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D'Addario Announces Playback - The First-Ever Instrument String Recycling Program - In Partnership With Terracycle

Sponsoring 40 Playback Recylce + Restring Events Across The US In April In Celebration Of International Guitar Month + Earth Day

D'Addario, the world's largest maker of instrument strings and accessories, has been a pioneer in sustainability for decades - from environmentally responsible packaging to robust tree re-planting programs. The company is taking its environmental commitment even further in 2016 with the unveiling of Playback, the world's first-ever industry-wide instrument string recycling program.

D'Addario has teamed with the global recycling organization TerraCycle to create Playback, a safe and independent way to recycle and upcycle instrument strings. Currently, municipal recycling systems in the United States do not accept instrument strings because of the metals and alloys they are made from. D'Addario will not only be rewarding players for recycling their own strings, but will accept all other string brands as well as part of this program. The program is currently only available in the U.S., and is free for any U.S. resident to participate.

"In many ways, this program speaks to D'Addario's commitment, not only to its loyal players and social responsibility, but also to its mission of building an ongoing, self-perpetuating cycle of music," says company CEO Jim D'Addario.

Playback is a part of D'Addario's Players Circle loyalty program. Once registered, members that recycle strings are rewarded with points, which can be redeemed for new sets of strings, picks, gear and other accessories. The points can also be used to Play It Forward: members can donate their points to D'Addario's non-profit organization, the D'Addario Foundation, to help fund music programs in underserved communities.

For more information visit: http://www.daddario.com/playback

In celebration of the Playback launch, International Guitar Month and Earth Day (April 22), D'Addario is sponsoring 40 Recycle and Restring events around the country. Players are invited to bring old strings (including their friend's/bandmates) to participating dealers to recycle and have their strings changed with D'Addario NYXl or Nickel Bronze Acoustic strings. A list of participating dealers can be found below, and the events will be free of charge and open to the public. The Playback Restring and Recycle events will take place throughout the month of April, with respective dates for each dealer to be announced shortly.

D'Addario has been consistently committed to environmental issues for many years, a commitment that's resulted in a 75% reduction in packaging waste since the early 1990s and the most environmentally responsible packaging that is currently on the market. By implementing Playback, D'Addario continues to reinforce its role as an environmental leader in the music industry.

TerraCycle has worked on similar initiatives with Capri Sun, Garnier, Brita, Colgate-Palmolive, and dozens more to find economically viable ways to recycle waste. By finding a new way to recycle a previously un-recyclable product, D'Addario's Playback program expands on the company's goal of creating positive social change while minimizing its environmental footprint.

ABOUT D'ADDARIO
D'Addario & Company, Inc. is the world's largest manufacturer of musical instrument accessories marketed under several product divisions: D'Addario Fretted and Orchestral Strings, Evans Drumheads, Promark Drumsticks, Puresound, D'Addario Woodwinds, and D'Addario/Planet Waves Accessories. A family-owned and operated business with roots dating back to the 17th century and 1,100 employees worldwide, the company manufactures 95% of its products in the U.S. employing Toyota's Lean manufacturing principles. D'Addario musical accessories are distributed in 120 countries, serve more than 3,000 U.S. retailers, all major e-commerce sites, and are the preferred choice of professional and serious amateur musicians worldwide including Dave Matthews, Sheryl Crow, Lenny Kravitz + more.

ABOUT TERRACYCLE
Founded in 2001, TerraCycle, Inc., is the world's leader in the collection and repurposing of hard-to-recycle post-consumer waste, ranging from used chip bags to coffee capsules to cigarette butts. The waste is collected through free, national, brand-funded recycling programs, as well as various consumer and government-funded models. The collected waste is reused, upcycled or recycled into a variety of affordable, sustainable consumer products and industrial applications. Each year, across 20 countries, TerraCycle collects and repurposes billions of pieces of waste, donating millions of dollars to schools and charities in the process. TerraCycle is the subject of a half-hour comedy, 'Human Resources,' on Pivot TV. Season three will air Fall 2016. To learn more about TerraCycle or get involved in our recycling programs, please visit www.terracycle.com.

Playback Restring and Recycle participants:
Advance Music - Burlington, VT
All Music - Plainview, NY
Bananas at Large - Cincinatti, OH
Bananas at Large - Santa Rosa, CA
Bass Strings Online - Los Angeles, CA
Chicago Music Exchange - Chicago, IL
Dave Phillips Music - Allentown, PA
Dietze Music - Lincoln, NE
Downtown Sounds - Northhamton, MA
Elderly Instruments - Lansing, MI
George's Music - North Walles, PA
Elderly Instruments - Lansing, MI
George's Music - North Walles, PA
George's Music - Jacksonville Beach, FL
Guitar Czar - Salt Lake City, UT
Harry's Guitar Shop - Raleigh, NC
Hot Licks - Waldorf, MD
Instrumental Music - Tuscon, AZ
Instrumental Music - Ventura, CA
Instrumental Music - Thousand Oaks, CA
Instrumental Music - Santa Barbara, CA
Lane Music - Knoxville, TN
Loud & Clear - Cotati, CA
Main Drag Music - Brooklyn, NY
Music Go Round - Littleton, CO
Music Go Round - Columbus, OH
Mundt Music - Longview, TX
Murphy's Guitars - Bountiful, UT
Murphy's Music - Dallas, TX
Music Loft - Wilmington NC
Robert M. Sides - State College, PA
Russo's Music - Asbury Park, NJ
Skip's Music - Sacramento, CA
Springfield Music - Springfield, MO
Sweetwater Sound - Ft. Wayne, IN
Ted Brown Music - Tacoma, WA
Total Entertainment - Daytona Beach FL
Twin Town Guitars - Minneapolis, MN
Virginia's Music Center - Nashville TN
West Music - Iowa City, IA
Willis Music - Cincinnati, OH

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For more information please contact Chris Taillie (ctaillie@shorefire.com), Max Lefkowitz (mlefkowitz@shorefire.com) or Matt Hanks (mhanks@shorefire.com) at Shore Fire Media, 718 522 7171