Latin America. The Shure Company celebrates 100 years in the market in 2025, in what it describes as a century of innovation, exceptional quality and unwavering commitment to audio excellence.
The evolution
Sidney N. Shure founded the company in downtown Chicago in 1925 selling radio parts kits. In 1932, Shure became one of the few microphone manufacturers in the U.S. with the release of the Model 33N microphone.
Since then, the company has become a global technology leader, offering a diversified portfolio of innovative wired and wireless microphones, conference and meeting solutions, and products for personal and professional use. Over its 100-year history, Shure has developed more than 50,000 different products.
Shure products are currently sold in more than 120 countries and over the decades, they have been used around the world by personalities such as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Elvis Presley, Nelson Mandela, The Beatles, and other icons.
Today, Shure products are trusted by artists, content creators, AV and IT professionals, sound engineers, educators, community leaders, and music lovers around the world in studios, stages, stadiums, meeting rooms, and in everyday life.
100 years of innovation
Over the past 100 years, Shure has introduced iconic products that have become staples in the audio industry. The legendary Shure SM58 microphone, known for its durability and reliability, remains the best choice for vocal performances around the world. The SM7B microphone has also earned a distinguished and recognized reputation in the broadcasting, recording, and podcasting industries.
Shure introduced the first wireless microphone in 1953, the Vagabond 88 Wireless Mic, long before wireless technology became popular in the 1990s. The company also introduced digital wireless technology in 2011, and today, Shure digital wireless microphones are used all over the world, from major sporting events and global concert tours to major business conferences.
Below is a list of some notable Shure innovations and achievements in the industry:
- First phonograph cartridge (1937): Shure's development of the first phonograph cartridge established the company as a leader in high-fidelity audio.
- Unidyne Microphone (1939): The Unidyne 55 model was the first single-element unidirectional microphone, which provided better sound isolation and reduced feedback, making it a popular choice for live broadcasts and performances.
- First Handheld Wireless Microphone System (1953): Shure introduced the Vagabond 88, revolutionizing the way artists and presenters operated on stage.
- SM58 Microphone (1966): The Shure SM58 became an industry standard for live vocal performance microphones, known for its durability and reliable sound quality. Today it is still an icon.
- First Integrated Wireless System (1990s): The introduction of Shure's UHF (Ultra High Frequency) wireless systems generated more reliable and higher-quality wireless audio transmission, setting new standards in the industry.
- Axient®Digital Wireless System (2016): This system revolutionized the market with its innovative features such as interference detection and prevention, quadruple diversity, and advanced connectivity options, setting a new standard for wireless microphone performance.
- MXA910 Ceiling Microphone (2016): Conference rooms were forever changed with this remarkable and accurate audio capture option that inspired an entirely new line of ceiling microphones.
- IntelliMix® Room (2020): The first audio processing software in its category that revolutionized the AV industry by optimizing audio conferencing with advanced DSP algorithms.
- Shure's commitment to revolutionizing audio has led to significant advancements in wireless technology, demonstrated by the evolution of its robust and reliable wireless microphone systems like Axient Digital. Shure's advancements in wireless microphones built on innovations in software and networking, resulting in smarter solutions that work more effectively and sustainably.
Shure's deep expertise in acoustic design and software innovation is combined in products such as the AONIC line of Bluetooth headphones, professional content creation solutions such as the MV88+ Video Kit and MV7+ Podcast Microphone, and the company's fast-growing enterprise portfolio, Microflex® Ecosystem, delivering award-winning audio quality for boardrooms, government, and educational institutions.
Shure also recently launched ShureCloud, a comprehensive, cloud-based platform designed to streamline the management and monitoring of Shure products.
Shure has five global engineering centers dedicated to product development and software excellence: Niles, Illinois, USA; Copenhagen, Denmark; Suzhou, China; Edinburgh, Scotland; Hyderabad, India.
To commemorate this historic anniversary, Shure will be launching a number of special activities and products throughout the anniversary year, including celebrations for inmates and its customers.
