The Grand Ole Opry is often referred to as the “home of American music” and is known around the world for creating one-of-a-kind entertainment experiences.
Beginning as a simple radio broadcast and evolving into a live entertainment phenomenon, the Opry has not missed a Saturday night radio broadcast since 1925. For 90 years, the Opry has served as the center stage for country’s greatest artists, and has maintained an exemplary partnership with Shure, a Company also celebrating 90 years in 2015. With a multitude of performers each week, quick artist changeovers between commercial breaks and nearly 180 shows a year, the Opry’s Monitor Engineer Mark Thomas has no time for malfunctioning audio equipment, which has led him and his team to maintain a longstanding history of using Shure products.
For its weekly radio and live broadcasts, the Opry has up to 14 acts per night, requiring reliable and flexible equipment act after act, night after night. With this in mind, Thomas and his team have equipped the Opry with a robust lineup of Shure products and have looked to the Company’s wireless and in-ear systems for the versatility and dependability they are known to provide. Recently, the Opry installed Shure Axient® Wireless Systems and were impressed with its simplicity and ease of use. To make the most of the system’s features, the team leverages the integration of Shure’sWireless Workbench® software for flawless RF performance. Given the Opry’s lengthy broadcasts, the integration of Axient’s rechargeable battery systems was an important factor in the decision to purchase the system, as the venue’s microphones can be in use for up to eight hours.
“It’s no secret that the Opry is home to exceptional broadcasts and impressive audio performances. All of this, combined with respected musical acts, has helped make the Opry experience a defining force for the past 90 years,” said Thomas. “To deliver a great performance, you need even better audio gear and wireless systems. This is why we’ve always relied on Shure. The Axient wireless system with Wireless Workbench produces near-perfect RF performance, and is simple to use. Lengthy shows and artist changeovers create the need for a dependable battery system as well. Axient’s rechargeable battery was a big selling point for our team.”
Attracting some of country music’s most respected musicians, Thomas and his team rely on Shure products that artists are both familiar and comfortable with. As such, the Opry has looked to Shure’s PSM®1000 Personal Monitoring System. Thomas selected PSM 1000 for its sonic clarity and excellent RF stability.
“Just about every artist we’ve come in contact with at the Opry has experience with PSM 1000 and has confidence in using it,” Thomas states.
The Opry also uses a variety of Shure wired microphones, notably the SM58®. Selecting this legendary microphone was an easy choice for Thomas, as he and his team have been longtime supporters and users of this popular mic.
“Just like the Opry, Shure had a rich history of delivering on everything that it promised, from product quality to an exceptional user experience—two things we count on here at the Opry,” added Thomas. “We’re proud of our longstanding relationship with Shure and look forward to what the future holds for the both of us.”
To learn more about the Grand Ole Opry, visit www.opry.com. For more information on Shure, visit www.shure.com.
