If you own a pair of Skullcandy earbuds, there’s a good chance you’ve already heard Bose without realizing it. Now, the two companies are making things official. Bose has bought Skullcandy, the brand that made a name for itself with eye-catching headphones and a whole lot of attitude.
This deal didn’t come out of nowhere. For the past few years, Skullcandy has been packing Bose’s audio tech into its earbuds and headphones under the Sound by Bose label. That team-up worked so well that Bose decided to go all in and bring Skullcandy into the family.
Will Skullcandy still feel like Skullcandy?
The good news is that Skullcandy isn’t going anywhere. It will keep its own identity as a standalone brand inside Bose’s premium audio division. Bose clearly sees value in what makes Skullcandy unique.
The brand has long been a favorite in the skate and snow scenes, and it has earned loyal fans among gamers, gym-goers, and music lovers. These are crowds Bose hasn’t fully tapped into yet, and Skullcandy gives it a way in.
Bose CEO Lila Snyder said that being a privately held company gives Bose “the freedom to make bold, long-term investments,” and Skullcandy fits right into that plan. Meanwhile, Skullcandy CEO Brian Garofalow called the deal “a win for Skullcandy and our fans.”
Bose will put money behind Skullcandy’s growth, opening up its tech, resources, and worldwide sales network to the brand. At the same time, Skullcandy will be free to keep doing its own thing.
What does this mean for you?
If you love Skullcandy for its fun, bold designs, this could be great news. With Bose’s audio know-how in its corner, future Skullcandy products could sound even better without losing the style that made them popular in the first place.
Neither company is sharing what the deal was worth. Still, if the Sound by Bose products are anything to go by, I can’t wait to see what these two cook up together
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