency Act 1986, administrators will now evaluate the company’s financial affairs and consider options such as restructuring, the potential sale of the business or its assets, or the monetization of assets for the benefit of creditors.