PRESS RELEASE
Contact: Neilson/Clyne
Tel: (615) 662-1616
Fax: (615) 662-1636
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
AUDIO-TECHNICA SHINES ONCE AGAIN
AT THE 40TH ANNUAL CMA AWARDS
— Kenny Chesney, Audio-Technica endorser, repeats his 2004 win,
taking home top honors as Entertainer of the Year —
STOW, OH, November 7, 2006 — For the 13th
consecutive year, Audio-Technica has supported the Country Music Association
(CMA) Awards by providing an extensive selection of vocal and instrument
microphones for its annual awards show. The 40th Annual CMA Awards aired
live for the first time in 5.1-channel surround sound Monday, November
6th on the ABC Television Network from Nashville’s Gaylord Entertainment
Center and featured over 200 hard-wired and wireless Audio-Technica
microphones. From backline vocal and instrument mics to frontline wireless
systems for leading country artists such as Kenny Chesney, Jason Aldean,
and Miranda Lambert, Audio-Technica was chosen to provide its clear
and consistent quality for this star-studded live broadcast.
Hosted for the third year by the multi-platinum duo Brooks
& Dunn, the CMA Awards presentation is recognized as Country Music's
Biggest Night™, and represents the pinnacle of achievement for
those involved in country music. Once again, Audio-Technica microphones
were featured for their accurate and reliable sound reproduction —
characteristics that have dictated A-T’s long-standing presence
with country music artists.
The team responsible for the audio at this year’s
CMA’s included a who’s who of broadcast audio: the audio
was supervised by GRAMMY®/Emmy® Award-winning Music Producer
Elliot Scheiner; the Audio Coordinator was Michael Abbott; ATK/Audiotek
provided the sound system with FOH (front-of-house) engineers Patrick
Baltzell and Rick Shimer; New York-based Wireless First, a leading source
of wireless sound equipment for major television and production companies
nationwide under the direction of Kevin Sanford, supplied all the wireless
microphones; GRAMMY/Emmy Award-winning engineer David Hewitt’s
Remote Recording provided the 5.1 production mix, while MTVN’s
R8 mobile recording truck supplied the 5.1 music mix.
Audio-Technica endorser Kenny Chesney repeated his 2004
win as CMA’s Entertainer of the Year. Chesney performed using
Audio-Technica’s Artist Elite® 5000 Series UHF Wireless System,
with the AEW-T3300 microphone/transmitter and AEW-R5200 true diversity
frequency-agile dual receiver. 5000 Series wireless systems were also
used by Miranda Lambert and Audio-Technica endorser Jason Aldean.
Elliot Scheiner, known for his work with leading artists
such as Steely Dan, Van Morrison, Fleetwood Mac, Sting, Foo Fighters,
The Eagles, Nine Inch Nails, Aerosmith and many others, was the Music
Producer at this year’s CMA’s and was pleased to have Audio-Technica
back as the major microphone supplier. “I’ve been working
on the CMA Awards show for the past five years and we’ve been
using Audio-Technica for as long as I can remember,” stated Scheiner.
“The reason we use A-T is because of durability, reliability and
of course, the high quality audio they deliver — especially the
wireless systems. In all my years at the CMAs, we have never had a problem
with an A-T mic. Most of the guys that are working the show this year
— Mark Repp, Doc Damon, Stan Dacus, Chad Hailey, Greg Lankford,
and Brando Marius — have all worked the past five years with me,
and everyone agrees, this year’s show sounds better than any one
we’ve ever done. And it’s not only because we are now doing
it in surround sound, but the overall audio quality seems to be better
— and what are you going to attribute that to? Microphones are
the first link in the signal chain— that’s a good place
to start!”
In addition, a wide array of Audio-Technica hard-wired
mics was also employed for the broadcast, including: the new Artist
Series ATM250DE on kick; Artist Series ATM350 on strings, rack and floor
toms; Artist Series ATM650 for snare; AT4033 on bass guitar; AT4040
and AT4050 guitar cabinets and overheads; AT4041 for hi-hat; AT4051
on ride cymbals; and AE5400 on vocals.
Michael Abbott, Audio Coordinator for this year’s
CMAs, commented, “Once again, A-T continues to be a key partner
at the CMA Awards. When you are doing a live broadcast, there is just
one chance to get things right. And working with A-T, that gives me
one less thing to worry about when putting a show of this scale together.”
Photo File: CMA06_Chesney.JPG
Photo Caption: Kenny Chesney performs using Audio-Technica’s Artist
Elite® 5000 Series Wireless System with the AEW-T3300 handheld microphone/transmitter,
at the 40th Annual CMA Awards in Nashville, TN, on November 6, 2006.
Photo by Mark Humphrey/AP Images. (This photo is the property of Mark
Humphrey/AP Images and may be used by the press only for the purpose
of one-time reproduction. Unauthorized use, alteration or reproduction
of this photograph is strictly prohibited.)
...ends 641 words
Celebrating over 40 years of audio excellence worldwide,
Audio-Technica is a leading innovator in transducer technology, renowned
for the design and manufacture of microphones, wireless microphones,
headphones, mixers, and electronics for the audio industry.
—For more information on the complete range of Audio-Technica
products, contact
Karen Emerson, Audio-Technica U.S., Inc., 1221 Commerce Drive, Stow,
OH 44224.
Tel: (330) 686-2600; Fax: (330) 688-3752; Web: www.audio-technica.com
—For further information regarding product availability
and pricing in Europe, please contact Denise Burnage, marketing, Audio-Technica
Ltd., Old Lane, Leeds LS11 8AG England. Tel: +44 (0) 113 277 1441, Fax:
+44 (0) 113 270 4836