MMR’s 2018 Holiday Buying Guide
Before the holiday madness of November and December sets in, it’s always a good idea to start thinking ahead when it comes to the essentials: getting the right gifts for…
The Music Shoppe Welcomes Third Generation Leadership
The Music Shoppe, Inc. of central Illinois has announced Jonathon Breen as its new president and CEO. Breen returns to the business as his uncle, Randy Wood, steps down after 45 years…
Embracing the 'Folkternative:' ‘Non-guitar’ Fretted Instruments Making Waves in 2018
Many point to country music (and “pop country,” as purists refer to some artists) and bluegrass as two main drivers of the recent resurgence in acoustic (and, to a lesser…
EMD Music to Distribute Islander Ukuleles in U.S., Canada, Parts of Western Europe
Kanile’a Ukuleles, the parent company of Islander Ukuleles, has announced a new strategic partnership with EMD Music effective immediately. EMD Music takes over distribution in the USA and Canada, as well as…
Fender Level Set Buffer & Marine Layer Reverb
What a time to be alive. Between the vintage gear market, the consumer-to-consumer Internet market (eBay, craigslist, et cetera) and the phenomenal assortment of new pedals, guitar players have more…
Fender Player Series Jaguar
Days before this year’s Summer NAMM Show, Fender caught the attention of players and retailers with the announcement that the brand’s long-running Mexican Standard Series was being discontinued. The “replacement”…
Breedlove Frontier Concertina E (All-Mahogany)
I’m not usually an “acoustic guitar guy.” Sure, I have a couple and I of course see how acoustics are great for songwriting and travelling and all of that, but…
MI Retailers Working with Nonprofits & Government: A Win- Win
Brick and mortar MI retailers understand all too well the need to dig into their community relationships to fight off the impact of big-box stores who continue to invade their…
MI Dealers are On the Case, but for Some it’s a Mixed Bag Trends in the Sales of Cases & Bags in 2018
Nearly 40 percent of the participants in this month’s retailer survey (sent out to over 300 MI dealers) report level sales in 2018 when it comes to the Cases &…
And Now For Something Completely… Familiar
Whether the catalyst has been the now-infamous Washington Post article from last summer, the hopes/ questions brought about by the (now long ago) cultural phenomenon of “Guitar Hero” and “Rock…
‘Quality Over Quantity:’ Hans-Peter Wilfer of Warwick & Framus
Framus is a storied guitar line that first existed from the mid- ’40s through to the mid-‘70s, attracting some fairly well-known players along the way (Paul McCartney, Bill Wyman, John…
Could a Jazz Piano Major from Berklee Re-energize the Music Business?
At last year’s NAMM show I spoke on a panel for Guitar & Accessories Marketing Association (GAMA) about ways of reviving and creating fresh interest in guitar. That moment afforded…