After 32 years as Monster Cable Products, the headphone, connectivity solutions, and AV accessory manufacturer has officially changed its name to Monster. The company also has booked the chart-topping rock band Chicago to headline is annual Monster Retail Awards and Concert at CES.
The Rock band Chicago will headline the annual Monster Retailer Awards and Concert at CES 2012 in January.
According to the company, its name change reflects a continuing evolution and diversification of its product categories. The announcement comes on the heels of an expansion into the flash storage drive market, through a licensing agreement with Simi-Valley, CA-based SDJ Technologies.
“Consumers today recognize Monster as one of the leading brands in consumer electronics, with a wide range of offerings,” stated Monster’s Noel Lee, in a press release. “Monster is doing the same thing today with our name change that Apple did with Apple Computer. All of this reinforces our vision ‘Because the Music Matters,’ which is now part of our slogan. The simplified name is an expression of our continuing, ever-evolving mission.”
In other news, the rock band Chicago will headline the annual Monster Retailer Awards and Concert on Wednesday, January 11, 2012 at the Paris Hotel in Las Vegas. Since forming in 1967, the band has charted 21 Top 10 singles and 11 at No. 1, with 25 of its 32 albums certified platinum. Some of the band’s most popular hits over the decades have been “Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?” “25 or 6 to 4,” “Wishing You Were Here,” “I’ve Been Searching So Long,” and “Look Away.”
The Monster event recognizes individuals and companies as best Monster retailers in specific categories, including highest achievers in growth, highest percentages of total Monster product sales, and dollars-per-store sales. Attendance is invitation only.
The lineup for the concert will include original band members Robert Lamm on keyboards and vocals, Lee Loughnane on trumpet, James Pankow on trombone, and Walt Parazaider on woodwinds. Rounding out the lineup are Jason Scheff on bass and vocals, Tris Imboden on drums, Keith Howland on guitar, Lou Pardini on keyboards and vocals, and Drew Hester on percussion.
“Monster is proud of our record of bringing iconic performers and powerful live music to CES for our awards show,” Lee said in a press release. “Great performances by bands like Chicago are indeed legendary occasions, and we can think of no better group to celebrate the mastery and majesty of rock and roll. We’re looking forward to a truly memorable evening of great Chicago music, with all the dazzling virtuosity, powerhouse brass and stirring vocals that have made them so well-loved.”
