News

Guitar Center Grabs Top Honors at Content Marketing Awards

Guitar Center was presented with three 2014 Content Marketing Awards, including the Award’s highest honor, Project of the Year, for its YouTube channel. The retailer beat out thousands of top-tier brands for this distinction, and was named winner out of six finalists including Target, Four Seasons, and General Electric. Additionally, Guitar Center’s YouTube Channel received a Gold Award in the category of Highest Subscriber Growth and a Silver Award in the category of Best Use of YouTube for Content Marketing. These are Guitar Center’s first Content Marketing Awards.  

Jim Bailey Joins Renkus-Heinz

Renkus-Heinz has announced the appointment of industry veteran Jim Bailey to a newly created product marketing position.  

Bailey comes to Renkus-Heinz after serving as general manager of Aphex, a manufacturer of professional audio processing hardware. His lengthy career in pro audio has also included product management positions at Avid and TASCAM, playing a major role in the development of numerous award-winning products at both companies. His many years as a successful recording engineer and studio owner served as his launching point into manufacturing, applying that experience in the development of new audio products.

GitaarBizz Appointed as New Guild Distributor

Guild Guitars has named GitaarBizz as the new Guild distributor for Germany, Austria, and the Benelux. Industry vet Ruud Elbers founded GitaarBizz in 2013, after an 18 year stint as the Benelux distributor of Gibson, Epiphone, and Orange, among other popular brands. “Ruud’s extensive connections with the existing dealer network, along with his experience in marketing and logistics make him a well-rounded, ideal candidate to help us promote the Guild brand,” said Guild President Jonathan Thomas.

TMP to Distribute Audiofly in the US

TMP Pro Distribution has announced an agreement with Audiofly to be the exclusive distributor for their full line of Performance Series IEMs to the MI and Professional markets in the United States. Based in Australia, Audiofly is an award-winning innovator of premium IEM products for the professional audio market. Recognized for its fresh approach, Audiofly has quickly acquired impressive industry recognition, earning Innovation Honors from International CES and a Best-In-Show award from the CEA Line Show.

Steve Wozniak to Speak at 2015 NAMM Show


The 2015 NAMM Show, held January 22-25 in Anaheim, California, will showcase insights from entrepreneurs within and beyond the music industry including Apple co-founder, Steve "Woz" Wozniak. The engineering icon will open Saturday morning’s breakfast session, talking music and technology with NAMM’s president and CEO Joe Lamond.

"Since the days of Thomas Edison, the NAMM Show has been the place where great thinkers have come together to create the future," said Lamond. "NAMM Members coming to Anaheim this January will benefit from a robust show floor filled with the latest innovations, educational sessions that cannot be found anywhere else and the chance to hear iconic speakers and thought leaders like Steve Wozniak."

Combs Appointed GC’s Senior VP of Marketing

Guitar Center CEO Mike Pratt has announced the appointment of Eddie Combs to the position of Guitar Center senior vice president, Marketing. Combs’ appointment is the result of an extensive, nationwide search by Guitar Center management that led to an elite pool of candidates, with Combs’ skill set and personal history as a musician resonating with the selection team. Combs’ extensive expertise in eCommerce, digital marketing, mobile experiences, customer loyalty and demographic targeting will allow him to drive Guitar Center’s innovative branding efforts and marketing initiatives. In his role, Combs will work closely with Christopher Ian Bennett, VP, Communications and Corporate Affairs; Dustin Hinz, VP, Brand Experience and Entertainment Marketing; and Jeff Hiller, VP, Brand Manager, to strengthen GC’s retail marketing strategy to help elevate sales and store traffic. 

Hal Leonard and Groove3 Announce Strategic Partnership

Hal Leonard Books, a division of Hal Leonard Corporation, Milwaukee, the leading publisher of books and digital content on the music business, audio technology, and instrument history, and Groove3, the audio community's best source for informative and effective online tutorials, announced today a long-term strategic partnership to develop and deliver authoritative content to the world. 

Korg Donates Ukuleles to Encourage Music in the Classroom

Korg USA recently partnered with Guitars in the Classroom; a non-profit organization that provides schools with guitars and ukuleles to incorporate music into the education curriculum. The goal of this organization is to enhance the student’s academic experience by introducing music throughout various subjects which stimulate their ability to learn, increase motivation and build self-confidence through classroom participation. Korg USA donated Lag-branded ukuleles to be distributed to various classrooms across the country, supporting this non-profits innovative stance on the importance of music in schools.

Study Shows Community Music Programs Enhance At-Risk Youth Brain Function

A new Northwestern University study funded by the NAMM Foundation provides the first direct evidence that a community music program for at-risk youth has a biological effect on children’s developing nervous systems. Two years of music lessons improved the precision with which the children’s brains distinguished similar speech sounds, a neural process that is linked to language and reading skills.

MPA Paul Reveres Include Two First Place Awards for HLC

Each year the Music Publishers Association recognizes outstanding examples of graphic design for the music industry with its Paul Revere Awards. Hal Leonard garnered top honors for two publications in the latest competition. 101 Flute Tips (HL00119883) placed first in “Book Design in Educational Folios,” and Steve Vai – The Story of Light (HL00110385) won in the category of “Guitar Music.” Another new Hal Leonard instructional guitar folio, Journey Through the Classics – Complete (HL00123124) won second prize for “Book Design in Popular Folios.”

Electra Guitars Teams With Sony Pro Audio

Electra Guitars has selected Sony Pro Audio wireless systems to be a part of their “Rediscover Electra Guitars” promotion between September 1 and October 31, 2014. The promotion is only valid throughout the continental United States, Hawaii, and Alaska, and excludes USA territories, while supplies last.

Customers can qualify for the Sony wireless sets by purchasing any new Electra guitar or bass between September 1 and October 31, 2014 at any participating Authorized Electra Guitars Dealers or, where there are not local dealers, factory direct from the Electra Guitars website.

Band Directors, Students Flock to Hal Leonard ScorePlay YouTube Videos

Hal Leonard's ScorePlay program has proven a popular method of allowing band students to preview and engage in brand new music pubications. has been very successfully employing with its ScorePlay promotional tool on YouTube. ScorePlay lets band directors and students – and anyone visiting YouTube – view complete conductor scores while listening to professionally recorded demo recordings that coordinate with the score on screen. The page turns sync with the music automatically, and visitors can see and hear the entire piece of music.