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DJ PRECISION TURNS THE TABLES ON FELLOW CONTESTANTS, WINNING NATION’S LARGEST DJ COMPETITION

— New York’s own, Perrin Wright, spins his way into the spotlight to become nation’s top undiscovered DJ in Guitar Center’s Spin Off 2006 Grand Finals Competition —

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, CA, September 15, 2006 — When all was said and done, DJ Precision’s performance was true to his moniker. Behind the turntable at Guitar Center’s Spin Off 2006 Grand Finals, the 27-year-old DJ, in dark shades, gray skull cap beanie and silver-swooshed Nikes, mixed his way to the top with three highly technical, well-choreographed sets that convinced a crowd of fervent hip-hop backpackers, celeb turntablists and a powerhouse panel of judges that he was the best undiscovered DJ in the nation.

The recognition, in addition to prizing worth more than $40,000, is designed to help Precision (a.k.a. Perrin Wright) pursue a career as a successful pro DJ, said Kyle Rogers, marketing manager for Guitar Center.

“Each year Spin Off brings together the best undiscovered DJs in the country, along with noted hip-hop performers, for a chance to share the stage doing what they love while paying tribute to the roots of the battle DJ movement,” Rogers said. “This year we honored the hip-hop backpacker genre by assembling a star-studded lineup of judges and six unique, highly talented contestants from every region of the country vying for the title of Spin Off champion. Each contestant was outstanding, but DJ Precision showed that he has the technical prowess, stage presence and overall ability to rise above and make waves in the DJ industry. We look forward to keeping tabs on his music career for years to come.”

Precision had the opportunity to meet some of the genre’s most respected artists via Guitar Center’s Spin Off, including several Stones Throw Records’ DJs and MCs. The label’s founder, Peanut Butter Wolf, performed, as did Kanye West’s DJ A-Trak, and Madlib, J.Rocc and many others.

Legendary world battle DJ champ ie.Merge_, one of the competition’s seven judges, said Precision’s skill set on stage helped set him apart from his fellow competitors. Judging was based on originality, technique, style, stage presence and overall performance.

“Precision brought the whole package to the table during competition,” said ie.Merge_. “His patterns were original and tight, and he looked like he was having fun up there while taking the battle to a new level. From a technical aspect and a stage presence aspect, he covered the whole spectrum. His skill definitely helped him stand out, and that’s the bottom line.”

A native of Corona, NY, in Queens, Precision has been spinning vinyl for 12 years and battling for six. He first entered Guitar Center’s Spin Off in 1999, the first year it was held, and continued to enter the competition for the next four straight years before deciding to retire from the DJ battle scene. He decided to give it another shot this year, and chalks his win up to “unfinished business.”

Precision won the preliminary competition in May at his local Guitar Center location and then went on to win district and regional finals before heading to San Francisco’s grand finals. On the way, he surpassed 1,500 entrants hoping for a shot at the title. And he’s already been noticed as a result. DJ Q-Bert, often referred to as the “godfather of scratch” and a founding member of the Invisibl Skratch Piklz, plans to feature Precision on his upcoming “Turntable TV” DVD.

Precision was in true DJ form after Spin Off announced his win, fielding questions of onsite reporters from Wired magazine and Black Entertainment Television with a calm, cool and collected demeanor.

“I’ve spent the past couple months preparing for this competition, and now I’m ready to move forward and see where this takes me,” he said. “My ultimate goal when I first started DJing was to work with someone famous. Tonight I got to do that several times over, and I hope that my career will continue to take me in that direction. I’m grateful to Guitar Center for this opportunity. It’s very surreal.”

In addition to a 2006 Scion xB and the coveted title as the nation’s top undiscovered DJ, Precision received a trip to the Nike iD studios and a session with a Nike laser designer, a $2,500 Obey shopping spree and a state-of-the-art “Obey the Champ” Technics SL-1200MK5 turntable.

Photo File: Precision_live.JPG
Photo Caption: DJ Precision (aka Perrin Wright) gives his winning performance at Guitar Center’s Spin Off 2006 Grand Finals Competition in San Francisco, CA.

Photo File: DJPrecision_winner.JPG
Photo Caption: Winner DJ Precision (aka Perrin Wright) is pictured at Guitar Center’s Spin Off 2006 Grand Finals Competition in San Francisco, CA.

Photo File: Kyle_judges.JPG
Photo Caption: The judges of Guitar Center’s Spin Off 2006 Grand Finals Competition are pictured with marketing manager for Guitar Center Kyle Rogers. Shown (L-R) are ie.Merge_; Craze; Kyle Rogers (front, in black); Dan "the Automator" (back, in blue); A-Trak; Peanut Butter Wolf; and J.Rocc (front, kneeling).

Photo File: Automator_Merge_Precision_Craze.JPG
Photo Caption: Shown (L-R) are the winner of Guitar Center’s Spin Off 2006 Grand Finals Competition with judges Dan "the Automator," ie.Merge_, DJ Precision (winner) and Craze.

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About Guitar Center
Guitar Center is the leading United States retailer of guitars, amplifiers, percussion instruments, keyboards and pro-audio and recording equipment. Our retail store subsidiary presently operates more than 190 Guitar Center stores across the United States. In addition, our Music & Arts division operates more than 90 stores specializing in band instruments for sale and rental, serving teachers, band directors, college professors and students. We are also the largest direct response retailer of musical instruments in the United States through our wholly owned subsidiary, Musician’s Friend, Inc., and its catalog and web site, www.musiciansfriend.com. More information on Guitar Center can be found by visiting the Company’s web site at www.guitarcenter.com.

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