Upfront

Fender Appoints Mooney CEO

Fender Musical Instruments Corporation (FMIC) has announced that Andrew “Andy” P. Mooney has been appointed chief executive officer (CEO), effective immediately. Mooney joins FMIC from Quiksilver, Inc. and brings significant experience growing global brands such as Disney Consumer Products (DCP) and Nike, Inc. The addition of Mooney will help drive FMIC brands with an approach that puts both seasoned and first-time musicians at the forefront.

Mooney spent 11 years leading DCP, first as president and then as chairman starting in 2003. During his time at Disney, Mooney oversaw the company’s worldwide licensing, publishing and retail businesses and the tripling of retail sales to $36 billion. He also pioneered the $4 billion Disney Princesses franchise and established the Disney Fairies brand, and retail lines based on the Pixar Animation films, “Toy Story” and “Cars.”

Connolly to Distribute Faith Guitars

Connolly Music Company has announced a new, exclusive distribution deal with U.K. based Faith Guitars, a brand of Barnes & Mullins, a U.K. based distributor.  

Connolly Music has decades of experience in the orchestral market and growing presence in the Pro Audio and MI/ Combo markets. As a result of those successes, Connolly was inspired to diversify their portfolio of products, and the multi award-winning British Faith Guitars brand was their first choice.

Summer NAMM Empowers Industry with 35 Educational Sessions


Summer NAMM provides the ultimate educational experience on what’s working right now in music retail—brick-and-mortar, online and multichannel—July 9-11 in Nashville. NAMM U has curated 35 sessions to help music retailers hone a winning business strategy for the second half of the year and far beyond. The educational opportunities start with NAMM U’s Retail Boot Camp, leading into three-days of Breakfast Sessions and NAMM Idea Center topics designed to inspire and share practical tactics for success in the rapidly evolving music industry.

“We've had NAMM Members say that Summer NAMM’s offerings are akin to those at expensive executive retreats with high-level speakers, cutting-edge ideas and opportunities to network with industry leaders one-on-one,” said Joe Lamond, president and CEO of NAMM. “We're excited about the educational line up at Summer NAMM and believe that dealers who come to the show will benefit and be better prepared for success in the fall and holiday selling season."

Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee Receives $5 Million Gift from Keith Mardak and Mary Vandenberg

Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee (BGCGM) today announced it has received a $5 million gift from longtime donors Keith Mardak and his wife Mary Vandenberg to establish the MarVan Scholars, an extended learning day program in partnership with Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS). The gift is the largest donation in recent BGCGM history.

MarVan Scholars, which will launch in fall of 2015, is a five-year model designed to support a seamless learning day for MPS students, increase achievement through the use of online based tools and help expand collaboration between day-school and after-school staff. The program will be rolled out at four MPS pilot schools in the first year and end with 33 in the final year.

Roland Seeks SW District Sales Manager

Roland Corporation U.S. has an exciting opportunity for a District Sales Manager for the SW territory, representing Roland and BOSS products within the MI channel.

As the first point of contact to assigned dealers in the Southwest US territory (NM, AZ, OK, UT, TX region), the District Sales Manager provides valuable resources in support of Roland's products, strategy, and objectives to the dealers. The District Sales Manager (DSM) is responsible for accurate analysis of market-by-market territorial sales potential, establishing distribution for all product groups, developing the Roland Dealer's business, monitoring sales results, and meeting company established individual sales budgets and objectives. The DSM will train retail salespeople, assist with product merchandising and retail sales promotions, and help retailers develop and implement Roland Sales Programs as requested and approved by Roland Musical Instrument's (MI) management.

TEC Tracks Amplifies Pro Audio’s Presence at Summer NAMM

TEC Tracks, educational sessions designed to empower the growing audio, production and recording markets, will debut at Summer NAMM in Nashville on July 9-11, 2015. Stationed next to the NAMM Idea Center right on the show floor, TEC Tracks features three full days of free master classes, live interviews and panel discussions on the biggest topics for recording and live sound professionals, including optimizing studios, recording live shows and studio stories from Nashville pro audio legends.

"The new TEC Tracks offerings add even more value to Summer NAMM's robust educational programming," said Joe Lamond, NAMM president and CEO. "We've heard from many of our members, both retailers and manufacturers, that this is one of the fastest growing segments of the market. NAMM members who attend these sessions will be better equipped to seize these opportunities." 

2015 SBO Essay Contest Winners

Ten students were recipients of $1,000 scholarships for their prize winning entries in the School Band & Orchestra essay contest, “How Does Your Music Class Prepare Your For Life…”

May Is International Drum Month

Shannon Larkin, drummer for rock band Godsmack, is the 2015 Celebrity Spokesperson for the International Drum Month (IDM) “Roadie for a Day” prize. One lucky winner will have the opportunity to go backstage for a day with Godsmack drummer, Shannon Larkin, for a behind-the-scenes view of what it’s like to be a drummer on tour.

“I strongly believe in music education and want to share my experience on tour with a hopeful drummer. During this May’s International Drum Month, we will get more people engaged in playing drums, through the PlayDrums.com website and local music stores across the country,” says Larkin. “We are going to have a blast that day as someone gets to see the inner works of what I do for a living!”

SLM to Distribute Ponzol Mouthpieces

St. Louis Music has announced their appointment as the exclusive distributors of this excellent product for the United States and Canada.

“The Ponzol line of mouthpieces present a phenomenal option to retailers and players alike,” Says Craig Denny, vice president of Band & Orchestra at St. Louis Music. “They are machined extremely well, they are very consistent, and most importantly, they sound amazing. Ponzol Mouthpieces are well suited for playing in a variety of situations and hold their sound very well. They allow saxophonists to concentrate on musicianship instead of simply trying to play the saxophone.”

No Plans for Additional Plant Closings from Peavey

On April 21, The Clarion-Ledger (Jackson, Mississippi) confirmed Peavey Electronics is not closing additional plants in Mississippi, despite reports suggesting that the company was moving manufacturing operations overseas:

The Associated Press in New York reported Tuesday morning that the Meridian-based guitar amplifier and musical equipment maker was closing its remaining two manufacturing plants and shifting those jobs overseas.

The report apparently originated from a press release from PPL Group and Myron Bowling Auctioneers announcing the auction of Peavey equipment.

GC Opens New Location in Kansas City

Guitar Center recently opened its newest retail location, a state-of-the-art musical instrument and technology center covering more than 7,000 square feet in North Kansas City, Missouri. The grand opening celebration took place at 7 p.m. on April 16 at 9188 NW Skyview Avenue, Kansas City.

Guitar Center’s Kansas City location features modern showrooms equipped with the latest products for musicians—from guitars, amplifiers, percussion instruments and keyboards to live sound, DJ, lighting and recording equipment. The store also provides customers with a vast selection of products and a dedicated staff with unparalleled musical knowledge and experience. 

Celebrate Make Music Day on June 21


Music will fill the air on Make Music Day, June 21, as people take music into the streets, parks and plazas of 700 cities across 120 countries. Make Music Day continues to grow in North America with more than 25 U.S. and Canadian cities hosting citywide events. The daylong celebration of the original social network—music—is the perfect time for retailers and manufacturers to connect with new music makers.

With two months to go, everyone from smaller music retailers to some of the best-known names in music products and publishing including Alfred Music, Guitar World, Hal Leonard Corp., Hohner, Kala Brand Music, Making Music Magazine, C.F. Martin & Co., Yamaha and Zildjian are planning creative music making events. Many of these manufacturers are now taking their events nationwide. For example to commemorate Frank Sinatra’s 100th birthday, Yamaha is sponsoring a roving Clavinova Piano Bar in three Make Music cities where everyone is welcome to hop on board.