Guitar Center ``Cranks it Up to 11'' During Their 36th Anniversary Extravaganza

Business Wire, August 14, 2000

Entertainment Editors

AGOURA HILLS, Calif.--(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE)--Aug. 14, 2000

Guitar Center's 36th Anniversary Extravaganza features $100,000 worth of prizes, synergistic corporate partnering, one-time special buys, huge discounts, manufacturer-arranged exclusives, money-saving rebates, special financing on the hottest gear in the industry and if that's not enough, a pairing with the rockumentary opus This is Spinal Tap (via MGM, Canal ), according to Mike Vizvary, Guitar Center's vice president of marketing communications.

"Guitar Center is the place more professional musicians shop than any other musical instrument store in the country, so it makes perfect sense for us to pair with arguably the greatest Rock & Roll cult movie ever made," said Vizvary. "Our August anniversary month is one of our biggest months of the year, but adding Spinal Tap to the mix just makes it that much better. Customers will be able to 'Tap into Savings' all month."

To help promote the upcoming This is Spinal Tap cinematic re-release, DVD and VHS, clips and excerpts of the movie will be used in key advertising and collateral material throughout Guitar Center stores for the month-long campaign. Other partners in the promotion include Ford Motor Company, Rhino Records, Wherehouse Music, CheckOut.com and Musician.com. Customers can visit any Guitar Center or Wherehouse Music location and enter to win prizes that include a custom Ford Explorer Sport Trac, a Ford Explorer Sport, a trip to see Spinal Tap perform at the House of Blues in Hollywood, Rhino Records CDs and more.

In one of the best prize packages Guitar Center has ever offered, the 2001 Ford Explorer Sport Trac is customized for a band to plug into the vehicle's audio system and perform entirely off the car battery. Added to the prize package is an additional 2001 Ford Explorer Sport. What makes this promotion as far-reaching as any promotion Guitar Center has ever administered is the partnership with Wherehouse Music, adding over 500 outlets nationwide where fans can sign-up to win. Furthermore, Rhino Records will be providing winners with special CD music packages.

Finally, in what could be one of the most popular prizes, Guitar Center will be giving away a trip for two to Hollywood and VIP passes for Spinal Tap's first concert in years at the House of Blues on September 5. Enter Guitar Center's $100,000 sweepstakes from August 1st through 31st at any Guitar Center or Wherehouse Music location and on the Web at GuitarCenter.com, CheckOut.com, Rhino.com or MGM.com (see GuitarCenter.com for official rules and regulations).

Beginning 36 years ago as a single music shop in Hollywood, Guitar Center currently operates over 75 stores nationwide. Guitar Center looks forward to fulfilling their continuing vision of providing quality musical products at the lowest prices in the nation, while bringing musicians together through informative clinics, product showcases and special musical events. Guitar Center, publicly traded on Nasdaq as GTRC, is headquartered in Agoura Hills.

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