Long before in-ear monitors were the industry standard, Dr. Michael Santucci was quietly working to solve a problem most people couldn’t hear until it was too late.

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As an audiologist raised in a family of musicians, he understood not only the science of hearing but also the deep emotional bond artists have with sound. He saw talented players and singers losing the connection to the art they loved through preventable hearing loss — a loss that no stage light or loud cheer could ever replace.

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His early work on high-fidelity musician earplugs gave performers something they’d never had before: protection without sacrificing tone or feel. And when he encountered the fledgling in-ear monitor concept in the early 1990s, he recognized both its potential and its pitfalls. By introducing balanced armature drivers into IEMs with the ProPhonic IV, he helped move the industry forward.

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Santucci’s perspective is unique in the IEM story because his focus was never about dominating a market or winning the arms race of tech specs. His mission was personal, human, and enduring: keep the music alive for the people making it.

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In Can I Get a Little More Me, his voice grounds the narrative in care, science, and longevity — a reminder that sometimes the most revolutionary changes come not from competition, but from compassion.

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The Bigger Picture

Dr. Michael Santucci brings a rare perspective to the IEM story — one rooted in hearing conservation and a lifelong love of music. As the first to integrate balanced armature drivers into in-ear monitors, his work helped transform IEMs from experimental tools into artist-friendly essentials. In the film, he reminds us that innovation isn’t always driven by competition; sometimes, it’s about protecting the very people who make the music.

Dr. Michael Santucci Founder hearing conservation, audiology, in-ear monitors, noise-induced hearing loss prevention, global health advocacy Audiologist and Consultant P51 Healer – Restores confidence and well-being after setbacks

Pioneering audiologist whose career bridges science, sound, and stagecraft. Driven by a personal mission to protect musicians from preventable hearing loss, Santucci developed some of the first high-fidelity filtered earplugs and created the ProPhonic IV — the first in-ear monitor to use balanced armature drivers in 1992. Unlike contemporaries driven by tour logistics or technical spectacle, his work is rooted in medical expertise, empathy for performers, and the preservation of musical connection.

Dr. Michael Santucci represents the parallel origin thread in the in-ear monitor story — the medical and preservationist path, not the touring/technical race. His role is critical because he anchors the narrative in hearing conservation as a driver of innovation, showing that IEM adoption was not solely about stage mix control but also about protecting artists’ health and longevity. He is one of the first to integrate balanced armature technology into IEMs (ProPhonic IV, 1992), making him a key figure in the transition from generic stage monitoring to precision-engineered in-ear systems. His approach bridges audiology, musician empathy, and technical adaptation, providing a unique contrast to other innovators whose work emerged from FOH, monitor engineering, or manufacturing needs. Without Santucci, the story risks being told only through the lens of production demands and competitive tech iteration. His inclusion ensures the film documents the full ecosystem of influences that shaped IEM history — from safety and medical science to audio fidelity and performer well-being. Dr. Michael Santucci brings a rare perspective to the IEM story — one rooted in hearing conservation and a lifelong love of music. As the first to integrate balanced armature drivers into in-ear monitors, his work helped transform IEMs from experimental tools into artist-friendly essentials. In the film, he reminds us that innovation isn’t always driven by competition; sometimes, it’s about protecting the very people who make the music. Sensaphonics World Health Organization