Shure Incorporated, a global leader in audio technology, is celebrating its 100th anniversary. Over its 100-year history, more than 50,000 different electronics products have been developed by Shure.
SN Shure started the company in downtown Chicago in 1925 selling radio parts kits and in 1932, Shure became one of only a few US microphone manufacturers with the introduction of the Model 33N microphone.
Since then, the company has grown into a global technology leader, offering a diverse portfolio of wired and wireless microphones, conferencing and meeting solutions, and personal and professional listening products.
Shure products are now sold in more than 120 countries, and through the decades, they have been used around the world by such luminaries as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Elvis Presley, Nelson Mandela, The Beatles, and other icons.
Over the past 100 years, Shure has introduced products that have become staples in the audio industry. The Shure SM58 microphone remains one of the top choices for vocal performances worldwide. The SM7B vocal microphone has equally earned a reputation in broadcast, recording, and podcasting industries.
Shure introduced the first wireless microphone in 1953, the Vagabond 88 Wireless Mic, long before wireless technology became popular by the 1990s. The company introduced digital wireless in 2011, and today, Shure digital wireless microphones are used across the world from the biggest sporting events and global concert tours to the top business conferences.
Here is a list of some industry firsts and notable achievements from Shure:
- First Phonograph Cartridge (1937) – Shure’s development of the first phonograph cartridge established it as a leader in high-fidelity audio.
- Unidyne Microphone (1939) – The Unidyne Model 55 was the first single-element unidirectional microphone, providing better sound isolation and reducing feedback, making it a popular choice for broadcast and live performance.
- First Handheld Wireless Microphone System (1953) – Shure introduced the Vagabond 88.
- SM58 Microphone (1966) – The Shure SM58 for live vocal performance microphones was introduced.
- First Integrated Wireless System (1990s) – The introduction of the Shure UHF (Ultra-High Frequency) wireless systems.
- Axient Digital Wireless System (2016) – This system introduced innovative features such as interference detection and avoidance, quadversity, and advanced connectivity options.
- MXA910 Ceiling Array Microphone (2016) – For conference rooms.
- IntelliMix Room (2020) – This audio processing software optimised audio conferencing with advanced DSP algorithms.
Shure features five global engineering centres dedicated to product development and software excellence: Niles, Ill., USA; Copenhagen, Denmark; Suzhou, China; Edinburgh, Scotland; Hyderabad, India.
To commemorate this historic anniversary milestone, Shure is launching a series of special activities and products throughout the anniversary year including associate and customer celebrations.
