1971 Then and Now: Hoshino USA

Celebrating The People Who Make Music Happen… And the 50-year Mission of MMR

When MMR first approached us about contributing to their commemorative 50-year, “Then & Now” issue, we knew we wanted to participate in this important milestone. In fact, Hoshino USA’s 50th Anniversary is just next year, so the timing couldn’t have been better. Looking back at our own half-century in the industry, we reflected on what it takes for any venture to last fifty years, and we believe the answer is twofold. You need great ideas carried out by great people. This idea visited us a little while back while clearing out some storage space in our building. We ended up uncovering a trove of old photography, print ads, and rolls of film, YES, FILM, the impact of which was rather cathartic. Looking at the many artists and employees who helped build the Hoshino brands and the media upon which we were seeing them, offered a clear and striking contrast between the industry then, to the fast-paced, continually-evolving environment we see today.

Relating this concept of “great ideas and great people” to our long partnership with MMR, it’s easy to recognize why the magazine and the team behind it has enjoyed such a long run of success. It’s easy, often expected in fact, for a trade publication to focus on the latest gear, shifting purchasing trends, and dollar figures; it’s straightforward and easily digestible, but scan the pages of of MMR and you’ll see something more, you’ll see people. Whether it’s an interview with a small, family-owned shop, or a full-length editorial on one of the biggest manufacturers in the industry, you’ll always notice a clear focus and interest on people. They are the people who breathe life into the brands, products, and companies that make our industry thrive. It’s an editorial approach we greatly admire and hope remains at the core of MMR’s editorial philosophy over their next 50 years.