Shure just turned 100. That’s a century of mics on stages, in studios, at lecterns, and in backpacks travelling between gigs. Cool milestone—but beyond the nostalgia, why should you care in 2025?
Short answer: A centennial isn’t just cake and logos at Shure. It’s new tech, deeper product support, and a reaffirmed focus on the things end users actually feel—sound, reliability, and confidence. Here’s what that means when you pick up a Shure mic from Concert AV in Melbourne.
1) The classics still set the baseline (and that’s good for your wallet)
The reason the SM58 and SM57 keep getting recommended is simple: they still work brilliantly today. The Unidyne III cartridge that underpins them dates back to the 1960s, and it’s survived this long because it sounds right and survives anything. That continuity means spares, accessories, and techniques are widely known—and affordable. For you, that’s less fiddling, faster setups, and gear that keeps paying for itself year after year.
S.N. Shure Founds the Shure Radio Company in 1925
2) A centennial year means real product launches—not just memorabilia
Shure hasn’t treated the 100-year mark as a museum exhibit. Around NAMM and the 2025 show cycle, Shure rolled out new mics and systems (think Nexadyne instrument microphones, SLX-D quad receivers, a new SM39 vocal headset, and a wired KSM11 option), aimed squarely at modern live sound and content creation. Translation: you get the Shure “feel” with more headroom, cleaner capture, and smarter RF options for today’s congested wireless environments.
At trade shows this year, Shure has also used the centennial spotlight to showcase its latest conferencing and live-sound tools—useful if you’re juggling gigs, weddings, corporate work, and streams. Expect that momentum to continue as the brand leans into its next hundred.
Concert AV was at the 2025 NAMM Show catching all the latest releases.
3) Reliability isn’t a slogan—it’s the business model
Shure’s origin story (Chicago, 1925) isn’t just trivia. It reflects a company that’s built up manufacturing depth, global distribution, and service reach over a century. That matters when you’re touring regionally or running back-to-back shows: you can get parts, you can get replacements, and you can get advice that’s been battle-tested for decades. For end users, that reduces the total cost of ownership—less downtime, fewer surprise failures, and gear that still works long after the hype cycles move on.
4) The sound you know—modernised for current stages and platforms
A hundred years in, Shure’s catalogue now spans wired mics, wireless systems, meeting/conferencing, and creator tools. That breadth is why a pub singer, a house of worship, and a corporate AV team can all standardise on Shure and actually share know-how. For you, that means easier upgrades without relearning everything; your mic technique on an SM58 transfers neatly to a Beta capsule or to a premium condenser when the gig calls for it.
5) Limited runs and centennial promos = smart time to buy
Anniversary years often come with special editions and promos. Around May–June 2025, various regions ran 100-year offers and limited items (even merch), which typically coincide with healthy stock positions on core models. If you’ve been waiting to refresh a mic locker or step up a capsule, this is a sensible window to capture value. Ask us what’s currently landing in Australia and what’s on allocation.
6) Proven tools for the hybrid gigging life
If your week looks like: bar gig Friday, wedding MC Saturday, corporate panel Monday, podcast Tuesday—Shure’s 2025 lineup supports that mix. New headsets and instrument mics improve gain-before-feedback on loud stages; modern SLX-D receivers simplify multi-channel setups; and the brand’s creator mics slot straight into laptop rigs for content. The upside is consistency across wildly different environments.
7) The “feel” that builds confidence
Great audio is partly technical and partly psychological. There’s a reason artists still walk up to an SM58 and sing like they mean it—the voicing, handling noise, and rejection are familiar and forgiving. Shure’s century of iteration means you can focus on performance, not problem-solving. That’s especially useful for community venues and schools: buy once, train once, use for years.
Workers manufacturing Shure products in the Early Days of the Company.
A quick timeline for perspective
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1925: S.N. Shure opens a radio parts business in Chicago.
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1932: Shure becomes one of the few U.S. microphone manufacturers (Model 33N).
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1953: First handheld wireless system (Vagabond 88).
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1959–1966: Unidyne III leads to the SM57 (1965) and SM58 (1966)—still the benchmark for live vocals and instrument miking.
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2025: Centennial year with new product releases and global showcases.
Why buy from Concert AV
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Knowledgeable staff: Our team actually gigs, installs, and records—so the advice you get is practical, fast, and tailored to your room, voice, and budget.
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Well-stocked shelves: From SM58s to KSM and wireless systems, we keep core Shure models and accessories on hand, ready for same-day pickup or quick dispatch.
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Great prices: Competitive everyday pricing, clear bundle deals, and seasonal promos—so you get pro gear without the premium sting.
Bottom line
Shure’s 100th birthday isn’t just a pat on the back—it’s a practical win for end users: more modern options, the same dependable sonic baseline, and a support ecosystem only a century can build. If you want tools that sound right today and still work years from now, this is a very good year to go Shure.
Ready to try something specific? Come by Concert AV in Melbourne, tell us about your gigs, and we’ll put the right Shure in your hand.