The Philadelphia event in front of the Museum of Art, hosted by Will Smith and attended by more than half a million people, featured performances by leading artists such as Jay-Z, A-T endorsee Linkin Park, and the legendary Def Leppard, all using Audio-Technica's Artist Elite 5000 Series UHF Wireless Systems. The Tokyo Live 8 concert featured A-T endorser Good Charlotte, with Joel Madden performing on the Audio-Technica Artist Elite 5000 Series UHF Wireless System, and Benji Madden on the Artist Elite AE6100 dynamic vocal microphone.
At Live 8 Africa Calling, Senegalese Griot musician Modou Diouf and his family (O Fogum), the internationally famous ensemble of Sabar and Tama drummers performed with the aid of Audio-Technica ATM35 condenser clip microphones.
"As the Tama players are very mobile, it is impossible to achieve any dynamism using standard mics and stands," explains promoter Gary Newland (founder of Drum Camp and Music Worldwide, and himself a leading 'world music' percussionist and teacher). "The ATM clip-on mics were invaluable in allowing us the optimum performance capability, especially given the dynamic signal quality and clarity of the condenser capsules. This was also a real test for the crocodile clips, as the drums are played extremely vigorously, and I must admit to being impressed that they stayed firmly in place."
The Live 8 Africa Calling concert, held on Saturday 2 July at the world famous Eden Centre in Cornwall, was hosted by Peter Gabriel and Johnny Kasli, and saw a line up of world-class musicians from all over Africa, including Youssou N'Dor, Geoffrey Oryema, Mariza, Kanda Bongo Man and Daara J.
Other artists that used Audio-Technica microphones for Live 8 performances include Bryan Ferry in Germany and Kyo in Paris. In addition, a broad selection of Audio-Technica's hard-wired microphones, including the AE2500, AE5100, AE6100, AT4041, AT4050, ATM35 and ATM25, were used throughout the Live 8 concerts.
(Sarah Rushton-Read)
