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PRESS RELEASE
Contact: Neilson/Clyne
Tel: (615) 662-1616
Fax: (615) 662-1636
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TECHNICS PARTNERS WITH
GUITAR CENTER FOR 2005 SPIN OFF
— Industry-leading turntable manufacturer sponsors nation’s
premiere DJ competition —
WESTLAKE VILLAGE, CA, May 10, 2005 — Guitar
Center, Inc. (Nasdaq: GTRC), America’s leading musical instrument
and professional audio retailer, has announced that its 2005 Spin Off
competition is sponsored by Technics, the top turntable manufacturer
in the music industry. Technics is serving as the exclusive provider
of turntables and equipment for this year’s preeminent event.
“Spin Off is now recognized as one of the most important
DJ battles in the nation,” said Jack Sonni, vice president of
marketing communication for Guitar Center. “With this competition
Guitar Center has created a vehicle for a significant, loyal portion
of our customer base to achieve national recognition and win an extraordinary
array of prizing.”
As part of the sponsorship, Technics will supply Spin
Off’s winners with a large variety of prizes including a grand
prize of two Technics SL DZ 1200 digital tables. Additionally, the four
DJs who emerge victorious at the regional competitions will be awarded
two Technics SL 1200 MK5 tables, and winners of the district finals
will take home a pair of Technics RP-DH 1200 headphones. Store finals
winners will receive a Technics apparel pack.
“Technics is proud to be the exclusive turntable
provider for Guitar Center’s exciting Spin Off competition,”
said Jim Kiczek, national marketing manager for Technics turntables.
“As the leading name in turntables for more than 30 years, Technics
is pleased to team up with the foremost music instrument retailer. The
legend continues with this winning combination.”
Now in its fifth year of competition, Guitar Center Spin
Off provides DJs with the opportunity to showcase their talent, compete
for major prizes and, more importantly, be recognized as one of the
world’s finest. As in past years, competition is expected to be
steep. Winners will be selected based on originality, technique, style,
stage presence, and overall performance. Following in-store competitions,
lucky winners will advance to store finals, district finals, regional
finals, and finally the grand finals.
About Technics
Technics products are marketed in the U.S. by Panasonic Consumer Electronics
Company, a division of Panasonic Corporation of North America, the principal
North American subsidiary of Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. Ltd.
(NYSE: MC) and the hub of Panasonic’s U.S. marketing, sales, service
and R&D operations. Information about Technics is available at www.technicsusa.com.
Additional company information for journalists is available at www.panasonic.com/pressroom
or through the company's toll-free fax-back system at 888-734-7490.
…ends 385 words
About Guitar Center
Guitar Center is the nation’s leading retailer of guitars, amplifiers,
percussion instruments, keyboards, live-sound/DJ and recording equipment.
We presently operate 146 Guitar Center stores, with 120 stores in 48
major markets and 26 stores in secondary markets across the U.S. In
addition, the Music & Arts division operates 77 retail locations
specializing in band instruments for sale and rental, serving thousands
of teachers, band directors, college professors and students. Guitar
Center is also the largest direct response retailer of musical instruments
in the U.S. through our wholly owned subsidiary, Musician's Friend,
Inc., and its catalog and web site, www.musiciansfriend.com. More information
on Guitar Center can be found by visiting the Company's web site at
www.guitarcenter.com.
The Guitar Center logo is a registered trademark of Guitar
Center, Inc. Other brand or product names may be trademarks of the respective
companies with which they are associated.
For further information on Guitar Center, contact Neilson/Clyne at
(615) 662-1616, or log onto www.neilsonclyne.com.