If Turbulent Times Had You Down And Out, NAMM Helped Ease Your Mind
By a lot of measures, 2016 began rather turbulently. Global equity markets took an unprecedented beginning-of-the-year plunge that we might, or might not, have recovered from by the time you read these words in mid-February. The U.S. presidential election season has officially begun, calling into question which fiscal policies will affect your business in 2017 and beyond. And, as if that were not enough, a historic January snowstorm left the northeast corridor blanketed with snow from Maryland up to New England. In the midst of all that tumult, though, members of the music products industry found their safe haven at the NAMM Show, held January 21 to 24 in Anaheim CA. Drawing record-breaking attendance and attracting more exhibiting companies than ever before, the show was an oasis for the music-making masses.
(L-R): Sterling Ball, John Petrucci, St. Vincent and James Valentine.
Although my experience as a seven-time NAMM showgoer tells me that the extravaganza in Anaheim is better measured by how the show “feels” than by the publicly released numbers, the figures do give us a sense of whether the industry’s taking an expansionary or contractionary posture. The association reports that the 2016 show boasted 1,726 exhibiting companies, which represented more than 6,000 brands. Both figures set a new high-water mark for the event; indeed, organizers realized a seven-percent increase in exhibiting companies as compared to 2015. Bolstering the overall number were 409 new-to-NAMM companies that showed their wares, along with 174 companies that returned after a one-year-or-longer absence. Exhibiting companies’ booths and demo rooms attracted throngs of attendees: in all, a record 101,736 registrants. That marks a two-percent increase over last year’s show, which itself was a record-setter.
“As we look at the record number of exhibiting brands, the influx of new entrepreneurial spirit and attendance from 125 countries, the industry seems poised for vital growth and breakthroughs,” NAMM President and CEO Joe Lamond remarked. “The NAMM Show is a reflection of our industry: not only where it is now, but, even more importantly, where it’s heading next. NAMM members brought their A-game to Anaheim with creative, innovative and beautiful products. They also came with inquisitive minds, filling NAMM’s educational sessions all four days.”
Indeed, the opportunities for education, training and inspiration were nearly as plentiful as the incredible music products that lined the aisles of the show floor. The hugely popular Breakfast Sessions kicked off each show day with enthusiasm and vigor. Presentations from tech entrepreneur Josh Linkner and digital business expert Jay Baer complemented two old favorites: Breakfast of Champions, featuring Joe Lamond, and the annual Best in Show. In addition, the NAMM Idea Center was continuously packed with store owners, managers and staff looking to glean insights from the thought leaders making presentations throughout the day. The expansive list of topics included everything from social media optimization to improving your lessons program. And, as if that were not enough, the highly regarded Retail Boot Camp once again left its “cadets” better equipped to succeed.
“Weird Al” Yankovic joined Mary Luehrsen during the Grand Rally for Music Education.
There’s always some headline news at the show, and this year was no different. At its annual Meeting of Members, held January 23, NAMM named eight music industry professionals as new members of its Board of Directors. Newly elected to serve three-year terms on the incoming 2016 Board are Steve Ceo, C.A. House Music; Cindy Cook, The Candyman Strings & Things; Larry Fishman, Fishman Transducers, Inc.; Richard McDonald, Fender Musical Instruments Corp.; Clinton Muntean, Mainline Marketing, Inc.; Myrna Sislen, Middle C Music Corp.; Tabor Stamper, KHS America, Inc.; and Clint Strait, Strait Music Co. The NAMM Board bids farewell with great appreciation to its outgoing members: Gayle Beacock, Beacock Music Co., Inc.; John D’Addario III, D’Addario & Co., Inc.; Jim DeStafney, Blues Angel Music; Jessica Freehling-Kazzie, Art’s Music Shop, Inc.; Rob Joseph, MusicMax Inc.; Ben Kraft, Kraft Music Ltd.; Ron Manus, Alfred Music; and Andy Zildjian, Sabian Ltd.
Mark Goff, President and Owner of WH Paige & Co., Inc., and Chairman of the Board, welcomed the incoming members and expressed confidence in their expertise. “We’re grateful to these eight respected, established professionals for stepping up to serve the global music products industry and NAMM’s membership,” Goff stated. “They represent a diverse cross section of the membership, and each brings a unique market perspective to the Board. We look forward to working with them to lead the industry forward.”
NAMM named eight music industry professionals to join its Board of Directors.
Critical to leading the industry forward are women, of whom there still aren’t enough at the NAMM Show but who, I am happy to report, are clearly a growing proportion of the music products community. And no one is doing more to nurture female music makers—both present and future—than Laura B. Whitmore, Founder of the Women’s International Music Network (The WiMN) and the visionary behind the She Rocks Awards. Held on January 22, the She Rocks Awards event was a full-on glitz and glamour production that featured celebrities walking the red carpet and some truly incredible music. Ceremony organizers Pauline France, Tom Gilbert, Gabriella Steffenberg and, of course, Whitmore delivered one of the show’s most memorable highlights.
The complete group of She Rocks Awards winners, performers and honorees.
This year’s honorees are a truly incredible collection of accomplished women in our industry: Jennifer Batten; Amy Heidemann of Karmin; Chaka Khan; Mindy Abovitz of Tom Tom Magazine; Mona Tavakoli and Becky Gebhardt of the Rock ‘n’ Roll Camp for Girls Los Angeles and Raining Jane; Leslie Ann Jones of Skywalker Sound; Chalise Zolezzi of Taylor Guitars; Cathy Carter Duncan of Seymour Duncan; Crystal Morris of Gator Cases; Pamela Cole and Leigh Maples of Fanny’s House of Music; Mary Luehrsen of the NAMM Foundation; and Sujata Murthy of Universal Music Enterprises. It’s my hope that these ladies’ example, and the high-wattage excitement of the She Rocks Awards, serves to inspire countless girls and women.
She Rocks Awards visionary Laura B. Whitmore alongside honoree Chaka Khan.
The NAMM Show also featured another inspiring awards ceremony: the 31st Annual NAMM TEC Awards, which were held January 23. Hosted by comedian Sinbad, the program featured Don Was, one of music’s most significant artists and executives, receiving the evening’s highest honor: the Les Paul award. The award recognizes individuals who, and institutions that, have set high standards of excellence in the creative application of audio and music technology. Jeff “Skunk” Baxter, along with Record Plant’s Chris Stone and the late Gary Kellgren, became the newest inductees to the NAMM TEC Awards Hall of Fame. And four manufacturers—Avid, iZotope, Shure and Solid State Logic—won multiple awards in the Technical Achievement category; each took home two TEC Awards.
The prestigious Les Paul Award was presented to Don Was.
The Retailer was also in awards-bestowing mode while out in Anaheim, as the Music & Sound Awards celebrated their 30th year. We’ll share the complete list of winners in next month’s issue (or check them out online at msretailer.com). For now, though, I’ll let you know that Yamaha Corp. of America earned Manufacturer of the Year honors, Peavey’s Vypyr Pro was crowned Product of the Year and Electro-Harmonix’s Mike Matthews was the most recent induction to our Hall of Fame, having earned the Lifetime Achievement Award. On the dealer side, West Music received plaudits as Dealer of the Year in the multi-store division. In the single-store division, Sweetwater snagged top honors. Congratulations to all the winners, whom we look forward to spotlighting in March.
The On-Stage team honored top dealer Sam Ash at its snazzy new NAMM Show booth.
Still riding on a high from last December, when President Obama signed into law the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), the NAMM Foundation and its Executive Director, Mary Luehrsen, strode into Anaheim jubilant in victory but still determined to improve children’s access to music education and to fund programs that will expand the universe of music makers. The first annual Grand Rally for Music Education was one of the Foundation’s most high-profile on-site events. A salute to music educators everywhere, the event featured celebrated artist “Weird Al” Yankovic and the internationally acclaimed Canadian Brass. Luehrsen and her team look forward to returning to Washington DC this spring to build upon our collective success, and improve lives through music.
Populated with those who are passionate about making music and putting instruments into willing hands, the NAMM Show was both inspiring and reinvigorating. It reminded me that, although choppy seas might make for a tumultuous 2016, we’ll all find our collective safe harbor in music, and among each other.
Summer NAMM will return to Nashville’s gorgeous Music City Center from June 23 to 25. Global growth opportunities will abound at NAMM Musikmesse Russia (September 15 to 18) and ProLight + Sound NAMM Russia (September 15 to 17). The NAMM Show will return to Anaheim from January 19 to 22, 2017. And, in 2018, the global music products industry will return to Anaheim with room to grow into the new, modern wing of the Anaheim Convention Center, which is currently under construction.