GTRC Guitar Center (MM)

Guitar Center, Inc. (Nasdaq:GTRC) today announced that Craig Johnson has been promoted to the newly created position of President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company's direct response subsidiary Musician's Friend. Mr. Johnson most recently served as Executive Vice President of Merchandising and Marketing for Musician's Friend. "We are very pleased to recognize Craig's contributions to Musician's Friend over the last eight years through his appointment to this new role," stated Robert Eastman, Chief Executive Officer of Musician's Friend. "Craig is a highly experienced direct response executive and has a deep understanding of our business and industry. We are confident he will continue to contribute to the implementation of our strategic initiatives and, in his new leadership role, will help drive the long-term growth of our company." Mr. Johnson, age 50, is a senior level corporate executive with almost 20 years of experience in direct response. Prior to rejoining Musician's Friend in 2003, he was Senior Vice President of Merchandising for Oriental Trading Company, a major cataloger and e-tailer. From 1998 to 2003, Mr. Johnson held the position of Senior Vice President of Merchandising and Marketing for Musician's Friend. Previously he served as Vice President of Merchandising for Golfsmith International. Mr. Johnson also held the positions of Director of Inventory Planning for Coldwater Creek and Vice President, Merchandising and Inventory Planning for Music Sound Exchange, a Time Warner Company. He is a member of the Institute of Supply Management. About Guitar Center Guitar Center is the leading United States retailer of guitars, amplifiers, percussion instruments, keyboards and pro-audio and recording equipment. Our retail store subsidiary presently operates 179 Guitar Center stores across the United States. In addition, our Music & Arts division operates 90 stores specializing in band instruments for sale and rental, serving teachers, band directors, college professors and students. We are also the largest direct response retailer of musical instruments in the United States through our wholly owned subsidiary, Musician's Friend, Inc., and its catalog and web site, www.musiciansfriend.com. More information on Guitar Center can be found by visiting the Company's web site at www.guitarcenter.com.