Shure is the leader in the Sound World
by Cathy Alianna Moore
The Grammy Awards returned for its 65th iteration on February 5, 2023, at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. Back again for the third year in a row, comedian Trevor Noah hosted the biggest night for artists worldwide, with all anticipating the four biggest awards handed out each year: song of the year, album of the year, record of the year, and best new artist. These awards were all seized by Bonnie Raitt for her song “Just Like That,” Harry Styles for his coveted album “Harry’s House,” and Samara Joy for best new artist.
Considering the huge recovery and development in music, the Grammy Awards show has seen a jump in viewership since 2020 — drawing up to 12.4 million total viewers, up 30% from last year’s show. To capture the world’s most iconic artists, the broadcast team relied on various Shure Axient digital wireless systems and microphones to ensure sound quality over the live broadcast.
Behind the scenes
For the 65th event, the entire broadcast team employed almost 60 channels of Shure Anxient wireless supplied by ATK Audiotek and Soundtronics. As shared by one of the monitor engineers Andres Arango, the team relied on Shure’s PSM 1000 to communicate — totaling 28 channels with 160 Shure P10R bodypacks.
With every performance, the audio team plays a crucial role in frequency coordination and managing the massive number of wireless microphones used throughout the show. As noted by Steve Vaughn, Soundtronic’s RF Coordinator, Shure’s Axient Digital and Wireless Workbench have been critical tools in management and monitoring — enabling the team to work flawlessly even in large-scale events.
Microphones featured in the Grammys 2023
Wireless microphones are the key to smooth performances without the hassle of wire tangles and sound quality drops. Given the strong reliability of Shure gear, it’s no wonder that it continues to be spotlit throughout each Grammy. Listed below are two Shure microphones featured in the Grammy Awards 2023.
SM58
One of the best mics for vocals on a live stage is the Shure SM58. With its iconic silver, ball-shaped metal grille and black barrel, it’s unsurprising why this mic form is the first thing you think of when you think of a “microphone.” The vocal mic provides a neutral frequency response and a warm, natural mid-range, flattering most voice types— which is perfect for an artist-filled event like the Grammys. Busta Rhymes used the mic to trade the verses of “Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See” and “Look At Me Now” whereas Luke Combs used the mic in combination with an AD transmitter to cover his recent hit, “Going, Going, Gone.”
KSM11
For more spirited vocal performances, the KSM11 has become the standard for transmitting vocals with clarity. Much like a dynamic microphone, this model offers full lows and clear mids. Additionally, it comes with off-axis rejection, great capsule shock isolation, and plosive protection that ensures crisp vocal capture. This microphone was used for multiple musical performances, including Chris Stapleton and Stevie Wonder’s rendition of the classic Motown song, as well as Mary J. Blige’s presentation of her single “Good Morning Gorgeous,” which featured a custom gold KSM11 capsule and transmitter to match her striking outfit.
As live music returns in full swing, sound equipment from Shure gear remains an essential part of artists’ work. If you’re interested in experiencing quality audio first-hand, we recommend first checking out our concert reviews for recaps and reactions to find the right kind of live music for you.
