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Shure Introduces Vinyl Kombat – New Major DJ Battle

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27 May 2004 No Comment

Shure Incorporated announced yesterday (26 May 2004) that it will introduce a new competition to the U.S. DJ battle circuit, Vinyl Kombat. The unique aspect of this competition is that it will operate under a “Keep it Clean ” premise to offer a safe and positive environment where competitors and audiences of all ages can participate. “We created Vinyl Kombat as a way to highlight the DJ element of Hip Hop culture,” said Bill “Needlz” Oakley, Marketing Specialist/Phonograph Product Manager for Shure. “We also hope to expose new audiences to this dynamic form of artistic expression.”

The “Keep it Clean” rule extends to all of the Vinyl Kombat hosts and performers. Each of the competitors will have to be very creative and articulate their responses without any profanity or vulgarity when battling their opponents. In addition, Shure is staging each event in venues that have agreed to admit participants of all ages.

Shure, which manufactures industry-leading phono cartridges and has been intimately involved with the Hip Hop scene and its artists for almost 10 years, is presenting Vinyl Kombat because most DJ battles exclude the bulk of turntable music enthusiasts who are under the age of 18 by staging events at nightclubs which only admit adults or by accepting sponsorship from alcohol and/or cigarette companies. By strictly adhering to a ‘Keep It Clean’ rule, Shure is literally opening the doors for more young people to discover the DJ element of Hip Hop culture.

“Hip Hop culture was launched by young people in the 70’s who couldn’t get in to the discos because they were underage,” said Vinyl Kombat Event Coordinator Christie Z-Pabon. “Nightclubs have now taken the place of the discos and kids still can’t get in! Vinyl Kombat offers a solution by allowing all-ages audiences at each event. Many club owners have gone a step further and embraced our mission by graciously agreeing not to sell alcohol during the competition.”

In addition to the competitions, the Vinyl Kombat tour will feature performances from DJ A-Trak, of the Allies crew, who won his first World DJ title at the age of 15 and retired from battling by the time he was 18 years old, after winning four more World titles. Other headliners include Shure endorsers Mista Sinista, D-Styles, DJ Nu-Mark (Jurassic 5), DJ Klever (Allies), and the Beat Junkies, whose members include Melo-D, J-Rocc, Rhettmatic and Shortkut. Also performing will be some of the nation’s most respected turntablists, partyrockers, and emcees including Supernatural, Wordsayer, Gunkhole, DV One, D.O.A. (vocal percussionist), The Original Jazzy Jay, GrandMaster Caz, and GrandWizzard Theodore, the inventor of the scratch.

“Vinyl Kombat is going to make a lot of noise this year,” said A-Trak. “It’s open to all ages, which is crucial. I started DJing when I was 13 and I wish there had been battles like this back then because it’s so hard to be exposed to this music when you’re underage. Plus, this joint is put on by people who’ve been involved behind the scenes in organizing the best battles in the last couple of years, so it’ll definitely be on point.”

At most events, admission has been predetermined at $15 for adults and $10 for young people ages 16 and under.

Each of the eight Vinyl Kombat regional champions will receive prizes from Shure Incorporated and other Vinyl Kombat sponsors, Rane and Serato. They also will receive roundtrip airfare and hotel accommodations to the Vinyl Kombat US 
Finals to be held in September.

NATIONAL DATES FOR The Vinyl Kombat DJ Battle

July 1: The El Rey, Los Angeles
July 11: Fox Theatre, Boulder, CO
July 16: The Parish, Austin, TX
July 18: BB Kings, New York City 
July 30: SomArts Cultural Center, San Francisco 
Aug 5: The Showbox, Seattle
Aug. 8: Nation, Washington DC
August 19: The Metro, Chicago

For more information go to www.vinylkombat.com

About Shure Incorporated

Founded in 1925, Shure Incorporated www.shure.com is widely acknowledged as the world’s leading manufacturer of microphones and audio electronics. Over the years, the Company has designed and produced a wide variety of high-quality consumer and professional audio products, providing a vehicle for an individual’s personal sound. Shure’s diverse product line includes world-class microphones, premier wireless microphone systems, top-rated phonograph cartridges, problem-solving mixers, digital signal processors, and personal monitors. Today, Shure products are used wherever high-quality audio performance is a top priority, in a wide variety of industries, markets, and settings.

Shure Incorporated Corporate Headquarters is located at 5800 Touhy Avenue, Niles, IL 60714, 847-600-2000.

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