Hanser Music Group has confirmed the sale of its distribution business, Davitt & Hanser, to JAM Industries. The transaction, completed on October 6, allows Hanser Music Group to focus on targeting new growth opportunities while providing JAM Industries an expanded product line, along with accessory-driven expertise, to better serve its dealer network throughout the United States.
For 90 years, Davitt & Hanser has been a staple of distribution within the musical instrument industry. During that time, it’s been providing brand names such as Ernie Ball, Audio-Technica, D’Addario, Remo, Hohner, Shure, Vic Firth and other major branded small goods to stores across the nation. Since the beginning, the distribution portion of Hanser Music Group has served as its foundation, allowing the company to diversify its growth into other segments of the industry.
“Our business is growing in several key areas. This transaction gives us an opportunity to focus on and to innovate in those areas. The B.C. Rich, Michael Kelly Guitars, Kustom, Powerwerks and Dawn brands will now get greater attention,” explained Gary Hanser, CEO of Hanser Music Group. He continued, “We are excited that, after 90 years in the industry, we can continue to improve and refine all of this while working to better partner with our dealers and distributors around the globe.”
The JAM family of companies includes U.S.-based American Music & Sound, Ashly Audio and U.S. Music Corp. U.S. Music Corp. is the manufacturer of several of the oldest brands in the United States—Washburn Guitars, Oscar Schmidt, Parker and Randall—and distributes brands that include Marshall Amplification, Digitech, Warwick Basses and Eden. Adding Davitt & Hanser allows JAM to expand its MI offering and to leverage the brand partnership, dealer loyalty and strength D&H has in customer service for musical accessories.
JAM’s CEO, Martin Szpiro, remarked, “This deal further solidifies our position as ‘go to’ partners for musical instruments and accessories in the United States. With the addition of the Davitt & Hanser broad offering, JAM is now better equipped than ever before to continue our growth and to better serve our customers’ needs. Under JAM, the Davitt & Hanser company will continue to operate out of Kentucky and maintain the key members of its team, headed up by Davitt & Hanser’s longtime Brand Manager, Jay Ensminger. Our plan is to add resources to allow D&H to continue to grow its excellent leading tradition of service for MI accessories.”