Former YO! MTV Raps Host Fab 5 Freddy Joins the Roster with Numark, Alesis and Akai Professional to Salute Musical Innovation at Milestones 2006; Fab 5 Freddy will emcee at Berklee College of Music to celebrate innovation

Business Wire, Sept 6, 2006

CUMBERLAND, R.I. -- Numark, Alesis and Akai Professional, the world's leading manufacturers of audio equipment, studio electronics and professional DJ equipment, and the driving force behind the high-tech musical revolution, announced today that Fab 5 Freddy will host the inaugural Milestones event. Milestones 2006 will take place at the Berklee Performance Center at 7:30 PM, Friday, September 22, 2006 to honor trailblazers of musical innovation. The event will feature an eclectic lineup of musicians, DJs, recording engineers and music producers.

Considered the pioneer of hip-hop, Fab 5 Freddy is a movie producer, music producer, writer, and TV personality. Fab has catapulted his way by creating, shaping and reshaping hip-hop's culture. Renowned for ushering hip-hop into the living rooms of mainstream America and to millions globally through YO! MTV Raps, the Milestones event coordinators are confident in this event/host match-up.

"The Milestones emcee needed to embody a full spectrum of musical experiences," said Gregg Stein, worldwide director of marketing for Numark, Alesis and Akai Professional. "After reviewing the musical landscape, we couldn't be more pleased than to share the stage with Fab 5 Freddy. We're honored to have him onboard to help us usher in the next generation of musical innovation."

Fab 5 Freddy will introduce and honor key innovators in musical production and performance, and lead the audience from performance to tribute throughout the night.

Fab 5 Freddy Snapshot

--Entered the pop culture scene through his international Graffiti paintings in the 80s

--Nearly 10 years spent working with MTV as YO! MTV Raps host

--Brainchild of the cult classic and first hip-hop culture film, "Wild Style"

--Producer, leading star and music composer for "Wild Style"

--Director of music videos for artists including Queen Latifah, Nas, Snoop Doggy Dog and companies like Pepsi

--Associate producer of Warner Bros. film, "New Jack City"

--Freelance contributor for publications including, Vibe, XXL and The New York Times magazine

--Author of "Fresh Fly Flavor," words and phrases of hip-hop the generation

--Current consultant-producer on "American Gangster," an Imagine Entertainments film starring Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe

--Co-producer of VH-1's annual "Hip-Hop Honors"

In the spirit of musical innovation, Milestones will feature live performances from artists including both the founders of hip-hop itself, breakthrough new talent of today and a special guest appearance by the Berklee Turntablism Ensemble. The Milestones roster boasts the following talent:

Musical Performance & Audio Engineering

--Bruce Swedien, for Recording/Engineering Innovation, for his work with Michael Jackson, Dinah Washington, Mick Jagger, Muddy Waters and Nat King Cole

--Al Kooper, founder of Blood, Sweat & Tears and organist for Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones, B.B. King and Jimi Hendrix, for Performance/Production Innovation

--Michael Brecker, the most respected and imitated jazz saxophonist of the post-Coltrane era. As of 2005, he has won 11 Grammys as both performer and composer

DJ/Turntablism

--Grand Wizard Theodore, the inventor of scratching and needle dropping, a standard in DJ technique

--GrandMixer DXT, the first to fuse hip-hop and jazz

--Jazzy Jay, the first to bring hip-hop to radio airwaves

Additional honorees will include Run-DMC founder DJ Jam Master J; Hip-hop producer Marley Marl; DJ Premier, producer of Jay-Z's Reasonable Doubt; and DJ Jazzy Joyce.

In partnership with Boston's Berklee College of Music, Numark, Alesis and Akai Professional will stage the event at the Berklee Performance Center, highlights will include A-list musical performers and proceeds will fund the Numark, Alesis and Akai Professional scholarships for the Berklee College of Music City Music Program.

Milestones is sponsored in part by American Idol Underground, Berklee College of Music, DJ Times, Electronic Musician, EQ, Future Music, Keyboard, Music and Sound Retailer, Remix, Sam Ash Music, Scratch, Sweetwater and Testa Communications.

Tickets are on sale now through Ticketmaster at 617-931-2000 or on the web at www.milestones2006.com.

About Numark

Numark Industries is the world's leading brand of professional DJ equipment. Numark provides breakthrough products for professional DJs in over 100 countries. Since 1971, Numark has designed and delivered innovative products and numerous industry "firsts". For more information, visit www.numark.com.

About Alesis

Alesis manufactures professional audio and musical instrument products capitalizing on its strengths in digital, analog, semiconductor, and transducer technologies. Alesis delivers revolutionary product solutions to the music and audio production industries. For more information, visit www.alesis.com.

About Akai Professional

Since 1984, Akai Professional products have set the standard for modern music production both in the studio and on stage. With intuitive design and cutting edge features, Akai Professional is one of the world's most influential manufacturers of musical electronics. For more information, visit www.akaipro.com.