SMS Audio

Lore & Background

SMS Audio was founded in 2011 by rapper and entrepreneur Curtis Jackson, also known as 50 Cent. SMS stands for 'Studio Mastered Sound'. That same year, Jackson acquired KonoAudio for an undisclosed amount to rebrand it using his name. KonoAudio's founder and president, Brian Nohe, became president of SMS Audio. Together, Jackson and Nohe designed the company's first line of headphones in late 2011 and early 2012. In January 2012, DJ Pauly D announced via Twitter that he was partnering with SMS Audio and 50 Cent to develop a new line of headphones. Music artist Timbaland became an investor in January 2013, followed by NBA player Carmelo Anthony in December 2013. In 2016, the SMS Audio website was taken down and operations were suspended. As of 2022, their products could be purchased on the G-Unit brands website.

Reader's Guide

SMS Audio entered the competitive headphone market with a celebrity-backed brand, leveraging 50 Cent's fame and the expertise of KonoAudio's team. The company introduced several product lines, including the STREET by 50 headphones in October 2012 and the wireless SYNC by 50 headphones using proprietary Kleer Wireless Technology, which claimed lossless audio. Later products included active noise cancellation headphones, a portable speaker, a sports lineup in collaboration with Carmelo Anthony, and Star Wars-themed headphones in partnership with Lucasfilm. In August 2014, SMS Audio announced the BioSport In-Ear wired earbuds with embedded biometric sensors developed with Intel. The company also engaged in charitable giving, donating a portion of domestic headphone sales to Feeding America, and had sponsorship deals with Israeli basketball club Maccabi Tel Aviv and NASCAR team Swan Racing. Despite these efforts, operations were suspended in 2016, though products remained available through the G-Unit brands website as of 2022. SMS Audio's significance lies in its brief but notable intersection of celebrity branding, audio technology, and fitness wearables.

Did You Know?

• SMS Audio acquired KonoAudio in 2011, and KonoAudio's founder Brian Nohe became president of SMS Audio.
• The SYNC by 50 headphones used proprietary Kleer Wireless Technology instead of standard Bluetooth.
• In August 2014, SMS Audio announced the BioSport In-Ear earbuds with embedded biometric sensors in collaboration with Intel.