SMS Audio is an American consumer electronics company that primarily manufactures and markets headphones. The company was founded by 50 Cent in 2011 and acquired Kono Audio that same year.

History

SMS Audio was founded in 2011 by rapper and entrepreneur

Curtis Jackson Curtis James Jackson III (born July 6, 1975), known professionally as 50 Cent, is an American rapper, actor, and businessman. Born in the South Jamaica neighborhood of Queens, Jackson began pursuing a musical career in 2000, when he produced ...

, also known as 50 Cent. SMS stands for "Studio Mastered Sound". Jackson acquired KonoAudio that August for an undisclosed amount in order to rebrand it using his name. KonoAudio's President, Brian Nohe, who founded KonoAudio in 2007, became President of SMS Audio. 50 Cent and former KonoAudio President Brian Nohe designed SMS Audio's first line of headphones in late 2011 and early 2012. In January 2012,

DJ Pauly D Paul Michael DelVecchio Jr. (born July 5, 1980), known as Pauly D and DJ Pauly D, is an American television personality and DJ. He is best known for being a cast member of MTV's reality show ''Jersey Shore''. In 2011, he made a three-album dea ...

announced via Twitter that he was partnering with SMS Audio and 50 Cent to develop a new line of headphones. Music artist

Timbaland Timothy Zachery Mosley (born March 10, 1972), known professionally as Timbaland, is an American record producer, rapper, singer, songwriter, and record executive. He has received widespread acclaim for his innovative production work and distinc ...

became an investor in SMS Audio in January 2013, which was followed by investments from NBA player

Carmelo Anthony Carmelo Kyam Anthony (born May 29, 1984) is an American professional basketball player who last played for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He has been named an NBA All-Star ten times and an All-NBA Team ...

in December 2013. In 2016the SMS audio website was taken down and operations were suspended. In 2022 their products can be purchased on the gunitbrands website.

Products

In October 2012 the "STREET by 50" line of in-ear, over-ear and on-ear headphones were introduced. The wireless SYNC by 50 communicates using proprietary Kleer Wireless Technology, which claims to provide 16-bit CD quality sound with lossless audio, rather than the standard

Bluetooth Bluetooth is a short-range wireless technology standard that is used for exchanging data between fixed and mobile devices over short distances and building personal area networks (PANs). In the most widely used mode, transmission power is limi ...

, and can connect to up to four devices within 50 feet. In late 2013, a STREET by 50 ANC ( Active Noise Cancellation) version was introduced, which was followed by a wireless, portable speaker called SYNC by 50 Portable that November. In January 2014, an Audio Sport lineup of headphones were released in collaboration with professional basketball player

and a Star Wars themed set of headphones were introduced in partnership with Lucasfilm. In August 2014, SMS Audio announced the BioSport In-Ear wired earbuds that have "embedded biometric sensors that collect fitness data, including heart rate, without the need for regular charges." SMS Audio is collaborating with Intel for the project. According to the company website, it also sells SMS Audio-branded apparel and accessories.

Sponsorships

In December 2011, Curtis Jackson announced that a portion of each headphone sold domestically on the SMS Audio website would be donated to the

Feeding America Feeding America is a United States–based nonprofit organization that is a nationwide network of more than 200 food banks that feed more than 46 million people through food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, and other community-based agencies. ...

initiative. In February 2014, SMS Audio became one of the sponsors of the

NASCAR The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, LLC (NASCAR) is an American auto racing sanctioning and operating company that is best known for stock car racing. The privately owned company was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1948, and ...

racing team, Swan Racing, which features the SMS Audio logo on its racing cars and on the jackets of some of its racers.

References

External links

* {{50 Cent 50 Cent Companies based in Palm Beach County, Florida Consumer electronics brands Audio equipment manufacturers of the United States Headphones manufacturers