GC Pro Appointed Panasonic Professional Products Dealer

— Partnership with Panasonic   System Communications Company of North  America will enhance GC Pro’s   installation services with expanded  multi-media offerings, while providing   Panasonic with penetration into  additional market sectors —

WESTLAKE   VILLAGE, CA, July 16, 2012 — Guitar   Center Professional (GC Pro), the outside sales division of Guitar Center   that focuses on  the needs of professional users, is pleased to announce that   it has  been appointed as an authorized dealer for Panasonic professional    products. The announcement was made by Rick Plushner, GC Pro Vice  President, and   reflects GC Pro’s ongoing expansion and dedication to  providing turnkey   solutions. As dealers, GC Pro locations will offer  Panasonic professional   projectors, cameras, recorders and display  products.

Plushner   stated, “As GC Pro has grown in scope, particularly with  our Affiliate   program, the installations projects have become more  multimedia in nature,   leading us to offer comprehensive turnkey  solutions. By partnering with   Panasonic, GC Pro is now offering a more  complete approach to servicing our   clients. We are not getting into  the retail video business; rather, the   application for these  professional products is meant to enhance our   installations business  for many of our customers in the house-of-worship   marketplace,  recording and post-production communities, and general    business-to-business applications. GC Pro has always offered high-end    professional audio products, and now we’re excited to represent the most    sought-after brand in the professional video business, rounding out  our   ability to provide complete cutting-edge installations.”

Bill   Brennan, Senior Director, Category Sales, stated, “Panasonic  is extremely   excited about partnering with GC Pro, and supporting  their go-to-market   strategy. This relationship offers Panasonic the  opportunity to expand our   presence in markets that reach beyond our  conventional customer base, and to   approach clients from a unique  perspective. I am extremely impressed with the   passion and  creativeness of the Senior Management Team and look forward to   working  and growing business together with GC Pro.”

Stephen   Milley, National Sales Manager, Panasonic Professional  Video Sales Channel,   stated, “As part of Panasonic’s B2B initiative –  the Panasonic System   Communications Company North America – we are  always looking for strategic   partners that can integrate all of our  various technologies seamlessly and   have a client base to whom they  can promote this portfolio on a national   level. As a key partner, GC  Pro is not only closely familiar with these   technologies, but they are  also able to penetrate market sectors that we are   not strongly  addressing at this point. This is a win-win situation, as GC Pro   can  now offer its clientele Panasonic professional broadcast cameras, video    displays, projection etc., and Panasonic will grow its presence in new    burgeoning markets, like house-of-worship, post-production and the  musical   entertainment industry, which GC Pro emphasizes as part of  their core   competency. Many of GC Pro’s customers have expanded their  own areas of focus   outside of simply audio, and we are proud to be  able to partner with GC Pro   to offer products to that end.”

Milley   added, “Another thing that made GC Pro attractive to us as a  strategic   partner is that their parent company Guitar Center has a  reputable, strong   name that has clout in the industry, is financially  sound and is a national   company. This provides the foundation for GC  Pro to grow, and the fact that   they have 43 offices nationwide means  further support of the Panasonic brand   across the nation.”

For more   information, please visit www.gcpro.com.