2010

PRESS RELEASE—December 17, 2010

MEYER SOUND, AVID, SENNHEISER HEAD UP AUDIO FOR 26TH ANNUAL TEC AWARDS

December 17, 2010 —Walnut Creek, CA—The TEC Foundation for Excellence in Audio has announced that Meyer Sound, Avid and Sennheiser will be playing major roles in the 26th Annual TEC Awards, to be held Friday, January 14, at the Anaheim Hilton at the 2011 NAMM Show. The producers of the audio industry gala are expecting a capacity crowd and have partnered with some of the most highly respected audio and video companies for its production.

“The TEC Awards is the sound industry’s most prestigious awards event” says co-executive producer Hillel Resner, “and we’re being hosted for the first time by the largest music products trade show, so it’s critical that audio and video production is of the highest quality possible.”

Sound for the 2000-seat Pacific Ballroom will come from Meyer Sound MINA line array loudspeakers, JM-1P arrayable loudspeakers, MJF-212A stage monitors and 700-HP subwoofers supplied by Santa Barbara-based Luners Pro Sound and will be managed by Meyer Sound’s Galileo loudspeaker management system. Audio will be designed and mixed by veteran engineer Hal Soojian who will use Avid’s VENUE SC48 consoles. Wired and wireless microphone systems will be supplied by Sennheiser.

The show’s high-definition video presentation, directed by Steve Barger of San Francisco’s Dub Express, will be projected onto five large screens installed by Freeman for NAMM Show events throughout the week. The awards ceremony will feature a 3-camera live shoot and video clips of the nominees in 25 categories of audio products and projects. The videos are produced by Kevin Monahan and Denise Gallant of Video4, who are also editing a video tribute to Les Paul Award recipient Lindsey Buckingham, produced by award-winning documentary producer Jeff Scheftel.

Doing the musical honors will be the 2Cold ChiliBone TEC Band, directed by vocalist and keyboardist Larry Batiste featuring some of the industry’s top session musicians. Producing the TEC Awards for the 17th consecutive year is Rick Miller, whose career has encompassed extensive touring with artists such as Bernadette Peters, Boz Scaggs, Santana, and projects like Pope Benedict XVI’s Youth Rally in New York.

The TEC Awards is presented by the TEC Foundation for Excellence in Audio, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, charitable organization headquartered in Walnut Creek, California. Funds derived from the TEC Awards are donated to organizations that work to advance the cause of hearing health in the music environment, and to scholarships for students of audio and other media communications arts. For more information, visit www.tecfoundation.com.

For tickets, visit http://26thannualtecawards.eventbrite.com/

Media Contact: Jane Byer / 510.528.2014 / jane@tecfoundation.com

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PRESS RELEASE—December 9, 2010

AUDIO AND TECHNOLOGY LEADERS TO SPONSOR 26TH ANNUAL TEC AWARDS

Harman International, NAMM, GC Pro, Meyer Sound, Sennheiser/Neumann, Sterling Sound, Avid, Broadjam, Hal Leonard Corporation and Shure Head Sponsor Lineup

December 9, 2010 —Walnut Creek, CA—The TEC Foundation for Excellence in Audio has announced that 29 companies in the professional audio and technology industries are lending their support as sponsors of the 26th Annual TEC Awards. The awards, honoring outstanding achievement in professional audio production and product innovation, will be presented at the 2011 NAMM Show on Friday, January 14, in the Pacific Ballroom of the Anaheim Hilton. Besides the presentation of awards in 25 categories of technical and creative achievement, legendary musician and producer Lindsey Buckingham will be honored with the Les Paul Award, given annually for the creative application of music and recording technology.

Front of House sponsors include Sustaining Sponsor Harman International, encompassing many of the professional audio industry’s most respected brands; and NAMM, the largest trade association of the international music products industry. Platinum sponsors include GC Pro (Guitar Center Professional), the Guitar Center division that focuses on the needs of professional users; Meyer Sound, manufacturers of premium professional loudspeaker systems and other hardware and software for sound reinforcement, and recording applications; Sennheiser/Neumann, leading manufacturers of microphones, headphones and wireless transmission systems; and Sterling Audio, makers of studio-quality condenser microphones featuring tube and FET.

Gold sponsors include Avid, producer of award-winning digital audio and video solutions; Broadjam, the social media website focused on indie music and musicians; Hal Leonard Corporation, the world’s largest print music publisher, and leading software and music technology products distributor; and Shure Incorporated, one of the world's largest manufacturers of microphones and audio electronics.

Completing this year's lineup are Silver sponsors Focusrite/Novation and Sony and Bronze sponsors, DPA Microphones, Focal Professional, G.A.N.G., Genelec, PreSonus, TASCAM, TELEFUNKEN Elektroakustik and Universal Audio. Nine Friends of TEC Sponsors are also supporting this year’s TEC Awards.

The TEC Awards is presented by the TEC Foundation for Excellence in Audio, a 501 (c)(3) non-profit, charitable organization headquartered in Walnut Creek, California. Funds derived from the TEC Awards are donated to organizations that work to advance the cause of hearing health in the music environment, and to scholarships for students of audio and other media communications arts. For more information, visit www.tecfoundation.com.

For more information on TEC Awards sponsors, visit http://www.tecfoundation.com/tec/10sponsorresources.html

For Ticket and Event Information: http://26thannualtecawards.eventbrite.com

Media Contact: Jane Byer / 510.528.2014 / jane@tecfoundation.com

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PRESS RELEASE—November 30, 2010

TECnology HALL OF FAME TO HONOR 80 YEARS OF HISTORIC ACHIEVEMENTS

Ten Innovations to be Inducted at 2011 NAMM Show Ceremony

November 30, 2010 —Walnut Creek, CA—The TEC Foundation for Excellence in Audio, presenters of the TEC Awards, has announced 10 inventions and products it will induct to its 6th Annual TECnology Hall of Fame. The ceremony will be held on Saturday, January 15, at the 2011 NAMM Show in Anaheim, California, and will be hosted by veteran pro audio journalist George Petersen.

Established in 2004, the TECnology Hall of Fame recognizes the innovations and companies that have made significant contributions to the advancement of audio technology. Inductees are chosen by a panel of more than 50 recognized audio experts, including authors, educators, product designers, production professionals and others. To be considered for induction, products or innovations must be at least 10 years old.

“This year’s inductees not only represent a number of ‘firsts’—including the first audio equalizer, compression driver, studio monitors, videotape recorder, programmable polyphonic synthesizer and in-ear monitoring system,” says George Petersen, “but also key technologies and classic products that continue to shape the present and future of professional audio.” The 2010 TECnology Hall of Fame inductees include:

1915 – Electric Wave-Filter (Audio Equalizer)
1926 – Western Electric 555-w Compression Driver
1937 – Lansing Iconic Studio Monitor
1939 – PCM Patent
1956 – Ampex Model VRX-1000 Video Recorder
1960 – Sennheiser MD-421 Microphone
1978 – Dave Smith Sequential Circuits Prophet-5
1985 – Future Sonics Ear Monitors
1992 – Waves Q10 Paragraphic Equalizer Plug-in
1997 – Antares Auto-Tune

The 6th Annual TECnology Hall of Fame ceremony will be presented on Saturday, the day after the 26th Annual TEC Awards, and will begin at 4 p.m. As part of NAMM’s H.O.T. (Hands-On Training) Zone, it will be held in Room 204B—the Stage Room—on Level 2 of the Anaheim Convention Center. Seating will be available for 300 and is offered to NAMM attendees, with priority given to inductees and their guests.

For full descriptions of the 2010 inductees, and past TECnology Hall of Fame inductee profiles, visit http://www.tecfoundation.com/hof/10techof.html

The TEC Foundation for Excellence in Audio is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, charitable organization headquartered in Walnut Creek, California. For complete information about the TEC Awards and the TEC Foundation, go to www.tecfoundation.com.

The 2011 NAMM Show is presented by NAMM (The National Association of Music Merchants) and is the largest tradeshow for the international music products industry, drawing close to 88,000 attendees to its exhibits and educational programs annually. 

The National Association of Music Merchants, commonly called NAMM in reference to the organization's popular NAMM trade shows, is the not-for-profit association that unifies, leads and strengthens the $17 billion global musical instruments and products industry. NAMM’s activities and programs are designed to promote music making to people of all ages. NAMM is comprised of more than 9,000 Member companies. For more information about NAMM, interested parties can visit www.namm.org or call 800-767-NAMM (6266).

Press Contact: Jane Byer / 510.528.2014 / jane@tecfoundation.com

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PRESS RELEASE—October 28, 2010

LINDSEY BUCKINGHAM TO RECEIVE LES PAUL AWARD AT 26th ANNUAL TEC AWARDS 6TH ANNUAL TEC AWARDS

Legendary Guitarist and Fleetwood Mac Mainstay Honored for Artistry, Technical Savvy

October 28, 2010—Walnut Creek, CA—Multi-instrumentalist, composer and producer Lindsey Buckingham will be presented with the prestigious Les Paul Award at the 26th Annual Technical Excellence & Creativity Awards, to be held Friday, January 14, in the Pacific Ballroom of the Anaheim Hilton during the 2011 NAMM Show. Presented by the TEC Foundation for Excellence in Audio, the TEC Awards recognizes outstanding achievement in professional audio production and product design. 

The Les Paul Award, named in honor of the renowned musician and inventor who passed away last year, is presented annually to an artist or studio professional whose passion, originality and skill in music and recording has made a lasting impact on the world. Past recipients include Paul McCartney, Brian Wilson, Stevie Wonder, Neil Young, Bruce Springsteen, Sting, Al Kooper, Robbie Robertson and other musical giants since the award was instituted in 1991. According to TEC Foundation president Hillel Resner, “The prodigiously talented member of Fleetwood Mac and exceptional solo artist Lindsey Buckingham is a natural choice for the Les Paul Award honor.” 

Lindsey Buckingham's career began to take off when he and Stevie Nicks joined Fleetwood Mac’s core lineup of drummer Mick Fleetwood, bassist John McVie and keyboardist/singer Christine McVie in early 1974. The former blues band, with the addition of "Buckingham Nicks," immediately morphed into a pop hit-making wonder. The group’s eponymous album, produced by Keith Olsen, contained smash singles including Buckingham’s “Monday Morning,” “World Turning” and “I’m So Afraid.”  

However it would be their next album, 1977’s Rumours, that would launch the group into the pop stratosphere, propelled by Lindsey’s tunes, “Go Your Own Way” and “Second Hand News.” This time, the band produced—along with Ken Caillat and Richard Dashut—with Buckingham taking an increasingly active role in the studio, spending hundreds of hours crafting the songs and arrangements. Rumours remains one of the best selling discs of all time.  

Over the next several years, Buckingham was the principal producer on all of Fleetwood Mac’s projects, including the experimental double-album, Tusk, Mirage and Tango in the Night. In the early ’80s, Buckingham launched his solo career with Law and Order, which spawned the Top Ten hit “Trouble.” Other solo hits included “Go Insane” and “Holiday Road.”  

Buckingham’s career has continued to flourish—his critically acclaimed Under the Skin came out in 2006 and was followed by the exceptional DVD, Live at the Bass Performance Hall. His latest release, “Gift of Screws”, came out on September 16, 2008, which will be followed by his new solo project, scheduled for release in early 2011. 

The TEC Awards will be held on Friday night of the NAMM Show and is expected to attract more than 1,000 audio and music professionals from around the world. Proceeds of the ceremony provide scholarships for students of the audio arts and sciences, and support outreach programs promoting hearing health in the sound production industry.  

The TEC Awards is presented by the TEC Foundation for Excellence in Audio, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, charitable organization headquartered in Walnut Creek, California. For complete information about the TEC Awards and the TEC Foundation, go to www.tecfoundation.com.

Press Contact: Jane Byer / 510.528.2014 / jane@tecfoundation.com

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PRESS RELEASE—September 28, 2010

26TH ANNUAL TEC AWARDS ANNOUNCES NOMINEES FOR CREATIVE ACHIEVEMENT IN SOUND PRODUCTION

Avett Brothers, Black Eyed Peas and Green Day lead Record Production nominees; Clair Brothers scores 4 nominations for Tour Sound; Production teams for 3 HBO series nominated for Television Sound

Winners to be announced at NAMM Show, January 14

September 28, 2010—Walnut Creek, CA—The TEC Foundation for Excellence in Audio has announced the nominees in eight categories of Creative Achievement in sound production for the 26th Annual Technical Excellence & Creativity Awards, to be presented at the NAMM Show in Anaheim, CA on Friday, January 14, 2011. The TEC Awards is the professional audio industry’s most prestigious recognition of outstanding achievement in sound production and product innovation. 

The Creative Achievement nominees join the nominees in 17 categories of Technical Achievement announced earlier this month. The awards for Creative Achievement recognize the producers, engineers, sound designers and editors, studios, tour companies and others behind the sound of diverse entertainment media.  

This year’s nominees garnering multiple nominations include tour sound company Clair Brothers of Lititz, PA (4), the producers and engineers for pop and experimental hip-hop stalwarts Black Eyed Peas (3), rootsy harmonizers the Avett Brothers (2) and alt-rock power house Green Day (2); and the production teams for 3 HBO television series (The Pacific, Treme and True Blood). 

Sound production for video games is also well represented by releases from leading companies such as Activision, DICE/EA, Eidos Interactive, Rockstar Games, SCEA and Warner Bros. Interactive. The Interactive Entertainment award is sponsored by the Game Audio Network Guild (G.A.N.G.), the interactive audio industry’s leading nonprofit organization.

For the first time, the TEC Awards will be held at the NAMM show, the largest international music products trade show, held annually at the Anaheim Convention Center. The ceremony is expected to draw more than 1,000 top sound and music professionals, musical artists, NAMM members and exhibitors. The TEC Awards is sponsored by Harman, GCPro/Sterling Audio, NAMM, Shure, Broadjam.com and Hal Leonard Corp., among other leading companies in the sound and music industries.

For the complete list of 2010 Creative Achievement Nominees go to: www.tecfoundation.com/tec/10nomineescreat.html

The TEC Foundation for Excellence in Audio is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Walnut Creek, CA. Besides presenting the TEC Awards, the Foundation provides scholarships for students of the audio arts and sciences and supports outreach programs promoting hearing health in the music environment.For tickets and other information, contact Karen Dunn at Karen@tecwards.org, or call (925) 708-0307 For complete information about the TEC Awards and the TEC Foundation, go to www.tecfoundation.com.

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PRESS RELEASE—September 8, 2010

26TH ANNUAL TEC AWARDS ANNOUNCES NOMINEES FOR OUTSTANDING TECHNICAL ACHIEVEMENT

Sound Industry’s Most Prestigious Awards Show to be held January 14 at the NAMM Show in Anaheim, CA

Nominees announced in 17 categories of hardware and software for sound and music production

September 8, 2010—Walnut Creek, CA—The TEC Foundation for Excellence in Audio today announced the nominees for the 26th Annual Technical Excellence & Creativity Awards, to be held Friday, January 14, 2011 at the NAMM Show in Anaheim, California. The TEC Awards is the world’s most prominent awards show honoring outstanding achievement in professional audio production and product innovation.

The nominees announced today, comprising 17 categories of Technical Achievement in product design, will be followed by announcement of nominees in nine categories of Creative Achievement in sound production. The nominations, made by a select panel of nearly 150 professionals in numerous audio specialties, are for products and projects released or completed during the eligibility period of April 1, 2009, to June 30, 2010. The eligibility year was increased by 3 months to compensate for the later date of the 26th Annual TEC Awards. Online voting begins on November 1 among members of various professional organizations, including the the Producer and Engineers Wing of the Recording Academy, the Society of Professional Audio Recording Services (SPARS) , NAMM, the Game Audio Network Guild (G.A.N.G.) and qualified professionals subscribing to various audio industry trade publications.

As is often the case, this year’s crop of nominees include a number with multiple nominations, including Audio-Technica, PreSonus and Shure, each with three nominations. Another 11 companies are double nominees.

At the same time, however, as TEC Foundation president, Hillel Resner, points out “there are more first-time nominees and ‘boutique’ companies with specialized and unique products than we have seen in a while. This is the sign of a changing industry serving a broader, more diverse universe of end users.”

The 26th Annual TEC Awards will be the first since the event’s inception to take place at the NAMM Show. The relocation of the TEC Awards follows the separation of the TEC Foundation from Mix magazine in 2009. Resner, former publisher and editor-in-chief of Mix, serves as co-executive producer of the awards with David Schwartz, co-founder and first edtor-in-chief of the magazine.

“We view the move of the TEC Awards to NAMM as an opportunity to take TEC to the next level,” Schwartz said. “The pro audio industry, including some of its most important and innovative companies, has a strong and growing presence at NAMM, and their customers attend the NAMM Show in large numbers. All of this means a bigger stage for the TEC Awards and greater visibility for audio professionals and technology.”

The TEC Foundation for Excellence in Audio, is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, charitable organization headquartered in Walnut Creek, California. Sponsors of the 26th Annual TEC Awards include Sustaining Sponsor Harman, Guitar Center Professional, NAMM and Shure, Inc., Sterling Audio and other leading companies in the professional sound and music industries. For information visit www.tecfoundation.com, or call 925-284-7729.

For a complete list of the 26th AnnualTEC Awards nominees, please visit http://www.tecfoundation.com/tec/10nomineestech.html

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PRESS RELEASE—April 27, 2010

26TH ANNUAL TEC AWARDS TO BE HELD AT THE 2011 NAMM SHOW

Eligibility period for TEC nominations extended to June 30

TECnology Hall of Fame Awards to be presented at AES Convention in November, 2010

April 27, 2010—Walnut Creek, CA—The TEC Foundation for Excellence in Audio has announced that 26th Annual Technical Excellence & Creativity Awards® will be held at the Winter NAMM Show on Friday January 14, 2011, in Anaheim, California. Presented annually by NAMM since 1902, the NAMM Show is the largest trade show for the international music products industry and draws close to 90,000 attendees to its exhibits and educational programs annually.

The TEC Awards®, founded in 1985, is the most prestigious awards event for the professional audio and sound production industry. Consisting of two dozen awards for achievement in audio products and projects, the TEC Awards is attended by manufacturers of audio equipment and software and the world’s top music producers, engineers, sound mixers and musical artists. A highpoint of the show is the Les Paul Award, sponsored by Gibson Guitar, presented to musical artists and others whose careers have exemplified the creative application of audio technology.

“The continuing advances in technology for all areas of sound and music production have vastly expanded the universe of both manufacturers and users,” said Hillel Resner, president of the TEC Foundation. “We are sure those attending NAMM will enjoy sharing in the recognition of technical and creative achievement that the TEC Awards bestow.”

“Since the days of NAMM Member Thomas Edison, virtually every major musical technology product that you can name was first shown at the NAMM Show,” said Joe Lamond, president and CEO, NAMM. “Our members are excited to welcome the TEC Awards to NAMM and celebrate the visionary people, companies and products that have filled the world with music.”

Because of the change in scheduling, the eligibility period for 26th Annual TEC Awards nominations will be extended to June 30, 2010 from its traditional March 31 date. Online voting by numerous professional organizations—including eligible NAMM members—will take place in November.

Resner made a point of assuring audio professionals that “the TEC Foundation looks forward to continuing its longtime relationship with the Audio Engineering Society, during whose convention the TEC Awards have been presented since their inception.” The Foundation’s 6th Annual TECnology Hall of Fame awards, honoring historical achievements in audio technology, will be presented at the 129th AES Convention, to be held this November in San Francisco.

About The TEC Foundation
The TEC Foundation for Excellence in Audio is a 501(c)(3) public benefit corporation headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area. In addition to its own educational programs, funds derived from the TEC Awards have been donated over the years to organizations that educate both sound professionals and consumers about hearing health. The Foundation has also funded scholarship endowments at numerous colleges and universities for students of the audio arts and sciences. For more information about the TEC Foundation and the TEC Awards, visit www.tecfoundation.com.

About NAMM
The National Association of Music Merchants, commonly called NAMM in reference to the organization's popular NAMM trade shows, is the not-for-profit association that unifies, leads and strengthens the $17 billion global musical instruments and products industry. NAMM’s activities and programs are designed to promote music making to people of all ages. NAMM is comprised of more than 9,000 Member companies. For more information about NAMM, interested parties can visit www.namm.org or call 800-767-NAMM (6266).

For more information about the 26th Annual TEC Awards or the 6th Annual TECnology hall of Fame, please visit www.tecfoundation.com or call 925-284-7729.

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PRESS RELEASE—March 12, 2010

15th ANNUAL TEC L.A. OPEN SLATED FOR MAY 17th

Platinum engineer Al Schmitt will chair sound industry charity tournament at Malibu C.C.

Proceeds to benefit House Ear Institute hearing health programs and TEC Awards’ TECnology Hall of Fame

March 12, 2010—Walnut Creek, CA—Some of the world’s most renowned music producers and engineers, along with professionals from the pro audio industry’s leading production facilities, manufacturers and distributors will converge for the 15th Annual TEC L.A. Open, to be held Monday, May 17, at the Malibu Country Club. Returning as Honorary Chairman is famed recording engineer Al Schmitt, a member of the TEC Awards© Hall of Fame and recipient of 21 Grammys ®, as well as the Recording Academy’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

“Over the past fourteen years the TEC L.A. Open has established a tradition of friendly competition and generous support for the TEC Foundation’s programs,” says tournament director Karen Dunn. “We are excited to be celebrating our 15th anniversary and especially grateful to our many sponsors and loyal golfers.”

Presented by the TEC Foundation for Excellence in Audio, the popular charity event will be sponsored for the third consecutive year by Guitar Center Professional. Proceeds of the tournament support the House Ear Institute’s hearing health outreach services for audio professionals and the TEC Foundation’s TECnology Hall of Fame, recognizing the most historically significant audio innovations and inventors, held annually at the AES Convention.

"We have partnered with the TEC Foundation for many years to address the hearing health concerns of people working in the audio profession," said Marilee Potthoff, director of community education & outreach, House Ear Institute. "The Foundation's support this year will help us provide greater direct outreach to sound professionals in need of our hearing health expertise."