DW Enters into U.S. Distribution Deal with Hal Leonard for Select Brands

Drum Workshop Inc. (DW), has announced that effective February 1st, 2017 Hal Leonard will serve as the exclusive U.S. distributor for several of its product lines including Gibraltar® hardware, KAT®, Percussion Plus Drums, and CB Percussion lines. In addition, Hal Leonard will be the US sales representative for the Gretsch® Renown, Catalina, and Energy lines of entry level and mid-priced drumsets.

Gretsch USA®, Broadkaster® and Brooklyn Series® models will continue to be manufactured at the Gretsch facility in Ridgeland, South Carolina with Drum Workshop, Inc. selling, distributing and servicing the products domestically. DW® Drums, Pacific Drums and Percussion (PDP®), Latin Percussion (LP®), and Ovation Guitars® also remain part of the Drum Workshop family of brands.

Gretsch® Drums is an award-winning, iconic, American musical instrument brand which has been offering drummers “That Great Gretsch Sound” for over 130 years. Gibraltar® hardware is highly recognized for their extensive line of rock solid drum racks, stands and accessories designed to work with most major musical instrument brands. Gibraltar is also home to Gibraltar DJ, a complete line of DJ workstations and accessories. KAT® Percussion is one of the original American electronic percussion companies producing a wide range of complete electronic drumsets, as well as amplification tailored for the electronic percussionist. The CB Percussion and Percussion Plus product lines cater to students and the music educational market.

“Hal Leonard is simply the right choice to help us grow these brands within the domestic U.S. market,” said Drum Workshop Inc., president and CEO, Chris Lombardi. “I’m impressed with their considerable dealer network, and more importantly, the way they build relationships that parallels our way of doing business.  We’re thrilled to be working with their team and excited for the future.”

Best known as the world’s largest publisher of music education materials, songbooks, sheet music, books, DVDs and digital products with over 220,00 available products and publications, Hal Leonard represents many of the world’s best known and most respected publishers, artists, songwriters, arrangers and manufacturers. In addition, Hal Leonard is also a major distributor for musical instruments, gear, accessories and recording products including Avid/Pro Tools, Blue Mics, IK Multimedia, Line 6, PreSonus, and Samson.

“We’re honored Drum Workshop chose us to represent these highly respected brands and excited about these lines catapulting the growth of our drum and percussion division,” said Doug Lady, Hal Leonard senior vice president. “We already have a dedicated team of passionate, in-house percussion specialists to present and service these legendary brands to all our music dealer customers.”

“The addition of these incredible lines gives our music retailers a reason to source all their drum and percussion gear from Hal Leonard,” said Hal Leonard’s VP of MI Products, Brad Smith. “We’re excited about introducing new dealers to these lines in the music education market and finding ways to co-produce product bundles with Drum Workshop brands and Hal Leonard content to help get new drummers playing.”

Beginning February 1st, retailers interested in ordering Gretsch Renown, Catalina or Energy Series drums as well as Gibraltar hardware and KAT products may contact the Hal Leonard E-Z Order Line at 1-800-554-0626. For all requests regarding DW & PDP drums and hardware, LP, Ovation and all Gretsch USA products, contact your current DW Sales Representative or call (800) 45-DRUMS.

Photo: Brad Smith, Chris Lombardi, Don Lombardi, Larry Morton, and Doug Lady