Bose announced that it has purchased Skullcandy and will keep the headphone and speaker maker as a distinct brand within its consumer‑audio division. The company did not disclose the purchase price in the press release, but the two rivals have already collaborated for several years. Skullcandy’s recent Crusher 1080 headphones, for example, carry the “Sound by Bose” label. After the deal, Skullcandy will remain headquartered in Park City, Utah, where it was founded, and will gain expanded access to Bose’s technology and resources, a move Bose says will help the brand continue to grow and innovate.
For Bose, the transaction is primarily about reaching Skullcandy’s audience. The lifestyle‑focused brand has deep ties to sports, gaming, music and fitness, areas where Bose hopes to connect with consumers more effectively. “For more than 60 years, Bose has been committed to delivering incredible audio experiences however and wherever people choose to listen. As we work to reach even more people, we’re expanding how we do that, not only through Bose products, but through technology partnerships and a growing portfolio of brands,” said Bose chief executive Lila Snyder.
Bose is widely recognized for premium sound quality and strong active‑noise‑cancellation technology, but it has not traditionally been viewed as a trendy or youth‑oriented label. In that respect, Skullcandy could serve a role similar to Beats for Apple, giving Bose a foothold with a younger, more diverse audience while allowing Skullcandy to benefit from the advanced engineering that underpins Bose’s higher‑end headphones.