News

Daisy Rock Announces 2013 Premier Dealer Award

Daisy Rock Girl Guitars announced the winner of the 2013 Daisy Rock Girl Guitars Premier Dealer Award at the annual NAMM Show held in Anaheim, CA. The recipient of the awards was Total Music Source . This award honors the dealer for building strong relationships with Daisy Rock Girl Guitars over the past year to achieve excellence in the music products industry.

“We have been working with Total Music Source since the 2009 NAMM Show,” said Tommy Norton, Daisy Rock Girl Guitars’ Director of Sales. “From that point forward, they have worked closely with their sales representative, Linda Greenhill, to really get to know our guitars allowing them to deliver superior customer service to the newest generation of Daisy Rockers.”

Total Music Source began in 2005 by Fred and Becky Hussong in Cape Coral, Florida. By offering quality musical instruments and accessories at affordable prices, Total Music Source was able to grow by double digits every year and is now a multi-million dollar company with a 7,000 square foot warehouse. Their staff includes a variety of knowledgeable musicians and service people that can answer customer questions in four different languages. Total Music Source moves into the second decade of success by welcoming Chris and Kim Hussong into the organization, making it a second-generation, family owned and operated business.

Lowrey Set to Relocate This March

Next Month, Lowrey Organ Company will be moving from its current Elmhurst, Illinois location to a freestanding facility in nearby Wood Dale.  

Located just west of O'Hare International airport  nd within minutes of four major interstates, the Wood Dale location takes full advantage of the Chicago area's transportation infrastructure.  

ESP Distributing Hayden Amps in U.S.

Ashdown's Hayden amp brand has entered into a new US distribution deal with ESP.

The arrangement, covering the USA and Canadian markets, includes full service and dealer support, logistics handling, and use of ESP's extensive warehouse facilities.

Lowrey 25th Anniversary Dealer Summit

April 6-7, 2014
: Set these dates aside for Lowrey's Silver Anniversary Dealer Summit.

Join the celebration of our valued relationships and participate in business development sessions.

Berenice Chauvet Receives Lifetime Achievement Award

DJ Zone, a leading mobile DJ industry website and online news service, has presented a Lifetime Achievement Award to Berenice Chauvet, vice president of Chauvet® DJ, Sunrise, Florida. The presentation, which took place at the 2014 Mobile Beat Show, marked only the second time in the 15-year history of the DJ Zone Awards that someone has been recognized with a Lifetime Achievement honor.

Trade Regrets: Paul Ash

On the morning of February 6, we received the following message from Sammy Ash of Sam Ash Music:

It is with inexplicable sorrow that the Ash Family has to announce that Paul Ash, President of our Company he loved so much passed in the night from complications of a massive heart attack… He is gone but the man and his accomplishments will never be forgotten.

Paul Ash had worked alongside his father - the company's founder - before taking over operation of the business with his older brother Jerry after Sam passed in the mid-'50s. 

Former MMR publisher Sidney Davis offered the following in response to the news:

Deering Announces ‘String Dealership’ Program

Deering Banjo Company has formally announced the launch of its Deering Banjo String Dealership for all music stores. Deering, the worlds largest manufacturer of US made banjos, has been working closely with Dunlop Strings to develop eight custom sets of strings made to Deering’s own specifications. Dealers will be able to choose from 5­string light, 5­string medium, plectrum, tenor ­ standard tuning, tenor ­ Irish tuning, 6­string, Tenbrooks Series, and Terry Baucom Signature Set banjo strings, all presented in distinctive Deering branded packaging. Read More...

Taylor Guitars Honored with Award for Corporate Excellence

At a ceremony on Wednesday, January 29, held at the U.S. State Department in Washington, D.C., Bob Taylor, president of Taylor Guitars, was presented with the Award for Corporate Excellence (ACE) to honor the company's transformative work in the ebony trade and in the lives of its many employees at its ebony mill, Crelicam, in Cameroon. The annual award recognizes U.S.-owned businesses that play vital roles around the world as good corporate citizens in supporting sustainable development, respect for human and labor rights, environmental protection, open markets, transparency, and other democratic values.

Trade Regrets: Stanley Lager

On January 10, Stanley Lager passed away. Lager founded Dale Electronics Corporation in 1956, growing the business over the years to the present-day Dale Pro Audio.

Gibson’s ‘Government Series’ Commemorates Fed’s Raids

As presumably most everyone in the industry knows, back in August of 2011, agents from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service confiscated wood from Gibson's Tennessee facilities - the second such raid in two years.

Gibson has now released a new series of guitars commemorating the company's struggles with the government.  From the official press release:

Focusrite’s New iTrack Dock at NAMM 2014

New Fender Stratocaster Models for 60th Anniversary at NAMM 2014