Here are the year’s best products, manufacturers and manufacturer representatives, as selected by the readers of The Music & Sound Retailer.
(The list below shows the winners of the Music & Sound Awards, Manufacturer Division. Voting for the Music & Sound Awards, Dealer Division, will take place this summer, and this page will be updated when those winners are announced.)
Congratulations to all of the winners! The staff of the Music & Sound Retailer would also like to extend our thanks to all of our readers who cast their votes for this year’s awards.
MANUFACTURER/REP WINNERS
2020 Manufacturer of the Year: Shure
2020 Product of the Year: Shure SLX-D
2020 Outstanding MI Service Provider: Reverb
2020 Outstanding Community Service Award: D’Addario & Co.
2020 Rep of the Year: Frank J. Gutwein, Yamaha
Lifetime Achievement/Hall of Fame: Mark Brunner, Shure (posthumous)
Best Acoustic Guitar of 2020: Taylor Guitars Builder’s Edition 324ce
Best Bass Guitar of 2020: Fender 60th Anniversary Roadworn ‘60s Jazz Bass, 3-Color Sunburst
Best Electric Guitar of 2020: PRS S2 McCarty 594
Best Guitar Accessory of 2020: Peterson Strobe Tuners StroboStomp HD
Best Effect Pedal of 2020: BOSS RC-500 Loop Station
Best Non-Guitar Fretted Instrument of 2020: Fender Billie Eilish Signature Ukulele
Best Strings of 2020: Ernie Ball 2224 Turbo Slinky Nickel Wound Electric Guitar Strings
Best Band & Orchestra Product of 2020: Yamaha YDS-150 Digital Saxophone
Best Keyboard/Sound Module of 2020: Roland RD-88
Best Amplifier of 2020: Supro Blues King 10
Best Speaker of 2020: QSC KS118
Best Mixer/Console of 2020: Avid S1
Best Multitrack Recorder of 2020: PreSonus Audio Electronics Quantum 2626
Best Acoustic Drum Product of 2020: TAMA Limited Edition STAR Mahogany Kit
Best Electronic Drum Product of 2020: Roland V-Drums Acoustic Design
Best Cymbals of 2020: K Zildjian Sweet Cymbal Pack
Best Percussion Accessory of 2020: Zildjian Chroma 4 for 3 Drumstick Value Pack – 5A: Assorted Colors
Best Wireless System of 2020: Shure SLX-D
Best Cabled Microphone of 2020: Audio-Technica AT2020V
Best Lighting Product of 2020: CHAUVET DJ GigBAR Move
Best DJ Product of 2020: Pioneer DJ CDJ-3000
Best Bag/Case of 2020: Gator Guitar Closet Bag Series
Best Book/Video/Software of 2020: Alfred Music Flex Series
Best Accessory Product of 2020: D’Addario & Co. Mic Stand Accessory System
Best App/Website of 2020: Fishman Transducers; fishman.com