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Audio-Technica Shines Once Again at the 41st Annual CMA Awards
Press Release
2007-11-13

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For the 14th 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 41st Annual CMA Awards aired live in 5.1-channel surround sound Wednesday, November 7th on the ABC Television Network from the Sommet Center in Nashville, Tennessee and featured over 250 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, Brooks & Dunn, Kellie Pickler and George Strait -- Audio-Technica was chosen to provide its clear and consistent quality for this star-studded live broadcast.

The CMA Awards presentation is recognized as Country Music's Biggest NightTM, 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 award-winning Audio Producer Tom Davis; 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 XM Productions/Effanel Music were onsite with their L7 and ORU remote recording trucks to create the music mix, facilitated by Music Mixers John Harris and Jay Vicari.

Audio-Technica endorser Kenny Chesney repeated his 2004 and 2006 wins 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 used with the AEW-T5400 microphone/transmitter for front-line vocals by Brooks & Dunn, Kellie Pickler, George Strait and Audio-Technica endorser Jason Aldean. The backline mic complement of A-T wired microphones included the AE6100 and AE5400 for vocals; AT4040 and AT4050 on overheads and guitar cabinets; AE5100 on overheads; AE2500 on kick: ATM250DE on kick and bass guitar cabinets; ATM350 on toms, percussion and strings; ATM450 on hi hat; and ATM650 on snare.

Music Mixer John Harris remarked, "I always turn to Audio-Technica because of the audio quality, reliability and consistency from microphone to microphone, whether wired or wireless. Each CMA broadcast is a once in a lifetime event and there is no room for error. A-T gives me an unprecedented level of confidence, as I know the mics will perform flawlessly regardless of the situation."

Celebrating over 45 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

Photo Caption: George Strait performs using Audio-Technica's Artist Elite 5000 Series Wireless System with the AEW-T5400 handheld microphone/transmitter, at the 41st Annual CMA Awards in Nashville on November 7, 2007. 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.)