It’s Coming Down to the Wire(less): Wireless Microphone Systems Broaden Appeal with Certain Consumers

With over 70 percent of the participants in this month’s retailer survey, sent to over 400 MI dealers, claiming that sales of wireless microphones are either up or level when compared to 2016, this would appear to be a pretty healthy market segment.  

Trends reported by a vast majority include the observation that houses of worship have, in particular, embraced this technology and all of the advantages if affords. Providing a counterpoint to those “advantages” would be the equally widely cited concerns and confusion over changing and increasingly restrictive FCC regulations regarding available frequencies for wireless mic systems. 

In addition to ever-advancing user friendliness in design, the dropping price-point of these systems was noted as a major factor in their popularity. As Wesley Edwards of Draisen Edwards Music notes, “By becoming more affordable more customers are interested in switching to wireless.” The flipside of that consumer frugality is that many expect more than those “more affordable” systems are providing. Says Q Systems Music & Sound’s Don Williams: “Customers desire multi-channel systems, but don’t want to spend money on high quality systems.” It’s truly a wireless network in nearly all elements of life out there these days – read on! 

The majority of wireless mic sales at your store are… 

“In the past couple of years our customers are expecting their products to work consistently without interruption. This has allowed us to step up our product offerings and move away from budget brands. As a result, our total sales have increased in the wireless segment and our service calls for wireless issues have been reduced.” 

Paul Shuffield, Jr. 

Shuffield Music Co., LLC 

Arkadelphia, Arkansas

“$300 and under really doesn’t get most people what they need. We cater to a large church demographic and they need reliability…. our normal sale to them is in the $600 to $1,000 price range.” 

Tim Bascom 

Morgan Music 

Lebanon, Missouri 

Do you engage in any promotions or marketing campaigns specifically targeted towards wireless mic end-users and, if so, what strategies have you found to be successful? 

“Word of mouth from one church to another seems to be how most find out about us and wireless systems.” 

Paul Lewis 

Lewis Music Store 

Kissimmee, Florida 

“I sell them as an addition to the mic systems I design.” 

Kimric Smythe 

Smythe’s Accordion Center 

Oakland, California 

“We offer a larger discount for any second system purchased.” 

Wesley Edwards 

Draisen Edwards Music 

Anderson, South Carolina/Atlanta, Georgia 

How would you describe the “typical” wireless microphone system consumer? 

“Our typical purchase is for school and churches. We do installs.” 

Spidey Mulrooney 

The Music Shop 

Southington, Connecticut 

“Middle aged, moderately experienced, smaller venues, and churches (less than 

1,000 people).” 

Ronn Marriott 

Long and McQuade Musical Instruments 

Windsor, Ontario 

CANADA 

“Retired, does gigs for retirement villages.” 

Len Henderson 

Binary Music 

Cleveland, Queensland 

AUSTRALIA 

“Most of our sales come from the church market.” 

Brian Higgins 

Bill’s Music House 

Baltimore, Maryland 

“45 years old and up. Mostly churches and clubs tend to purchase a wireless handheld.” 

Kasey Armstrong 

Barker’s Music 

Modesto, California 

“80 percent of our wireless business is institutional.” 

Mike Kay 

Ted Brown Music 

Tacoma, Washington 

“Middle-aged church customers.” 

Don Williams 

Q Systems Music & Sounds 

Hobbs, New Mexico 

“Gigging musician, some intermediate level [experience], ages 20 and up. Purchasing 

for live sound usage.” 

Paul Durand 

Family Piano Company 

Waukegan, Illinois 

“We have a large church clientele… also the local school systems, so we have ‘serious’ buyers who don’t mind spending extra money to ensure that they get what will work for them the best. And we actually sell these systems. We don’t just put them on display and hope somebody buys one.” 

Tim Bascom 

Morgan Music 

Lebanon, Missouri 

Have you been noticing any major trends with respect to wireless mic sales, either on the supplier or consumer sides? 

“People like hand-held mics the best!” 

Joe Nathan 

Consignment Music 

Memphis, Tennessee 

“More digital units.” 

Jeff Hashbarger 

Jeff’s Morrell Music Shop 

Kingsport, Tennessee 

“It seems like model numbers are changing much quicker due to the FCC channel assignments for wireless mic manufacturers.” 

David St. John 

Gard’s Music, LLC 

Glendora, California 

“People want smaller and more simple. More and more people are wondering why they can’t just plug in a Bluetooth dongle to their speaker/sound system/ home stereo, and another dongle into their mic. ‘Why do I need this box, and this power cable, and this other cable, and what is channel/frequency?!’” 

Michael Santender 

Instrumental Music Center 

Tucson, Arizona 

“Consumers are looking for more quality in the products they purchase. They want something they know will work. Inexpensive systems have issues with durability and reception and consumers want to move away from that. There is nothing more frustrating than having a mic drop signal in the middle of a worship service or performance.” 

Paul Shuffield, Jr. 

Shuffield Music Co., LLC 

Arkadelphia, Arkansas