Music is a powerful unifying force across the world. Music brings us together, it heals, and it empowers. It is essential that music-making continues to unite us globally without any punitive measures or restrictions to the trade and manufacturing of musical products.
The National Association of Music Merchants, representing the global music products industry, strongly urges elected leaders and world governments to support the free trade of musical products, as well as the materials used in manufacturing musical products. We call for universal exemptions from punitive tariffs for all musical products and accessories that are used by musicians worldwide.
Excess tariffs imposed on specific countries are a great concern for our music products industry for the following reasons:
Many of the most iconic, highly sought-after and highest-quality musical products are proudly made in the United States. These brands also offer successful lines of affordable, entry-level and intermediate products that ensure new and emerging music makers have access to quality products from leading American companies. The success of the top-of-the-line models made in the U.S. is dependent on the success of the full range of products made in factories around the world. This is true for many other industries, as well: The success of our strong American companies is dependent on global trade. We stand with Consumer Technology Association in recognizing that tariffs, “weaken the global trading system that has powered America’s economic growth for decades.”
Statement: Consumer Technology Association
Musicians rely on a strong retailer network to support and educate them along their musical journey. Retail is the backbone of our music products industry, with more than 4,000 retail locations in the United States serving musicians and students. The musical product retail network is essential to music-making, and we stand with the National Retail Federation in avoiding shifting costs “onto the backs of American families, workers and small businesses.”
Statement: National Retail Federation
Like many other industries, musical product trade is also highly interconnected in North America, with decades of successful trade and partnerships between Mexico and Canada that have allowed us to compete globally. We stand with the National Association of Manufacturers that “protecting manufacturing gains that have come from our strong North American partnerships is vital.”
Statement: National Association of Manufacturers
We understand the need for strong trade agreements with favorable terms for the United States. But these global agreements should not impede the rights of musical and artistic expression. As our Vision Statement says: We envision a world in which the joy of making music is a precious element of daily living for everyone; a world in which every child has a deep desire to learn music and a recognized right to be taught; and in which every adult is a passionate champion and defender of that right.
We encourage all NAMM members to join us in urging our global leaders to support the free trade of music products to provide a more musical world.
John Mlynczak
President and CEO, NAMM
Pearl River’s Mike Lawson Signature Series Guitars Shine at NAMM 2025
Pearl River Guitars struck a powerful chord at this year’s NAMM Show with the debut of the Mike Lawson Signature Series Handmade Guitars: the ML8000-GCB Grand Auditorium Cutaway and the ML800-D Dreadnought Acoustic/Electric. These models showcase exceptional craftsmanship, premium materials, and the insights of a veteran musician with over four decades of experience.
For Mike Lawson, this unveiling marked an emotional milestone in his lifelong musical journey. “My first guitar was a no-name sunburst acoustic from Kmart in 1977,” Lawson reminisced. “It was hideously ugly, uncomfortable to play, and yet I loved it. That guitar taught me persistence and devotion from the very first chord I strummed.” Fast forward to 2025, Lawson now sees his name proudly etched on professional-grade instruments celebrated at one of the world’s largest music trade shows.
Over the course of NAMM, musicians and industry professionals flocked to Pearl River’s booth to test the ML8000-GCB and ML800-D. According to Lawson, feedback exceeded all expectations: “Everyone who sat down to jam – from friends to competitors – praised their sound, feel, and craftsmanship. These guitars are ‘Gig Ready From Go,’ offering premium features that rival guitars costing two or three times more.”
One standout moment was Indianapolis musician Tim Brickley’s performance with the ML8000-GCB during the prestigious Parnelli Awards at NAMM. “Hearing my guitar’s Fishman pickup system on a large stage through a world-class PA system was surreal,” Lawson said. “Knowing it sounded that incredible in the audience solidified my confidence in these instruments.”
The Mike Lawson Signature Series combines Pearl River’s renowned handcrafted excellence with Lawson’s professional insights. Key features include:
- Satin nitrocellulose hand-rubbed lacquer finishes to enhance tonal quality and age beautifully.
- Solid spruce tops paired with kiln-dried rosewood back and sides.
- One-piece mahogany neck with volute
- Ebony fretboard and bridge with ebony sound hole inlay featuring mother of pearl to match fretboard and bridge inlays (ML8000-GCD)
- Rosewood fretboard and bridge with rosewood sound hole inlay featuring mother of pearl to match fretboard and bridge inlays (ML800-D)
- Grover Locking Tuners for quick string changes and tuning stability.
- Fishman Sonitone GT-2 pickup systems for natural, amplified sound.
- Hand-cut bone nuts and saddles for superior resonance.
Both models come with Stringjoy Foxwoods strings and a fiberglass-molded hardshell case, ensuring durability for musicians on the go. “These guitars stand toe-to-toe with the best instruments in my collection,” Lawson stated. “Pearl River has cut no corners. It’s a working musician’s pro-level everything – they even gave me Grover locking tuners that are rarely found on an acoustic.”
When asked about future designs, Lawson expressed his desire to create a slot-head, 00-style 12-fret acoustic tailored for fingerstyle players. “I want to keep pushing boundaries while honoring the traditions that make guitars so special,” he said.
Leng Tshua, Pearl River’s global director of sales & marketing, takes pride in the journey that began with a simple handshake with Mike Lawson on the final day of NAMM 2024. In just nine months, the first prototypes of the ML Signature Series were test-marketed to an enthusiastic audience at Music China in Shanghai on October 10.
Reflecting on Pearl River’s expanding footprint in fine string instruments – including violins, ukuleles, and guitars – Tshua expressed his excitement for the brand’s continued evolution. “With a legacy of excellence in piano craftsmanship, Pearl River is earning worldwide recognition for creating high-quality instruments for musicians. Partnering with Mike Lawson underscores our commitment to innovation and sets the stage for even greater achievements in the world of fine string instruments,” he said.
Pearl River’s Mike Lawson Signature Series Handmade Guitars are now shipping and available through authorized dealers. Visit PearlRiverUSA.com/Guitars/ for more information about these instruments and Pearl River’s full lineup of musical innovations.
Play Drums Honors Industry Leaders at the 2025 NAMM Show and Introduces Online Drum Lesson Locator
Play Drums held its annual Open House at the Anaheim Hilton on January 24 to celebrate its 30th Anniversary with percussion industry leaders and introduce the newly redesigned PlayDrums.com website, which aims to inspire and educate a wider audience of drummers.
“The highlight of our year is to host the Play Drums Open House gathering at the NAMM Show in Anaheim,” said Play Drums Board chair Dave Jewell, Yamaha (Retired). This year’s event honored industry veteran John Wittmann and drummer and educator Rick Latham. Their talent, dedication, and vision have inspired countless music students.
John Wittmann is associate vice president of the Yamaha Artist Relations Group, leading the team supporting Yamaha Performing Artists nationally and internationally. He began his career as a high school band director, has toured extensively as a drummer, and has given hundreds of drum set clinics. Wittmann is a frequent presenter at NAMM, PASIC, and other major music conferences and is a national advocate for music and music education.
Rick Latham is known as a percussionist with the unique ability to move within many musical styles and performing situations. For 40 years, he has been active in the Los Angeles music scene, touring and recording with a diverse collective of artists with B.B. King, the Edgar Winter Band, and Rick Derringer, among many others. Rick earned a bachelor’s degree in percussion from East Carolina University and a master’s in percussion at the University of North Texas. In addition to touring, Latham provides masterclasses, drum clinics, and workshops worldwide, writes and records for various artists, and teaches privately. He is the author of several books on drum technique.
A new Drum Lesson Locator has been added to the recently redesigned PlayDrums.com website to help parents and students find local drum lesson instructors. Drum instructors and music stores offering lessons can register at: https://playdrums.com/drum-teacher-listing-submission/
In addition to maintaining an ever-evolving destination for all things drumming, the website will expand its educational video library, making it an essential hub for drummers seeking to begin developing or expanding their skills.
“Our members, who are the leading brands of the percussion industry, attend this event to help us celebrate the accomplishments of peer leaders in the segment, meet up-and-coming industry colleagues, and learn more about Play Drums and its programs and how to support them. This market development nonprofit organization has been creating more drummers by putting sticks in hands for nearly 30 years,” explained PlayDrums executive director Antoinette Follett.
PlayDrums.com Experience Drumming! Initiatives include bucket drumming teacher training opportunities, grants for Experience Drumming community events, and the Drum Lesson with a Pro giveaway during International Drum Month that offers drummers a free lesson and connection to their local music retailers. Generous annual grants from the NAMM Foundation have supported these programs.
Open House refreshments were sponsored by Play Drums members Yamaha and Tamburo Drums.
People on the Move
Avante Audio announces the appointment of Ray Varela as national sales manager for the USA. With a wealth of experience, both as an audio engineer and equipment retail manager, Varela is ideally suited to lead a new season of growth for AVANTE Audio in the US market.
Part of the ADJ Group of Companies, AVANTE Audio is a professional audio brand born from a passion for audio excellence. Having initially found success with the Achromic Series of active point-source speakers, popular with performers, event companies and integrators alike, the brand expanded into larger audio systems through the innovative Imperio ‘mini’ line array system. The next phase of expansion for the AVANTE Audio range is the Akro Series, which is a full-size line array system designed for large stages and touring applications.
