Guitar Center to Open New Serato-Branded In-Store Digital Music Experience in Brooklyn, NY

BROOKLYN, N.Y., Oct. 21, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Guitar Center and Serato have come together to announce a world-class new addition to their iconic Brooklyn Store location.  At a special all-day red carpet event open to the public on October 24^th, the new Serato-branded digital music area will offer a permanent new home for DJ's and Aspiring music producers to demo and buy the latest products in their world-class line.

To coincide with the expansion of Guitar Center's hugely popular Music Mentor program (offering customers free lessons and instruction for top DJ and Digital Music products) and the completion of an extensive renovation to the Brooklyn, NY store on Flatbush Avenue, the new Serato-branded area will open it's 2,500 square foot experience to the public with an all-day launch party hosted by Hip-Hop legend Biz Markie.  The event will also feature live in-store appearances by a surprise list of legendary Hip-Hop & Rap DJs to be announced on the Guitar Center Facebook page early this week.

"Serato has been a pioneer brand in the Digital Music and Production industry for more than 15 years and our Brooklyn store location is the perfect home to show customers from all over what making music is all about, we're thrilled to be partnering with them on this world-class project."

"Our shared message to DJ's and aspiring producers is clear: the boundaries of digital music creation are defined only by our customers' creativity, style and passion.  I encourage the public to come in this week and see it for themselves; the sounds we're helping people create with Serato are absolutely incredible.  There won't be a person in the Tri-State area that doesn't love the sound coming out of our Brooklyn store this Thursday…!" 
Mike Pratt - CEO, Guitar Center

"As digital music creation continues to explode all over the world, there's no better partner for us right here in the U.S. than Guitar Center to offer DJs and aspiring digital music producers everywhere the chance to experience what Serato technology is all about.  Brooklyn's iconic Hip Hop, Rap and digital music history makes this new in-store experience truly world-class…"  
Sam Gribben - CEO, Serato

ABOUT GUITAR CENTER

Guitar Center is the world's largest retailer of guitars, amplifiers, drums, keyboards and pro-audio and recording equipment. Our retail store subsidiary presently operates more than 250 Guitar Center stores across the U.S. We are also the largest direct response retailer of musical instruments in the United States through our wholly owned subsidiary, Musician's Friend, Inc., and its catalog and Web site, www.musiciansfriend.com. In addition, our Music & Arts division operates more than 100 stores specializing in band instruments for sale and rental, serving teachers, band directors, college professors and students. More information on Guitar Center can be found by visiting the Company's Web site at www.guitarcenter.com.

Guitar Center's musicianship programs include the award winning music television series Guitar Center Sessions, the weekly radio show Connections Made By Guitar Center, and the acclaimed podcast series At: Guitar Center with Nic Harcourt as well as various competition based programs such as Guitar Center Presents Your Next Record, Guitar Center Singer-Songwriter, Master Satriani, Guitar Center On-Stage and Guitar Center's Battle of the Blues.

ABOUT SERATO

Serato creates world leading audio software for professional DJs and musicians. Serato is based in New Zealand and has partnerships with many highly regarded hardware, software, and record industry companies worldwide. For more information, please visit www.serato.com

ABOUT GUITAR CENTER'S MUSIC MENTOR PROGRAM

Guitar Center's Music Mentor program is a series of free workshops and lessons held in-store every Wednesday and Saturday at all Guitar Centers and online on Guitarcenter.com. From group ukulele lessons to home recording techniques, there's something for everyone. One of the greatest aspects of the program are classes that help beginners get started and encourage their development as musicians. Music Mentor also offers customers insight on the latest ways of creating music, including an upcoming course on music creation utilizing Apple's iPad. Since its inception in 2012, over 120,000 people have attended Music Mentor classes at Guitar Center.

SOURCE Guitar Center