Visitor numbers at this year’s Musikmesse and Pro-Light and Sound fell from last year’s total and are significantly down on 2013’s peak of 113,000.
The combined figures for this year’s shows (certifiied by FKM) saw 105,896 people through the doors, down on last year’s total which was only given as “almost 110,000”. Despite that slight recovery in numbers from 2015’s 108,409, as the show opened itself to the public, 2013 may well have been its peak year with 113,000. The organiser’s own exhibitor numbers matched last year’s exactly (2043) but were down on 2015 (2257) and 2014 (2242).
Despite the falling numbers it retains the support of its local trade bodies, however: “The Society of Music Merchants (SOMM) welcomes the comprehensive and on-going restructuring initiated in 2016. Thanks to the new concept, I am confident that we will be able to achieve a great deal. Change is clearly in the air. For German, European and international companies, Musikmesse and Prolight + Sound rank among the most important instruments for business-to-business communication”, said SOMM business manager, Daniel Knöll.
“We are very pleased with business at Musikmesse. I met many retail colleagues at the fair. Footfall in the halls was high and the exhibition stands were busy. The Business Academy, which we took part in for the first time this year, is on the right track. In a nutshell: the sector agrees with the changes made to Musikmesse”, said Arthur Knopp, president of the Federation of German Music Dealers (GDM).
Gerhard Meinl, chairman of the Federal Association of German Musical Instrument Manufacturers (BDMH), added: “Musikmesse in Frankfurt is a must for the German and European music industry, especially those from East Europe. We appreciate the high degree of internationality at the fair. We need this marketplace and hope that numerous market participants will use it in the future because this is the key to a thriving fair – on both the exhibitor and retailer sides.”
Next year’s Musikmesse and Prolight + Sound will be held from 11th-14th April and from 10th-13th April respectively.
