Summer NAMM attendance increased 5 percent year over year to 15,010.
More than 1,600 brands were presented by more than 500 exhibitors. “There are many ways to be successful in our industry, but they all require effort and initiative,” said Joe Lamond, NAMM president and CEO. “I believe that the members who came to Nashville for Summer NAMM will be ahead of the competitive curve and deservedly enjoy greater success in the weeks and months ahead.”
Among the exhibitors were BOSS, C.F. Martin & Co., Fender Musical Instruments Corporation, Fishman, Gator Cases, Gibson, Gretsch, Hal Leonard, KORG, Peavey, Warwick, Yamaha, and in pro audio, 64 Audio, AEA, Antelope Audio, Aston Mics, DPA, Lavry Engineering, PreSonus, Quilter Labs, Rupert Neve Designs, TASCAM, Telefunken, TransAudio Group, Walrus Audio, Warm Audio, and many others.
“Summer NAMM is an important show for Yamaha as it gives us the opportunity to let our dealers get hands-on with products they will be selling in the fall and holiday season, and launch new products,” said Tom Sumner, president of Yamaha Corp. of America. “This show gives our team and our dealers time to have deeper conversations. We think the more laid-back atmosphere in Nashville is conducive to good, honest conversations.”
Added For Marcel James, director of sales and marketing for Antelope Audio, the show is all about building new relationships: “We have a number of new products here, and there’s such a musician’s community in Nashville that people have the opportunity to touch, feel and see it in action. It’s all about connecting.”
Summer NAMM is “one of my favorite events of the year,” noted Mike Martin, general manager of Marketing at Casio. “Nashville gives us the opportunity to reach dealers, to establish new relationships, and display our products and of course, when people put their hands on our products we win, so it’s a great opportunity for us. We really enjoy the [Make Music Experience] on Saturday as we get to meet end users and artists who are out here exploring everything that NAMM has to offer.”
Continued Jamie Latty, vice president of sales and marketing for Deering Banjos: “Summer is such an important part of our plans for the year. It is valuable face time with existing dealers and a great opportunity to meet new ones. So many of our artists are in and around Nashville, it just makes sense to be here. The energy on the floor has been noticeably more upbeat than in previous years. Everyone seems excited to be here and optimistic with the state of the industry as a whole.”