Shure has been making microphones since 1925, and some of their products have become so iconic they’re practically standard equipment. The SM58 vocal microphone is arguably the most used stage mic in history — virtually every live venue on Earth has at least one. The SM7B, originally designed for broadcasting, became the go-to microphone for podcasters and streamers after word spread that Michael Jackson used one to record Thriller.
Sidney Shure started the company selling radio parts from a one-room apartment in Chicago. During World War II, Shure manufactured microphones for military communications. That experience in building rugged, reliable equipment carried into their commercial products. A Shure SM58 can literally be used as a hammer and still work perfectly afterward — there are countless videos proving it.
Beyond microphones, Shure dominates the in-ear monitor market. Their SE series earphones are standard equipment for touring musicians, and the PSM wireless monitor systems let performers hear custom mixes onstage without relying on floor wedge speakers.
The company’s wireless microphone systems are used in everything from Broadway shows to presidential press conferences. Their digital wireless platforms, like the Axient Digital line, handle the increasingly crowded RF spectrum in venues where dozens of wireless channels operate simultaneously. Shure remains privately held — the Shure family still controls the company — which lets them focus on long-term product development rather than quarterly earnings pressure.
