The institutional record of the music products industry

NAMM Show News, Products & Industry Coverage

Founded in 1879—22 years before NAMM was formed—MMR has documented the companies, products, retailers, leaders and ideas that shape the global music products industry. This is MMR's living digital NAMM archive.

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NAMM 2015

205 stories

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…

Sometimes Along the Way, We Get Lucky

My thanks to Terry Lowe, Christian Wissmuller, and the Timeless Communications team for the opportunity to pen this article for MMR and its sister music education publications. My…

Getting Wired Up Over Wireless Audio

MI retailers who sell pro audio are going to have a lot of explaining to do. Explaining, that is, about the confusing state of wireless microphones, which isn’t…

2015 Musikmesse and ProLight + Sound

As Ronnie Dungan reported in this month’s “European Beat” (see page 22), the hot-button topic in Frankfurt this April was the proposed changes to Musikmesse and ProLight +…

A Messe situation

Huge changes are afoot at German trade show Musikmesse, which is shifting its emphasis to become a consumer event next year. Ronnie Dungan talked to the show’s new…

Trade Regrets: Jim Coffin

Jerry Andreas of SKB Corporation got in touch with MMR to tell us of the passing of Jim Coffin on April 9th, 2015.For more than 20 years, Jim…

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…

2015 NAMM Musikmesse Russia and Prolight + Sound NAMM Russia

Russia’s only international music-trade exhibition and its biggest international trade fair for event production technology expands product platforms and professional development opportunities as the show returns to Moscow’s…

ESP Guitars at 40

In the 1970s, Japan had the world’s third-largest gross national product. The country was experiencing an economic boom, driven by an increase in exports. Right around this time,…

Trade Regrets: Denver Spence

On April 12, MMR received the following from NAMM’s Dan Del Fiorentino:Denver Spence joined the music industry in 1968 after having been involved with his school marching bands…

OMG Turns 25

On OMG Music’s homepage, the following is emblazoned in big, white, bold lettering: “Delivering the most respected names in music retail accessories, all at manufacturer direct pricing, since…

Why Trade Shows Matter

In the summer of 2013 the Music Industries Association of Canada (MIAC) canceled its scheduled September trade show and closed its doors. A forty-one year old fraternity of…

Five Things You Must Know About Instagram

Instagram has exploded in popularity in recent years and can represent an amazing opportunity for your business. But before you jump on the bandwagon, there are some things…

Trade Regrets: Layton V. Rawlins

Layton V. Rawlins was the founder of Rawlins Piano Company in Southern California and a veteran of the piano industry. Rawlins witnessed many of the biggest changes within…

Hosa Names Audio Geer Rep of the Year

Hosa Technology is pleased to announce that it has named Audio Geer as its 2014 Rep of the Year award winner. This year’s winner is recognized for exceptional performance…

Bass Guitar Suppliers Discuss The Market

As March is one of MMR’s two annual “fretted” issues, we figured we’d turn our attention towards a segment of the overall market that we haven’t explored in…

NAMM Standards: Setting the Standard – Literally!

Adopting, adapting to, and competing with online commerce has been one of the major hurdles facing traditional brick–and–mortar retailers since the ‘90s. The NAMM Standards committee is comprised…

Yamaha Releases The Custom CSVR Clarinets

The clarinet as an instrument has roots dating all the way back to Ancient Greece, Egypt, the Middle East, and Europe since the Middle Ages. Back then, they…

2015 NAMM Top 100 Dealer Awards

NAMM invites music product retailers worldwide to stand up and take a bow as the fifth annual Top 100 Dealer Awards nominations open. Retailers can now enter in…