News

LOS ANGELES – JBL speakers and Crown amplifiers supported an all-star cast for the 50^th Annual Grammy Awards Anniversary special. Six-time Grammy-winner Tina Turner joined two-time nominee Beyoncé for a special performance; jazz pianist Eldar, rap-rocker Kid Rock, jazz saxophonist Dave Koz and jazz/pop singer Keely Smith also performed on the telecast.  To present all this talent to the live audience, rental-system contractor ATK/Audiotek (Valencia, Calif.) deployed a multiarray JBL VerTec speaker system; it incorporated 70 full-size VT4889 line array elements temporarily suspended in the Staples Center.

LOS ANGELES – For the 11th year in a row, Audio-Technica mics were used at the Grammy Awards Show, known throughout the industry as "Music's Biggest Night." This year at the 50th Annual Grammys, held Feb. 10, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, Audio-Technica supplied over 250 of its microphones, including an array of hard-wired mics and Artist Elite 5000 Series UHF Wireless Systems.

GLENDALE, AZ – The sun and planets couldn’t have been in better alignment for Jordin Sparks when she was chosen to sing the national anthem at Super Bowl XLII. Consider, If you will, the circumstances: The American Idol champ’s father, Phillippi Sparks, once played for the victorious New York Giants, her favorite team. Combine this with the fact that the game was held at the University of Phoenix stadium just a few miles from her home, and the job seemed almost a birthright.

The compact Dynacord D-LITE 1000 system is a solution for virtually all mobile audio system users, whether entertainers, mobile disk jockeys, or small- to medium-sized bands. With its compact dimensions and a total weight of less than 45 kilograms, the D-LITE 1000 fits comfortably into the boot of a small car. Designed for uncompromising audio performance, the D-LITE 1000 satisfies all the requirements of a mobile rig while delivering quality.

NEW YORK – Academy Award-winning actor, Grammy-nominated musician and standup comedian Jamie Foxx added on-air host, contributor and executive producer of a satellite radio station 24/7 comedy, entertainment and lifestyle program to his resume. This new radio show features routines from a variety of comedians, guest appearances by stars from the worlds of entertainment and sports, and skits and interviews recorded on the run by the comedian on his HHB FlashMic.

BERKELEY, CA – On February 14, Céline Dion will embark upon her “Taking Chances” world tour of over 100 show dates, following her record-shattering, multi-year resident show in Las Vegas. The tour opens with a benefit concert for Nelson Mandela in Johannesburg, South Africa, and will bring the world’s best-selling female artist to 85 cities in North America, Asia, Australia and Europe before the final stop in Florida in January 2009. The tour includes a stop in Tokyo, which features the largest Meyer Sound MILO system with a record 168 MILO line array loudspeakers.

OLD LYME, CT – The Plain White T's cultured a fan base for nearly a decade with persistent, well-attended tours and a handful of well-received albums before releasing "Every Second Counts" on Hollywood Records in 2006. Its runaway hit – "Hey There Delilah" remained at the number one spot on Billboard's Top 40 for two weeks and recently earned the band two Grammy nominations for Song of the Year and Best Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals. The band is selling-out shows around the world with Sennheiser evolution wired and wireless microphones.

Since its introduction, the Blackline Series has been known for sound quality and reliability for live music venues, nightclubs and installations worldwide. Martin Audio is now introducing Blackline+, which features improvements to provide a higher level of performance.