Apple's Beats By Dre has signed a deal with the NBA to become the official supplier of headphones and wireless speakers for the league. According to CNBC, the partnership will kickoff in October ahead of the start of the NBA season and will include NBA team-branded headphones that will be available to fans.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver released the following statement in regards to the league's new headphone supplier.
"Beats revolutionized the music industry and has become one of the most innovative and culturally influential brands in the world," said Silver. "Through our partnership, we have an exciting opportunity to merge sports, pop culture and technology to deliver unparalleled experiences and premium products to our fans."
Added Luke Wood (H/T Billboard), president of Beats by Dr. Dre: "The NBA and its players have long been significant drivers of global culture. Basketball, music, and style speak as one voice: Julius Erving became a style icon, Allen Iverson cemented hip hop’s place on and off the court and LeBron James is regularly breaking new music... the list goes on and on. This partnership with the NBA is the perfect alignment for Beats. It feels like coming home."
As part of the new partnership, Beats will provide product to players during marquee events like the NBA All-Star game, NBA Draft, international NBA games in China and Europe, WNBA All-Star, WNBA Draft, and USA Basketball men's and women's national team exhibition tours.