Mix Foundation News Archive 2003-2004

PRESS RELEASE—November 1, 2004

Production Teams for Radiohead and Lord Of The Rings
Collect Top Honors at 20th Annual TEC Awards

Janet Jackson Presents Les Paul Award to Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis;
George Lucas and Elliot Scheiner Also Honored at Gala Event

November 1, 2004—San Francisco, CA—The engineers, mixers, sound editors and other talented audio professionals delivering sound for The Lord of the Rings, and Radiohead's most recent album and tour were among the many winners at the 20th Annual Technical Excellence & Creativity Awards, held Saturday, October 30 at the San Francisco Marriott.

In addition to 23 awards for Technical and Creative Achievement, the gathering of the pro audio industry's finest creative talents witnessed the induction into the TEC Awards Hall of Fame of visionary filmmaker George Lucas and venerated producer/engineer Elliot Scheiner. Multiple-Oscar-winning film editor and sound designer Walter Murch presented the Hall of Fame Award to Lucas, and Scheiner was awarded by Steely Dan's Walter Becker. In a surprise appearance, multi-talented recording artist Janet Jackson presented The Les Paul Award to platinum producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. For a complete list of winners click here.

The engineers and mixers behind Radiohead's Hail to the Thief won in the category of Album Production, as the sound company and engineers orchestrating the band's most recent tour won the award for Tour Sound Production. The sound editors and mixers of The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King took home the award for Film Sound Production making this the 3rd win for the film trilogy. Other winners for Creative Achievement were the sound crews of Outkast's "Hey, Ya" (Record Production/Single or Track); Alison Krauss + Union Station Live (Remote Production/Recording or Broadcast); and Late Show with David Letterman (Television Sound Production); as well as the design team behind New York City's Sterling Sound Chelsea Phase III (Studio Design Project).

In the category of Technical Achievement, the 16 winners included the Solid State Logic C200 (Large Format Consoles); both the Yamaha 01V96 (Small Format Consoles) and the PM5000 (Sound Reinforcement Consoles), the Digidesign Accel (Workstation Technology); the Sennheiser Evolution Wireless G2 (Wireless Technology); Waves IR-1 (Signal Processing Technology/Software); the RØDE S1 (Sound Reinforcement Microphones); and the Meyer Sound MILO (Sound Reinforcement Loudspeakers).

For the second time in three years, the ceremony was hosted by actor/comedian Harry Shearer. Larry Batiste and 2Cold Chile Bone TEC Band opened the show, and featured a guitar solo by Dweezil Zappa who thrilled the audience with his rousing rendition of Van Halen's "Eruption."

The TEC Awards are presented by the Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio and sponsored by Mix magazine, the leading journal for the professional audio industry. Proceeds of the ceremony go to hearing conservation programs and scholarships for students of the audio arts and sciences.

PRESS RELEASE—October 25, 2004

Stars of Sound and Music Turn Out For TEC Awards
George Lucas, Elliot Scheiner, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis to be Honored by Peers at 20th Annual Awards Show

October 25, 2004—Walnut Creek, CA—Dozens of leading figures from the music and sound industries will grace the stage at the 20th Annual Technical Excellence & Creativity Awards, to be held at the San Francisco Marriott on Saturday, October 30. The charity event will be hosted by actor and comedian Harry Shearer, and is expected to draw close to 700 audio industry professionals.

Filmmaker extraordinaire George Lucas will be inducted into the TEC Hall of Fame by his friend and longtime associate, sound designer Walter Murch, and renowned engineer/producer Elliot Scheiner (Steely Dan, Toto, Eagles, Aerosmith), will be inducted by Steely Dan guitarist and composer Walter Becker. Platinum producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis will be presented with the Les Paul Award by Henry Juskiewicz, CEO of Gibson Guitar Corp., and a "surprize" presenter to be announced soon. The Les Paul Award is given to artists and others whose body of work exemplifies the creative application of audio technology.

Numerous artists, producers, engineers and audio pros are lined up to present awards in 23 categories of technical and creative achievement, including famed producer/engineer Phil Ramone (Paul Simon, Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles), former Talking Heads member and producer Jerry Harrison (No Doubt, Fine Young Cannibals, Violent Femmes), legendary jazz producer Orrin Keepnews (Miles Davis, Thelonious Monk, Bill Evans, Sonny Rollins), Asleep at the Wheel guitarist and engineer/producer, Ray Benson (George Strait, Dwight Yoakum, The Mavericks) and engineer/producer and technologist George Massenburg (Carly Simon, James Taylor, Linda Ronstadt); as well as Fantasy Studios manager Nina Bombardier, Plant Studios ceo Arne Frager and The Village's Jeff Greenberg, current president of SPARS. Additional presenters will be announced soon.

Proceeds from the awards ceremony support the Sound Partners™ hearing conservation program of the House Ear Institute of Los Angeles, as well as Hearing Education and Awareness for Rockers (HEAR) of San Francisco, and numerous audio scholarship programs around the U.S. For ticket information call (510) 985-3263 or e-mail karenTEC@aol.com, or visit this page.

The TEC Awards are presented by the Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization headquartered in Walnut Creek, California, and sponsored by Mix, the professional audio industry's leading international monthly. Mix is published by PRIMEDIA Business Magazines & Media.

PRESS RELEASE—September 16, 2004

TEC Awards to Present Music and Sound Auction
eBay Auction Will Benefit H.E.A.R.® and HEI's Sound Partners™

September 22, 2004—San Francisco, CA—The Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio has announced that it will present the TEC Awards Music and Sound Auction on eBay, set to begin on October 21 and continue through November 2, 2004. The online auction will coincide with the 20th Annual Technical Excellence & Creativity Awards, to be held on Saturday, October 30 at the San Francisco Marriott.

The online auction will be managed by H.E.A.R. (Hearing Education and Awareness for Rockers) a nonprofit organization dedicated to informing musicians and the public about the prevention of hearing impairment in the music environment. Proceeds from the auction will benefit H.E.A.R.®, as well as the Sound Partners™ campaign of the House Ear Institute in Los Angeles, a hearing conservation program co-founded by the Mix Foundation in 1997.

Auction items will include pro audio equipment (recording devices, microphones, loudspeakers, mixing consoles, amplifiers, etc.), guitars and other musical instruments, music memorabilia, photographic art, and a variety of special gift items, including hotel and spa packages. Previews of the items will be posted on the auction homepage—members.ebay.com/aboutme/hear—as they become available.

The TEC Awards Music and Sound Auction organizers are currently accepting donations of music and pro sound equipment, music memorabilia and other items, as well as cash gifts. For donation information, and information about TEC Awards tickets or sponsorships, please visit the auction homepage.

About the TEC Awards

Presented by the Mix Foundation and sponsored by Mix magazine, The TEC Awards is the world's foremost event recognizing the achievements of technical professionals in recording and sound. Nominees in 23 categories are voted on by subscribers of Mix magazine, while the Hall of Fame and Les Paul lifetime achievement awards honor individuals who have set the highest standards of creative excellence in music and audio. This year, the TEC Awards will induct filmmaker George Lucas and engineer/producer Elliot Scheiner into the Hall of Fame, and present the Les Paul Award to famed producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. Actor and comedian Harry Shearer will host the ceremony.

About HEI

Since 1997, House Ear Institute (HEI) has provided free hearing screenings to well over 5,000 music and sound industry professionals at industry trade events around the country. HEI offers this outreach service for industry professionals through its Sound Partners™ hearing conservation program. In addition to hearing screenings, industry pros also receive literature, online information and conference presentations on the scientific facts that matter most surrounding the causes and prevention of noise-induced hearing loss as well as free consultations with our non-profit research audiologists. HEI is proud to share its world-renowned scientific research and decades of knowledge with the audio and music pros who depend on sound advice when it comes to their hearing health. Established since 1946, House Ear Institute is dedicated to advancing hearing science through research and education to improve quality of life. For more information please visit www.hei.org.

About H.E.A.R.

Founded in 1988, H.E.A.R.® (Hearing Education and Awareness for Rockers) is a non-profit organization dedicated to the prevention of hearing loss and tinnitus among musicians and music fans through education and grassroots advocacy. With support from the music industry, musicians, audiologists, physicians, hearing health organizations, health manufacturers and individual donors, H.E.A.R. is helping to raise awareness of the real dangers of repeated exposure to excessive noise levels from music. The H.E.A.R. Partners™ program is a national network of certified hearing professionals who support H.E.A.R.'s mission. H.E.A.R. delivers information on hearing loss and tinnitus to over 1 million people worldwide via HEARNET.COM, mailings, and educational programs and distributes hearing protection to thousands of people at events annually. For more information please visit www.hearnet.com.

About the Mix Foundation

The TEC Awards Music and Sound Auction is presented by the Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization headquartered in Walnut Creek, California, and sponsored by Mix, the professional audio industry's leading international monthly. Mix is published by PRIMEDIA Business Magazines & Media.

Contact: Kathy Peck / 415.409.3277 / info@hearrecords.com

PRESS RELEASE—September 16, 2004

Comedian Harry Shearer to Host 20th Annual TEC Awards
George Lucas, Elliot Scheiner, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis To Be Honored

Emeryville, CA—September 16, 2004 Actor, comedian, author, musician, radio personality, and endlessly prolific entertainer, Harry Shearer is set to host the 20th Annual Technical Excellence & Creativity (TEC) Awards, to be held Saturday, October 30, at the San Francisco Marriott. Presented by the Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio, the charitable event is the world's highest-profile awards show recognizing the creative achievements of audio professionals and the technological innovations employed in their work.

In addition to the presentation of 23 awards for outstanding projects and products of the past year, attendees will witness the induction into the TEC Awards Hall of Fame of filmmaker extraordinaire, George Lucas, and celebrated engineer/producer, Elliot Scheiner. Being honored as well will be the renowned production and writing team of Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, who will receive the coveted Les Paul Award, sponsored by Gibson Guitar Corp.

Though Shearer may be best known for his work as co-creator and co-star of the mock-rockumentary, This Is Spinal Tap, he has also appeared in such diverse films as A Mighty Wind, The Truman Show, Godzilla, My Best Friend's Wedding and Ed TV, as well as guest-starred on numerous television programs, including Friends, ER, Just Shoot Me, Chicago Hope and Murphy Brown. Entering his sixteenth season of The Simpsons, Shearer remains one of the most versatile voices in the business, providing laugh lines for Mr. Burns, Smithers, Ned Flanders and dozens of other "friends" of the Simpson family.

For many years, Shearer has hosted a weekly radio program for NPR (National Public Radio) "LeShow," an eclectic mix of music, scripted skits, political commentary and readings of inadvertently funny public documents and articles. The recipient of two Cable Ace Awards--one for his rap video, Shredding Party, and another for his comedic game show, News Hole--Shearer continues to reveal his multi-faceted talent as he delves into the unexpected, proving an apt facility for any genre.

"We're looking forward to an exciting 20th anniversary," says executive producer Hillel Resner. "Every year we come away convinced that the latest show has surpassed all others, but with Harry Shearer as our ringmaster and the creative giants we are honoring, we're fully expecting that this will be a TEC Awards for the ages."

Proceeds from the awards ceremony are donated to organizations working for the prevention of noise-induced hearing loss in the music environment, including House Ear Institute of Los Angeles and Hearing Education Awareness for Rockers (H.E.A.R.) of San Francisco, as well as to numerous scholarship programs for students of the audio arts and sciences. To date, the Mix Foundation has contributed more than a half-million dollars to these worthwhile causes.

The TEC Awards is presented by the Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization headquartered in Walnut Creek, California, and sponsored by Mix, the professional audio industry's leading international monthly. Mix is published by PRIMEDIA Business Magazines & Media. For ticket information, please visit this page or call (510) 985-3263. For information on program book advertising and sponsorships, contact Eric Geer at (414) 967-0104, or e-mail eg@wi.rr.com.

Audio & Technology Leaders to Sponsor 20th Annual Tec Awards

AMD, Dolby, Gibson, Harman Pro Group, Mix & Shure Head Roster of 33 Companies

Walnut Creek, CA—August 26, 2004 The Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio has announced that as of today, 33 leading companies in the professional audio and technology industries are lending their support as sponsors of the 20th Annual Technical Excellence & Creativity Awards. The awards, which will be presented October 30, 2004, at the San Francisco Marriott, honor outstanding technical and creative achievement in professional audio production and product design. The ceremony is being held on the third night of the 117th Audio Engineering Society Convention.

AMD (Advanced Micro Devices), microprocessor manufacturer and digital technology leader, will again sponsor the 16 categories of Technical awards; and Gibson Guitar Corp., one of the world's premiere manufacturers of guitars and other instruments, is sponsoring the Les Paul Award for the eighth consecutive year. Other Platinum Sponsors include: Dolby Laboratories, the leader in both noise reduction and surround sound technology; Harman Pro Group, encompassing many of the industry's most respected brands of high-end audio products; founding sponsor Mix magazine, the leading trade publication covering professional recording and sound production; and Shure, one of the world's largest manufacturers of microphones and audio electronics.

Gold Sponsors include Allen & Heath, Audio-Technica, The Burst Collective, Digidesign, Ex'pression College for Digital Arts, Guitar Center, Mackie/EAW, MOTU, Meyer Sound, the Recording Academy, Remote Recording, RØDE Microphones, Solid State Logic, TC Group and Yamaha Corporation. Twelve Silver and Bronze sponsors complete this year's line up.

Detailed information about the Platinum and Gold sponsors is available here.

"We are enormously gratified that so many prominent companies are stepping forward to support the TEC Awards on this milestone anniversary," said Hillel Resner, president and general manager of the Mix Foundation. "Not only does it demonstrate a widespread recognition of the importance of this event, but it insures that funding will continue for causes important to all of us."

Besides the presentation of TEC Awards in 23 categories of Technical and Creative Achievement, filmmaker George Lucas and producer/engineer Elliot Scheiner will be inducted into the TEC Awards Hall of Fame, and the production team of Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis will receive the Les Paul Award, presented annually for the creative application of audio technology. Proceeds from the awards ceremony are donated to organizations working for the prevention of noise-induced hearing loss, including House Ear Institute of Los Angeles and Hearing Education Awareness for Rockers (H.E.A.R.) of San Francisco, as well as to numerous scholarship programs for students of the audio arts and sciences. To date, the Mix Foundation has contributed more than a half-million dollars to these worthwhile causes.

The TEC Awards is presented by the Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization headquartered in Walnut Creek, California, and sponsored by Mix, the professional audio industry's leading international monthly. Mix is published by PRIMEDIA Business Magazines & Media, producer of targeted publications, websites and exhibitions serving professionals in the entertainment industry and nineteen other market sectors. For ticket information, contact Karen Dunn at (925) 939-6149 or karen@mixfoundation.org. For sponsorship information, contact Eric Geer at (414) 957-0104, or e-mail eg@wi.rr.com.

PRESS RELEASE—August 6, 2004

Mix Foundation Announces TECnology Hall Of Fame Inductees

More than a Century of Audio Innovations Honored by The TEC Awards

Walnut Creek, CA—August 6, 2004 The Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio, presenters of the Technical Excellence and Creativity (TEC) Awards, has announced the first 25 inductees into the TECnology Hall of Fame, an honor established this year for those products and innovations that have had an enduring impact on the development of audio technology. The awards will be formally presented on October 29 in San Francisco, during the 117th Audio Engineering Society Convention.

Chosen by a panel of more than 50 highly respected audio veterans and scholars, the honorees include 10 innovations introduced prior to 1950, and 15 that were introduced from 1950 through 1994. Celebrated among the TECnology HOF inductees are technological pioneers such as Thomas Edison and Emile Berliner, who laid the foundations for disk recording formats that remained in use for nearly a century; a wide range of groundbreaking products such as Lee de Forest's triode amplifier tube, the Ampex 200A tape recorder, the Dolby A-Type noise reduction system, the Shure SM57 dynamic microphone and the SSL 4000 console; as well as the advent of computerized audio production systems and Digidesign's Pro Tools. The complete list of inductees can be found here.

"The foresight of several of this year's honorees is truly amazing," remarks George Petersen, editorial director of Mix Magazine. "Physicist Harry Nyquist set the basis for digital audio sampling in 1929, and Alan Blumlein's stereo recording patent dates back to 1931! And what is unique in the audio industry, is that while tools may change over time, certain products-such as the Neumann U47 and AKG C-12 studio microphones or Altec's Voice of the Theatre A7 cinema speakers-are used everyday by thousands, more than 50 years after their introductions."

Says Mix Foundation president Hillel Resner, "With the TEC Awards' 20-year tradition of recognizing stellar achievements in audio technology, we think it is fitting to honor these outstanding forerunners whose creativity and commitment to excellence have laid the scientific foundations, provided the means, and set the standards for the sound arts as we know them today."

The TECnology Hall of Fame inductees will be honored at a champagne reception to be held on the second day of the AES Convention. The 20th Annual TEC Awards will be held at the San Francisco Marriott on October 30. The inductees will also be featured in a special TEC Awards anniversary edition of Mix, to be published in October.

PRESS RELEASE—July 6, 2004

George Lucas, Elliot Scheiner, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis To Be Honored at 20th Annual TEC Awards

Lucas and Scheiner to Enter Hall of Fame, J. Jam and T. Lewis to Receive Les Paul Award

Emeryville, CA—July 6, 2004 Filmmaker George Lucas and engineer/producer Elliot Scheiner will be inducted into the TEC Awards Hall of Fame, and producers Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis will be awarded the prestigious Les Paul Award at the 20th Annual Technical Excellence & Creativity Awards, to be held Saturday, October 30, at the Marriott Hotel in San Francisco.

George Lucas, celebrated around the world as producer/director of the Star Wars and Indiana Jones adventure films, and the force behind the creation of Industrial Light and Magic, might be less widely known for his singular impact on film sound. His revival of the symphonic film score, and improvements to theater sound with the development of THX have changed the way we hear movies. He has also championed new technologies behind film sound creation by financing SoundDroid, an advanced touch-screen digital audio workstation; building Skywalker Sound; and pioneering long-distance ADR sessions over T1 lines.

Multiple Grammy-winner Elliot Scheiner is an engineer/producer whose musical sensibilities and attention to detail have produced some of best-loved recordings spanning the early seventies to the present day. Working with such artists as Steely Dan, Van Morrison, Jimmy Buffett, Aerosmith, Fleetwood Mac, Natalie Cole, and many more, Scheiner has continually embraced new and groundbreaking recording technologies, and helped keep the sound and recording industries moving progressively forward. His expertise in 5.1 surround sound mixing is widely respected, and his work to develop the first automotive 5.1-channel, DVD-Audio System for Panasonic Automotive Systems has resulted in the "ELS Surround" system for Acura's 2004 TL. Both Elliot Scheiner and George Lucas exemplify the spirit of technical innovation and creative excellence in professional audio recognized by the TEC Awards Hall of Fame.

While playing with Prince, Minneapolis musicians Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis started producing music for the S.O.S. Band, and rose with meteoric brilliance to become a production team extraordinaire, shaping R&B musical stylings for the past 20 years. Credited with every Janet Jackson record made, they've also crafted hits for Patti Austin, Boyz II Men, Mary J. Blige, Mariah Carey, TLC, Gladys Knight, Patti LaBelle, Klymaxx and a host of other artists. Starting two record companies, Perspective Records and Flyte Tyme Records, their own music publishing companies, several recording facilities, and scoring numerous film and television projects, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis are well deserving of the Les Paul Award. Sponsored by Gibson Guitar Corp., the award recognizes musical artists whose work has epitomized the creative application of audio technology.

The TEC Awards is presented by the Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, charitable organization headquartered in Walnut Creek, California, and sponsored by Mix, the professional audio industry’s leading international monthly, published by PRIMEDIA Business Magazines & Media.

Proceeds of the TEC Awards are donated to organizations working for the prevention of noise-induced hearing loss, and to scholarships for students of the audio arts and sciences. For general information as well as sponsorship and ticket information please visit www.mixfoundation.org, or contact Executive Director Karen Dunn at (925) 939-6149 or KarenTEC@aol.com.

The TEC Awards is presented by the Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, charitable organization headquartered in Walnut Creek, California, and sponsored by Mix, the professional audio industry's leading international monthly. Mix is published by PRIMEDIA Business Magazines & Media, producer of targeted publications, Web sites and exhibitions serving professionals in the entertainment industry and nineteen other market sectors.

For the complete 2004 TEC Awards nominees lists, please visit:
TEC Awards Technical Achievement Nominees for 2004
TEC Awards Creative Achievement Nominees for 2004

PRESS RELEASE—May 25, 2004

Pro Audio's Heavy Hitters Assemble for 9th Annual Mix LA Open
Malibu Golf Tournament Draws Generous Support for Industry Causes

Emeryville, CA—May 25, 2004 The audio industry's leading manufacturers, production facilities and merchandisers have come forward to support the 2004 Mix LA Open, scheduled for Monday, June 14, at the Malibu Country Club. The charity golf tournament is presented by the Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio, and benefits the hearing conservation efforts of the House Ear Institute's Sound Partners program, music education programs of Sound Art, and scholarships for students of the audio arts and sciences.

Top manufacturers and retailers sponsoring holes and tournament contests include: Absolute Music, Audio-Technica, CE Pickup/IAC, Design FX, Harman Pro/JBL Professional, KRK, Shure and Yamaha. Production facilities such as Moonlight Mastering, Record Plant, and Warner Brothers Studios, as well as Mix Magazine, are also contributing generously with sponsorships.

"This event is truly a group effort," says tournament director Karen Dunn, "and we're gratified that so many of our friends and audio industry pros have gotten involved. Their participation allows us to continue supporting the causes of hearing conservation and audio education, and also makes for a great day of golf and camaraderie."

The lucky golfer who hits a hole-in-one will win an Acura TL provided by South Bay Acura of Torrance, featuring a 5.1 sound system designed by engineer Elliot Scheiner. Other contest prizes include a Cobra 400 driver, a Ping Craz-e putter, a Titleist Vokey SW, and a Tour Edge "Code Red" Series putter.

Following the tournament, there will be a barbecue dinner and a silent auction featuring a wide assortment of donated audio equipment and other items. Audio gear includes: a Lexicon MPX-550; microphones from Audio-Technica, BLUE and Shure; an Apogee Electronics MINI-MP and JBL- LSR25P monitors. Studio time at Royaltone Studios, accommodations at the SF Marriott, club green fees at the Malibu Country Club and dinner at NY Marriott Marquis restaurants will also be up for grabs, along with a Gibson "Les Paul" and Taylor "Big Baby," DVDs from Village Roadshow Pictures, a BOSE Wave radio, fine wines, gourmet food and gift collections from Scentabilities and www.essentialspirit.net.

Sponsorships, foursomes and individual tickets are still available. For more information about these and the silent auction, please contact Karen Dunn at (925) 939-6149 or send email to KarenTEC@aol.com. The Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio, is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization headquartered in Walnut Creek, California, and presents the tournament in conjunction with Mix, the professional audio industry's leading international monthly. Mix is published by PRIMEDIA Business Magazines & Media, producer of targeted publications, Web sites and exhibitions serving professionals in the entertainment industry and nineteen other market sectors.

PRESS RELEASE—April 14 , 2004

Ninth Annual Mix LA Open Set for June 14 at Malibu CC
Charity Golf Tournament Brings Out Pro Audio Industry Leaders and Celebrities

April 14, 2004—Emeryville, CA—An estimated 144 golfers from the music and pro audio industries will gather Monday, June 14, 2004, at the Malibu Country Club to tee off for charity in the Ninth Annual Mix LA Open. The tournament, presented by the Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio and Mix magazine, benefits the hearing conservation efforts of the House Ear Institute's Sound Partners program, music education programs of Sound Art in Los Angeles, and scholarships for students of the audio arts and sciences.

World-renowned record producers, engineers and recording artists are regular attendees of the tournament. This year's hole-in-one prize will be an Acura TL provided by South Bay Acura of Torrance, and featuring a 5.1 sound system designed by engineer Elliot Scheiner. Following the tournament a silent auction will feature a Gibson guitar, assorted audio gear, sports memorabilia, wine/food baskets and audio industry mementos. The tournament concludes with a "19th Hole" barbecue dinner and awards presentation.

"Every year the tournament brings together a wider group of participants from the pro audio and recording industries," says Tournament Director Karen Dunn, "and we all have such a good time. It's a great way for folks to get out of the studio or office, have fun together, and contribute to these causes that concern so many of us, and which continue to need our support." 

Top pro audio companies, manufacturers and recording studios have once again come forward to support the benefiting charities by sponsoring one of the holes or contests (including longest drive, longest putt and closest-to-the-pin). At press time, sponsoring companies include: Absolute Music, Audio-Technica, Design FX, Gibson Guitar Corp., KRK, Moonlight Mastering, Record Plant, Shure, Inc. and Yamaha Corporation.

Remaining sponsorship slots can be checked online at www.mixfoundation.org, or by contacting Karen Dunn at (925) 939-6149 or e-mailing KarenTEC@aol.com. 

The Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio, is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization headquartered in Walnut Creek, California, and presents the tournament in conjunction with Mix, the professional audio industry's leading international monthly. Mix is published by PRIMEDIA Business Magazines & Media, producer of targeted publications, Web sites and exhibitions serving professionals in the entertainment industry and nineteen other market sectors.

PRESS RELEASE—March 1, 2004

Mix Foundation Launches The TECnology Hall of Fame
TEC Awards to Honor Historic Innovations in Audio Technology

March 1, 2004—Walnut Creek, CA The Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio, presenters of the Technical Excellence and Creativity (TEC) Awards, has announced the creation of the TECnology Hall of Fame, honoring products and innovations that have had a lasting impact on the development of audio technology. The first 25 inductees will be chosen by a blue ribbon panel of more than 40 respected audio veterans and scholars, and announced prior to the 20th Annual TEC Awards, to be held October 30 in San Francisco.

"The TECnology Hall of Fame is something that we have contemplated for a long time," says Hillel Resner, president of the Mix Foundation. "Since 1988, through the TEC Awards Hall of Fame, we have honored important individuals in the history of audio--pioneers ranging from Les Paul and George Martin to Tom Dowd and Sam Phillips. We think that a hall of fame for significant advances in technology is long overdue, and who better to establish this than the TEC Awards?"

Members of the panel will be asked to select 10 innovations/products introduced prior to 1950, and 15 that were introduced between 1950 and 1995. To be eligible, a product must be at least 10 years old. The inductees will be featured in a special 20th anniversary TEC Awards edition of Mix, to be published in October, as well as in a DVD celebrating the first 20 years of the TEC Awards.

The Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio is a 501(c) (3) charitable organization headquartered in Walnut Creek, California. The TEC Awards is sponsored by Mix, the pro audio industry's leading international monthly, published by PRIMEDIA Business Magazines and Media.

PRESS RELEASE—February 9, 2004

2003 TEC Awards Provides $42,000 for Hearing Conservation Programs and Audio Scholarships
Outreach Efforts Target Audio Pros, Musicians and Students

February 9, 2004—Walnut Creek, CA The Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio has announced the distribution of proceeds from the 19th Annual Technical Excellence and Creativity (TEC) Awards, held last October in New York. The charity event raised $42,000 in support of ongoing efforts to inform audio professionals, musicians and the greater community about noise-induced hearing loss, and provide financial aid for deserving students of the audio arts and sciences.

Over half the proceeds were donated to the Sound Partners outreach program of the House Ear Institute (Los Angeles). Monies were also given to Hearing Education and Awareness for Rockers (H.E.A.R.), based in San Francisco. Both nonprofit organizations work to educate audio professionals, musicians and the wider community about the prevention of hearing impairment from overexposure to high sound levels in recording and live performance environments.

The remaining proceeds will benefit scholarship endowments for students of the audio arts and sciences at Berklee College of Music, Ex'pression Center for New Media, Middle Tennessee State University, University of Massachusetts Lowell, University of Miami and University of Southern California, as well as the AES Educational Foundation, and the student assistance program of the Society of Professional Audio Recording Services (SPARS).

"We are proud to again contribute to programs of great importance to both the present and the future of the audio industry," says Hillel Resner, president of the Mix Foundation. "Hearing conservation remains a critical issue to both consumers and professionals, and the number of young people seeking to enter the industry is at an all-time high. That we can help, even in a small way, is very gratifying."

The TEC Awards is presented by the Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio, and sponsored by Mix magazine, the professional audio industry's leading international monthly. Mix is published by Primedia Business Magazines and Media. The MFEA is a nonprofit, charitable organization headquartered in Walnut Creek, California.

PRESS RELEASE—January 20, 2004

20th Annual TEC Awards Slated for San Francisco, October 30, 2004
Pro Audio Industry Gala Celebrates Milestone

January 20, 2004—Walnut Creek, CA The Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio has announced that the 20th Annual Technical Excellence and Creativity Awards will be held on Saturday, October 30 at the Marriott Hotel in San Francisco, on the third night of the 117th AES Convention. The TEC Awards, founded in 1985 by Mix magazine, honors outstanding achievement in professional audio production and product design.

"It’s a special thrill for us to be holding the 20th Annual TEC Awards in San Francisco, since the Bay Area is the home of Mix," says Hillel Resner, president of the Mix Foundation. "When we started this event, we never dreamed that it would grow to become the most important forum in the world for recognizing the achievements of recording and sound professionals. This year’s show will celebrate 20 years of rewarding excellence."

The TEC Awards comprises seven categories of Creative Achievement for outstanding audio projects (record production, tour sound, film sound, etc.) and 17 categories of Technical Achievement for excellence in product design. Highlights of the event are the presentation of the Hall of Fame Award for lifetime achievement and the Les Paul Award for the creative application of audio technology. Past recipients of these awards have included such luminaries as Sir George Martin, Phil Spector, Stevie Wonder, Brian Wilson and Sting.

Proceeds of the TEC Awards ceremony support programs to educate both audio professionals and consumers about noise-induced hearing loss, and endow scholarship funds for students of the audio arts and sciences.

PRESS RELEASE—October 12, 2003

Production Teams for Sheryl Crow, Lord Of The Rings Take Top Honors At 19th Annual TEC Awards
Bruce Springsteen and Eddie Kramer Also Honored at Audio Industry Gala, Scholarship Winners Announced

October 12, 2003—New York, NY The engineers, sound editors and other audio professionals behind Sheryl Crow's hit record, C'mon, C'mon and the blockbuster film Lord of the Rings were among the many winners at the 19th Annual Technical Excellence & Creativity Awards, held Saturday, October 11 at the New York Marriott Marquis.

In addition to 24 awards for Technical and Creative Achievement, a sell-out crowd composed of the pro audio industry's finest creative talents witnessed the induction of legendary producer/engineer Eddie Kramer into the TEC Awards Hall of Fame, and the presentation of the prestigious Les Paul Award to superstar Bruce Springsteen. Janie Hendrix, sister of Jimi Hendrix, and John Storyk, award-winning studio designer, presented the Hall of Fame Award to Kramer, famed not only for his work with Jimi Hendrix, but also for Led Zeppelin, Kiss and numerous others. Beloved recording innovator and guitarist Les Paul and 15-time TEC-winning mastering engineer Bob Ludwig co-presented the Les Paul Award, which they also accepted on behalf of Springsteen, whose touring schedule prevented him from attending the event.

Crow's production team won twice in the evening, taking the TEC Award for Outstanding Record Production/Single for Soak Up the Sun and another for Record Production/Album for C'mon, C'mon. Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers won in the category of Film Sound Production, duplicating the achievement of Fellowship of the Ring in 2002. Other winners for Creative Achievement were the sound crews of Standing in the Shadows of Motown (Remote Production/Recording or Broadcast); Peter Gabriel's "Growing Up" Tour (Tour Sound Production); and Austin City Limits (Television Sound Production); as well as the design team behind New York City's Hit Factory Studio 6 (Studio Design Project).

In the category of Technical Achievement, the 17 winners included the Solid State Logic XL 9000K Series (Large Format Consoles); both the Yamaha 02R96 (Small Format Consoles) and the DM2000 (Sound Reinforcement Consoles), the Digidesign Digi 002 (Workstation Technology); the Mackie SDR24/96 (Recording/Storage Devices); Waves Platinum TDM (Signal Processing Technology/Software); the Shure SM86 (Microphone Technology/Sound Reinforcement); the Sennheiser SKM5000-N/KK105s (Wireless Technology); and the JBL VerTec VT4887 (Sound Reinforcement Loudspeakers). For a complete list of winners, click here.

Two students were awarded the 2003 TEC Awards Scholarship Grant: April Cech of the Master’s program in Sound Recording at McGill University in Montreal, Canada; and Laurie Covarrubias at the Los Angeles Recording Workshop. More information about the TEC Awards scholarships and the recipients is here.

The TEC Awards are presented by the Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio and sponsored by Mix magazine, the leading journal for the professional audio industry. Proceeds of the ceremony go to hearing conservation programs and scholarships for students of the audio arts and sciences.

PRESS RELEASE—October 2, 2003

Top Music Producers/Engineers
Gather to Bestow Honors at the 19th Annual TEC Awards
Production Teams of Eminem, Sheryl Crow Join Presenter Line-up
Bruce Springsteen and Eddie Kramer to Receive Lifetime Achievement Awards

October 2, 2003—Emeryville, CA An array of top audio producer/engineers and musicians are lining up to recognize the creative achievements of their peers and innovations in product design, at the 19th Annual Technical Excellence & Creativity (TEC) Awards, to be held Saturday, October 11 at the New York Marriott Marquis. The charity event will be hosted by NY comedian and actor, Brad Zimmerman, and is expected to draw close to 750 audio industry professionals.

Capping the ceremony, guitarist and inventor Les Paul and mastering wizard Bob Ludwig will present the Les Paul Award to famed rocker Bruce Springsteen. The Les Paul Award, sponsored by Gibson Musical Instruments, is presented to artists and others whose body of work exemplifies the creative application of audio technology. On hand to induct legendary engineer/producer Eddie Kramer into the TEC Awards Hall of Fame will be Janie Hendrix, sister of the late Jimi Hendrix and CEO of Experience Hendrix, and John Storyk, designer of Electric Lady Studios, and President/CEO of the award-winning Walters/Storyk Design Group.

Presenting the awards in 24 categories of technical and creative achievement, is an all-star lineup of accomplished artists, composers, arrangers, producers and engineers, including: Steve Baughman and Veto Iragorri (Eminem), Trina Shoemaker (Sheryl Crow, Blues Traveler), Phil Ramone (Elton John, Paul Simon), Tony Brown (Rodney Crowell, Steve Earle), Russ Titelman (James Taylor, Randy Newman), Will Lee ("The Late Show," Marc Antoine), "Eddie F" Ferrell (Mary J. Blige, TLC), Fred Maher (Korn, Lou Reed), Elliot Mazer (Neil Young, Michael Hedges) and T.M. Stevens (Billy Joel, Joe Cocker). Sponsoring the technical and creative awards, respectively, are AMD and Microsoft Corporation.

Proceeds from the awards ceremony support hearing conservation programs of the House Ear Institute of Los Angeles and Hearing Education Awareness for Rockers (H.E.A.R.) of San Francisco, as well as numerous audio scholarship programs. For ticket information contact Executive Director Karen Dunn at (925) 939-6149, or karen@mixfoundation.org.

The TEC Awards is presented by the Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio, a non-profit, charitable organization headquartered in Walnut Creek, California, and sponsored by Mix, the professional audio industry's leading international monthly. Mix is published by PRIMEDIA Business Magazines & Media, producer of targeted publications, Web sites and exhibitions serving professionals in the entertainment industry and nineteen other market sectors.

PRESS RELEASE—October 2, 2003

Top Music Producers/Engineers
Gather to Bestow Honors at the 19th Annual TEC Awards
Production Teams of Eminem, Sheryl Crow Join Presenter Line-up
Bruce Springsteen and Eddie Kramer to Receive Lifetime Achievement Awards

October 2, 2003—Emeryville, CA An array of top audio producer/engineers and musicians are lining up to recognize the creative achievements of their peers and innovations in product design, at the 19th Annual Technical Excellence & Creativity (TEC) Awards, to be held Saturday, October 11 at the New York Marriott Marquis. The charity event will be hosted by NY comedian and actor Brad Zimmerman, and is expected to draw close to 750 audio industry professionals.

Capping the ceremony, guitarist and inventor Les Paul and mastering wizard Bob Ludwig will present the Les Paul Award to famed rocker Bruce Springsteen. The Les Paul Award, sponsored by Gibson Musical Instruments, is presented to artists and others whose body of work exemplifies the creative application of audio technology. On hand to induct legendary engineer/producer Eddie Kramer into the TEC Awards Hall of Fame will be Janie Hendrix, sister of the late Jimi Hendrix and CEO of Experience Hendrix, and John Storyk, designer of Electric Lady Studios, and President/CEO of the award-winning Walters/Storyk Design Group.

Presenting the awards in 24 categories of technical and creative achievement, is an all-star lineup of accomplished artists, composers, arrangers, producers and engineers, including: Steve Baughman and Veto Iragorri (Eminem), Trina Shoemaker (Sheryl Crow, Blues Traveler), Phil Ramone (Elton John, Paul Simon), Tony Brown (Rodney Crowell, Steve Earle), Russ Titelman (James Taylor, Randy Newman), Will Lee ("The Late Show," Marc Antoine), "Eddie F" Ferrell (Mary J. Blige, TLC), Fred Maher (Korn, Lou Reed), Elliot Mazer (Neil Young, Michael Hedges) and T.M. Stevens (Billy Joel, Joe Cocker). Sponsoring the technical and creative awards, respectively, are AMD and Microsoft Corporation.

Proceeds from the awards ceremony support hearing conservation programs of the House Ear Institute of Los Angeles and Hearing Education Awareness for Rockers (H.E.A.R.) of San Francisco, as well as numerous audio scholarship programs. For ticket information contact Executive Director Karen Dunn at (925) 939-6149, or karen@mixfoundation.org.

The TEC Awards is presented by the Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio, a non-profit, charitable organization headquartered in Walnut Creek, California, and sponsored by Mix, the professional audio industry's leading international monthly. Mix is published by PRIMEDIA Business Magazines & Media, producer of targeted publications, Web sites and exhibitions serving professionals in the entertainment industry and nineteen other market sectors.

PRESS RELEASE—September 23, 2003

19th Annual TEC Awards To Honor Bruce Springsteen and Eddie Kramer
Ceremony Celebrating Achievement in Recording and Sound Set for October 11 in NYC

September 23, 2003 - Emeryville, CA Legendary producer/engineer Eddie Kramer, who recorded seminal albums by Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Kiss and others, will be inducted into the TEC Hall of Fame, and renowned rocker Bruce Springsteen will be honored with the Les Paul Award at the 19th Annual Technical Excellence & Creativity Awards on Saturday, October 11 at the New York Marriott Marquis.

In addition to the lifetime achievement honors, awards will be presented in 24 categories of Creative and Technical achievement, as voted by the readers of Mix, the leading trade magazine of the audio industry, which sponsors the event.

Creative Awards will be presented in 7 categories, including record production, tour sound production and film and television sound production, among others. This year's nominees for Record Production/Album include: "C'mon C'mon" (Sheryl Crow), "Home" (Dixie Chicks), "Live in Paris" (Diana Krall), "The Eminem Show" (Eminem) and "The Rising" (Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band.) Springsteen projects were also nominated for Tour Sound Production and Remote Production/Recording or Broadcast. Seventeen categories of excellence in audio product design round out the ceremony, the largest annual gathering recognizing achievements of recording and sound professionals.

The TEC Awards are sponsored by more than 40 leading companies involved in pro audio manufacturing and production, including Platinum sponsors Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), Gibson Musical Instruments (official sponsor of the Les Paul Award), Harman Pro (consisting of JBL and associated brands), Microsoft Corporation, Mix magazine, and Shure, Inc. PRIMEDIA, publishers of Mix, is also a leading sponsor.

As in past years, The Hall of Fame and Les Paul Award are expected to be the highlights of the ceremony, with master guitarist and inventor Les Paul on hand to bestow the honors. The 88-year-old legend will be joined on stage by a soon-to-be-announced celebrity to present the award to Bruce Springsteen.

The TEC Awards is presented by the Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio, a 501(c) (3) nonprofit headquartered in Walnut Creek, CA. Proceeds of the awards ceremony are distributed to organizations working for the prevention of noise-induced hearing loss, including Sound Partners, established by the Mix Foundation and the House Ear Institute of Los Angeles, and to H.E.A.R., a grassroots organization in San Francisco. Proceeds also fund numerous scholarships for college-level students of the audio arts and sciences.

For ticket information contact Executive Director Karen Dunn at (925) 939-6149, or karen@mixfoundation.org.

PRESS RELEASE—August 20, 2003

Technology Leaders Come Forward to Sponsor 2003 TEC Awards
AMD & Microsoft Join Pro Audio Industry to Honor Technical & Creative Excellence

August 20, 2003--Emeryville, CA The Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio has announced that more than 40 leading companies in the professional audio and technology industries are lending their support as sponsors of the 19th Annual Technical Excellence & Creativity Awards. The awards, which will be held October 11, 2003 at the New York Marriott Marquis, honor outstanding technical and creative achievement in professional audio production and product design.

Highlighting the convergence of the pro audio and computer industries, two of the world's leading digital technology companies, AMD and Microsoft will sponsor, respectively, the Technical and Creative categories of this year's show. For the 7th straight year Gibson Musical Instruments, one of the one of the world's premiere manufacturers of guitars and other instruments, will sponsor the Les Paul Award. Other Platinum Sponsors include: Harman Pro Group, encompassing many of the industry's most respected brands of high-end audio products; founding sponsor Mix magazine, the leading magazine covering professional recording and sound production; and Shure, one of the world's largest manufacturers of microphones and audio electronics.

Gold Sponsors include AKG Acoustics, Audio-Technica, Digidesign, Ex'pression Center for New Media, Guitar Center, Meyer Sound, PRIMEDIA, Remote Recording, Sennheiser, Solid State Logic, Steinberg, TC Electronics and Yamaha Corporation. For a complete list of sponsors click here.

"We are enormously gratified that so many prominent companies are stepping forward to support the TEC Awards," said Hillel Resner, president and general manager of the Mix Foundation. "Not only does it demonstrate a widespread recognition of the importance of this event, but it insures that funding will continue for causes important to all of us."

Besides the presentation of TEC Awards in 24 categories of technical and creative achievement, Bruce Springsteen will receive the Les Paul Award, presented annually to a musical artist for the creative application of recording technology, and recording engineer/producer, Eddie Kramer will be inducted into the TEC Awards Hall of Fame. Proceeds from the awards ceremony are donated to organizations working for the prevention of noise-induced hearing loss including House Ear Institute of Los Angeles and Hearing Education Awareness for Rockers (H.E.A.R.) of San Francisco, and to scholarship programs for students of the audio art and sciences. To date, the Mix Foundation has contributed more than $500,000 to these worthwhile causes.

The TEC Awards is presented by the Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization headquartered in Walnut Creek, California, and sponsored by Mix, the professional audio industry's leading international monthly. Mix is published by PRIMEDIA Business Magazines & Media, producer of targeted publications, Web sites and exhibitions serving professionals in the entertainment industry and nineteen other market sectors. For sponsorship and ticket information, contact Executive Director Karen Dunn at (925) 939-6149 or karen@mixfoundation.org.

2003 TEC Awards to Honor Bruce Springsteen and Eddie Kramer
Hendrix Engineer Eddie Kramer To Be Inducted Into TEC Awards Hall of Fame
Bruce Springsteen To Receive Les Paul Award

June 24, 2003-Emeryville, CA -Renowned recording artist Bruce Springsteen will receive the prestigious Les Paul Award, and groundbreaking producer/engineer Eddie Kramer will be inducted into the TEC Awards Hall of Fame at the 19th Annual Technical Excellence & Creativity Awards on Saturday, October 11 at the New York Marriott Marquis. Presented by the Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio, the TEC Awards recognizes outstanding achievement in professional audio production and product innovation.

Eddie Kramer, best known for his engineering work with Jimi Hendrix and the founding of Electric Lady Studios, will be celebrated for a prolific career that spans over three decades, and boasts production work on a stunning array of hard rock, jazz and live concert recordings for such artists as Led Zeppelin, Kiss, Peter Frampton, Joe Cocker, Santana, The Rolling Stones, David Bowie and Buddy Guy. Established in 1988, the TEC Awards Hall of Fame honors those whose careers have best exemplified the spirit of technical and creative excellence in professional audio. Past Hall of Fame inductees include Geoff Emerick, Roy Halee, Sam Phillips, Tom Dowd, Quincy Jones, Phil Ramone, Phil Spector and Frank Zappa, among others.

Rock 'n' roll icon Bruce Springsteen, whose large body of work gives a distinctive voice for the American soul and captures the finest nuances of visceral expression, will receive the Les Paul Award. The award, sponsored by Gibson Musical Instruments, recognizes artists and others whose body of work has uniquely incorporated the creative application of audio technology. It has previously been presented to such artists as Stevie Wonder, Sting, Neil Young, Steely Dan, Robbie Robertson, Brian Wilson and Peter Gabriel.

"In terms of both their recorded output and the influence of their work, Eddie Kramer and Bruce Springsteen are one of the most deserving pairs of honorees to grace the stage at the TEC Awards," says Hillel Resner, Mix Foundation President. "Mr. Kramer has set a standard of excellence for engineers and producers everywhere, and for the sheer aural and emotional power of his recordings, no artist alive can touch 'The Boss.'"

The TEC Awards will be held on the second night of the 115th AES Convention, and is expected to attract more than 700 audio professionals from around the world. Proceeds of the ceremony are donated to organizations working for the prevention of noise-induced hearing loss, and to scholarships for students of the audio arts and sciences. For complete information about the TEC Awards, click here or contact Executive Director Karen Dunn at (925) 939-6149, or karen@mixfoundation.org.

The TEC Awards is presented by the Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio, a non-profit, charitable organization headquartered in Walnut Creek, California, and sponsored by Mix, the professional audio industry's leading international monthly. Mix is published by PRIMEDIA Business Magazines & Media, producer of targeted publications, Web sites and exhibitions serving professionals in the entertainment industry and nineteen other market sectors.

PRESS RELEASE—June 4, 2003

2003 TEC Awards Nominees Announced by the Mix Foundation For Excellence in Audio

June 4, 2003 - Emeryville, CA - The Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio has announced the nominees for the 19th Annual Technical Excellence & Creativity Awards, honoring outstanding technical and creative achievement in professional audio recording and sound production. The awards ceremony will be held Saturday evening, October 11 at the New York Marriott Marquis.

Nominations in 24 categories comprising 17 areas of technical achievement in product design and seven categories of creative achievement in audio production were made by a select panel of 140 audio industry professionals who reviewed the products, facilities and recording or broadcast projects completed between March 1, 2002 and April 1, 2003. Winners will be chosen by the 41,000 BPA-qualified Mix subscribers who cast the ballots bound in the August issue of the magazine.

The TEC Awards will be held on the second night of the 115th AES Convention, and is expected to attract more than 700 audio professionals from around the world. Proceeds of the ceremony are donated to organizations working for the prevention of noise-induced hearing loss, and to scholarships for students of the audio arts and sciences. For complete information, please visit www.mixfoundation.org or contact Executive Director Karen Dunn at (925) 939-6149 or karen@mixfoundation.org.

The TEC Awards is presented by the Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio, a non-profit, charitable organization headquartered in Walnut Creek, California, and sponsored by Mix, the professional audio industry's leading international monthly. Mix is published by PRIMEDIA Business Magazines & Media, producer of targeted publications, Web sites and exhibitions serving professionals in the entertainment industry and nineteen other market sectors.

PRESS RELEASE—May 16, 2003

Audio Industry's "Top Players" Back 8th Annual Mix LA Open
Sponsors Line Up for Charity Tournament at Malibu Country Club

Walnut Creek, CA - May 16, 2003 -The pro audio industry's top equipment manufacturers, distributors and production facilities Ghave come forward to support the 2003 Mix LA Open, scheduled for Monday, June 9, at the Malibu Country Club. The tournament, presented by the Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio, benefits the ongoing efforts of the House Ear Institute's "Sound Partners" program for hearing conservation and provides scholarship funds for students of the audio arts and sciences.

Audio manufacturers and retailers sponsoring holes and tournament contests include: Absolute Music, Audio-Technica, CE Pickup, Design FX, KRK, Quantegy, Shure, Steinberg, tc electronic, and Yamaha. Production facilities such as Firehouse Recording Studios, Moonlight Mastering, Record Plant, Royaltone Studios, and Warner Brothers Studios have also generously lent their support in a variety of sponsorship levels. This year's hole-in-one contest prize is a pre-paid 2-year lease on a BMW 2003 Z4 Roadster provided by Steve Thomas BMW of Camarillo, CA.

"It's great that so many in the audio industry continue to support this tournament with their sponsorships and donations," says tournament director, Karen Dunn. "They have become the mainstays of an event which directly benefits the causes of hearing conservation and audio education. The day promises to be a great time for all, while providing funding for some worthy causes."

A wide assortment of audio gear, instruments and gift packages have also been furnished for the silent auction, held immediately following the game and barbecue dinner. Donated equipment includes an Audio-Technica A-T 3060 48V tube microphone, a BLUE Baby Bottle microphone, a set of JBL LR 25P studio monitors and Steinberg's Nuendo 2.0 production software suite. A Gibson Les Paul Special will also be auctioned, as well as a Big Baby Taylor. Other coveted items include Ray-Ban sunglasses, Athleta sportwear, an 8-DVD collection from Village Roadshow Pictures Entertainment, a Skywalker Sound portable CD player case, body-care gift baskets from Scentsabilities, Davelly Cellars cabernet, wine from the Wine Source, pre-paid fees for the Malibu Country Club and dinner for two at Genghis Cohen of Hollywood. 

Remaining sponsorship slots can be checked online at www.mixfoundation.org. In addition to sponsorships, foursomes and individual tickets are still available. For more information, contact Karen Dunn at (925) 939-6149 or send email to karen@mixfoundation.org. 

The Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio, is a 501(c)(3) charity headquartered in Walnut Creek, California, and presents the tournament in conjunction with Mix, the professional audio industry's leading international monthly. Mix is published by PRIMEDIA Business Magazines & Media, producer of targeted publications, Web sites and exhibitions serving professionals in the entertainment industry and nineteen other market sectors.

PRESS RELEASE—April 10, 2003

Eighth Annual Mix LA Open Set for June 9th
Charity Golf Tournament a Favorite of Pro Audio Industry

Walnut Creek, CA - April 10, 2003 - More than 140 golfers from the music and pro audio industry will gather Monday, June 9, 2003 at the Malibu Country Club to swing for charity in the Eighth Annual Mix LA Open. Presented by the Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio, the tournament benefits hearing conservation efforts of the House Ear Institute's Sound Partners program, as well as scholarships for students of the audio arts and sciences.

"The Mix LA Open draws the best of the recording industry, and this year is no exception," says tournament director Karen Dunn. "This cause is important to audio professionals who understand the need to protect their own hearing and that of everyone who enjoys recorded and live music. The game is a great chance to support hearing conservation education efforts and have a great time all at once."

Besides competing for trophies in the "best ball" tournament, golfers will have a shot at this year's hole-in-one contest prize of a pre-paid 2-year lease on a BMW 2003 Z4 Roadster provided by Steve Thomas BMW of Camarillo, CA. Following the tournament a silent auction will feature items such as audio gear and production software, wine, sunglasses, custom-made ear plugs and free hearing tests. The tournament concludes with a "19th Hole" barbecue dinner and awards presentation.

Top pro audio companies, manufacturers and recording studios have once again rallied to support the benefiting charities by sponsoring one of the holes or contests (including longest drive, longest putt and closest to the pin). At press time, sponsoring companies include: Absolute Music, Audio-Technica, CE Pickup, Design FX, KRK, Moonlight Mastering, QSC, Record Plant, Royaltone Studios, Shure, Steve Thomas BMW, tc electronic and Warner Brothers Studios.

Remaining sponsorship slots can be checked online at www.mixfoundation.org.
In addition to sponsorships, foursomes and individual tickets are still available. For more information, contact Karen Dunn at (925) 939-6149 or send email to karen@mixfoundation.org. 

The Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio, is a 501(c)(3) charity headquartered in Walnut Creek, California, and presents the tournament in conjunction with Mix, the professional audio industry's leading international monthly. Mix is published by PRIMEDIA Business Magazines & Media, producer of targeted publications, Web sites and exhibitions serving professionals in the entertainment industry and nineteen other market sectors.

2002 TEC Awards Contributes Over $41,000 to Hearing Conservation Programs and Audio Scholarships

February 5, 2003—Walnut Creek, CA—The Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio has announced the distribution of proceeds from the 18th Annual Technical Excellence and Creativity (TEC) Awards, held last October in Los Angeles. The charity event raised more than $41,000 in support of ongoing efforts to inform audio professionals, musicians and the greater community about noise-induced hearing loss, and provide financial aid for deserving students of the audio arts and sciences.

Over half the proceeds were donated to the Sound Partners program of the House Ear Institute (Los Angeles) and Hearing Education and Awareness for Rockers (H.E.A.R.), based in San Francisco—non-profit organizations whose programs educate audio professionals, musicians and the general public about the prevention of hearing impairment from over-exposure to high sound levels in recording and live performance environments.

The remaining proceeds will benefit scholarship endowments for students of the audio arts and sciences at Berklee College of Music, Ex’pression Center for New Media, Middle Tennessee State University, University of Massachusetts Lowell, University of Miami and University of Southern California, as well as the AES Educational Foundation, and the student assistance program of the Society of Professional Audio Recording Services (SPARS).

"We are proud to share the vision of these valuable organizations and to help sustain their continued efforts to serve the audio industry," said Hillel Resner, president of the Mix Foundation. "Though this industry has not been immune to the effects of the recent economic downturn, its members have continued to respond generously to the needs of the extended audio community."