Shure
History

Shure Radio Company is founded on April 25 by S. N. Shure as a one-man company selling AM radio kits and components. Mr. Shure’s office is located at 19 South Wells Street in downtown Chicago.

Shure publishes its first direct mail catalog.

First patent is received for a stylish and practical suspension support system for microphones.

Model 55 Unidyne® Microphone is the world’s first single-element unidirectional dynamic microphone. Its performance qualities and distinctive styling ultimately make it the most recognized microphone in the world. Notably, the single-element design makes microphones smaller, less expensive, and, therefore, more accessible to all. Shure also introduces its first ribbon microphone, the Model 50.

The T-30V Throat Microphone, HS-33 and HS-38 Headphones, M-C1 Microphone for oxygen masks, Model 100 Carbon Microphone, and Battle Announce Microphone are manufactured for the military. Using T-30Vs, bomber crews could communicate over the extreme noise level inside the planes.

Shure adopts strict military standards (MILSPEC) as the standard of reliability for all products.

Shure introduces the Model 520 Green Bullet with controlled reluctance element. This eventually becomes the most popular microphone for blues harmonica.

Unidyne 55S is introduced: a smaller version of the renowned Unidyne 55.

Shure debuts the first handheld wireless microphone system for performers, called the Vagabond 88. Powered by two batteries, the system transmitted within a “performance circle” of approximately 700 square feet.

Shure moves from downtown Chicago to a new corporate headquarters in Evanston, Illinois.

Designed in cooperation with Columbia Records, the M3D Phonograph Cartridge is the world’s first magnetic phonograph cartridge for stereo LP playback.

Shure V-15 Stereo Dynetic Cartridge is one of the finest phonograph cartridges on the market. It featured a 15-degree vertical tracking angle and a symmetrical, bi-radial elliptical diamond stylus tip.

The SM57 Dynamic Microphone is introduced. Rugged and reliable, it has been the White House standard for every U.S. President since Lyndon B. Johnson.

Shure SM58® (“SM” for “Studio Microphone”) is introduced and soon is adopted by rock-and-roll musicians, who find it offers the right combination of rugged reliability and excellent sound quality. It quickly becomes the standard for live performance vocals. The SM58 is the most popular vocal microphone in the world.

Shure Vocal Master, the first portable total sound system, includes a six-channel mixer, power amplifier, and loudspeakers.

SM81 is the first condenser microphone to combine studio quality sound with the durability required for live performance.

S. N. Shure becomes Chairman of the Board, and James Kogen is promoted to President and General Manager.

Shure opens a manufacturing facility in Wheeling, Illinois, a Chicago suburb.

The V15V cartridge, the finest ever produced by Shure, is introduced.

Shure Teleconferencing division is formed to develop and market audio products for conferencing facilities.

Manufacturing plant opens in Juarez, Mexico, for production of wired microphones.

Subsidiary opens in Heilbronn, Germany. Shure Europe GmbH provides sales, service, and support to Shure Distribution Centers in 34 European countries.

S. N. Shure dies at the age of 93. Rose L. Shure becomes Chairman of the Board.

LX wireless microphone series is introduced.

PSM® 600 Personal Stereo Monitor system enters the fast-growing market for “in-ear” monitoring systems.

Shure enters the side address studio condenser market with the KSM32.

Shure Asia Limited opens in Hong Kong to serve Distribution Centers and distributors throughout Asia and the Pacific Rim.

Shure Brothers Incorporated is renamed Shure Incorporated.

After 47 years in Evanston, Illinois, Shure moves into new corporate headquarters in Niles, Illinois.

Shure is awarded the Technical GRAMMY® by the National Academy of the Recording Arts and Sciences. This award is presented by the Recording Academy to individuals and/or companies that have made outstanding contributions of technical significance to the recording industry.

Shure acquires its long-time United Kingdom Distribution Center, HW International, which is renamed Shure Distribution UK.

Shure opens two new facilities in China: a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Suzhou, and a sales and marketing office in Shanghai.

UHF-R® wireless microphone series introduced for the touring sound market.

A Shure sales and marketing office opens in Tokyo, Japan.

Shure Distribution UK opens an office in Waltham Abbey, England.

Shure acquires Crowley and Tripp Ribbon Microphones, and introduces new KSM353 and KSM313 Ribbon Microphones.

Shure introduces the new line of SRH professional headphones.

PSM® 900 Wireless Personal Monitor System is introduced.

SE earphone series debuts.

Shure forms a new subsidiary in the Netherlands.

Shure introduces its first all-digital wireless system, PGX-D, and the PSM®1000 Personal Monitor System.

Shure previews the Axient® wireless system, which detects interference and can change frequencies automatically.

Shure unveils a new office and Regional Distribution Center in Eppingen, Germany.

Shure completes the acquisition of Informationsteknik/Danish Interpretation Systems, one of the world’s leading suppliers of conferencing and audio/visual systems and equipment.

ULX-D™ Digital Wireless is launched, offering 24-bit audio clarity and efficient use of the RF spectrum.

Shure introduces the SE846 Sound Isolating™ Earphones.

Shure begins distributing Danish Interpretation Systems (DIS) conferencing and discussion systems.

The BLX® wireless microphone series is introduced.

Microflex® Wireless becomes available for boardrooms and conferencing environments.

The 75th Anniversary of the legendary Unidyne Microphone. The Unidyne Model 55 Microphone receives the IEEE Milestone Award from the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers.

Shure Distribution Benelux (integrating Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg) is formed.

Shure Russia is formed, with an office located in Moscow.

Shure unveils, the MOTIV™ Digital Product Line and iOS Mobile Recording App, the KSE1500 Electrostatic Earphone System, and the SHA900 Portable Listening Amplifier.

Shure Incorporated mourns the passing of its Chairman, Rose L. Shure, at the age of 95.

CEO Sandy LaMantia retires. Christine Schyvinck becomes the fourth President and CEO in Shure history.

KSM8 Dualdyne™ Cardioid Dynamic Vocal Microphone is unveiled as the world’s first dual-diaphragm, dynamic, handheld microphone.

Microflex® Advance™ Ceiling Array and Table Array Microphones debut.

Creation of Shure France and opening of a Paris office.

Axient® Digital Wireless debuts, and creates a new industry standard with unparalleled RF and audio performance.

Shure expands its electrostatic listening product line with the introduction of the KSE1200 Earphone System.

The iconic Shure Unidyne® I Model 55 Microphone is added to the Art Institute of Chicago’s 20th and 21st century architecture and design permanent collection.

A Shure sales and marketing office opens in Chicago, IL. The facility includes a Shure Experience Center.

New Rose Shure Experience Centre opens in London.

Shure celebrates grand opening of Hyderabad Office – the Company’s first software development center in India.

TwinPlex™ Lavaliers and Headsets are introduced: pristine performance for any stage.

MV88+ Video Kit launches, expanding on Shure’s award-winning MOTIV™ line.

The MV7 Podcast Microphone Takes Recording and Streaming to the Next Level

Shure Launches AONIC Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones and True Wireless Earphones

SLX-D Digital Wireless System is Introduced

Duraplex is introduced: A Subminiature Microphone with Exceptional Durability and Seamless Usability

Shure Acquires STEM AUDIO to Expand its Portfolio of Conferencing and Audio Solutions

First-of-its-kind Shure Intellimix® Room Audio Processing Software is a game-changer for the AV Industry

Shure Provides a Complete Conferencing Audio Ecosystem for Every Type of Collaboration Space with Expanded range of Microflex Advance™ products

The Stem Speaker is introduced to the Stem Audio Ecosystem line to help create exceptional sound experiences in any meeting room.

The Microflex line is expanded with the introduction of the MC415 Dual Cartridge Microphone and the A400MB Mute Button.

Expanding on the unmatched wireless capabilities of the Axient® Digital Wireless System, the ADX5D Portable Receiver is introduced to address the needs of ever-evolving production environments.

Shure Introduces KSM11: a state-of-the-art wireless microphone capsule for delivering groundbreaking vocal clarity.

Shure launches the next generation of frequency coordination for audio professionals with the AD600 Axient® Digital Spectrum Manager.

A new era of array microphone technology is ushered in with the introduction of the MXA920 Ceiling Array Microphone.

The UniPlex Lavalier Microphone sets the standard for high-quality, isolated audio capture of speech in a compact footprint.

Shure is awarded an Engineering Emmy at the 74th Engineering, Science & Technology Emmy Awards for the Axient Digital Wireless System.

Microflex® Advance™ MXA902 Integrated Conferencing Ceiling Array—the world’s first conferencing ceiling array microphone with integrated loudspeaker and IntelliMix® DSP for small and medium-size meeting rooms is launched.

Shure announces an agreement to acquire Ab Wavemark Oy, a leader in software products for theater, film, TV, broadcast, and content streaming applications, to further strengthen their strategic investment in software.

Shure receives a top score of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s 2023-2024 Corporate Equality Index (CEI), the nation’s foremost benchmarking survey and report measuring corporate policies and practices related to LGBTQ+ workplace equality.