News
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Fukutome Named President of Yamaha Corporation of America
hoff | Upfront | April 1, 2013Hitoshi Fukutome has been named president of Yamaha Corporation of America (YCA). He succeeds Takuya “Tak” Nakata, who will return to Yamaha Corporation Japan (YCJ) to lead sales and marketing for the Musical Instrument (MI) and Audio
Products Group, and will continue to work closely with YCA.
Nakata has served as president of YCA since April 2010, overseeing a period of growth for the company despite a difficult financial climate in the United States.
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MakeMusic Sale to LaunchEquity Under Investigation
hoff | Upfront | April 1, 2013The recent sale agreement of Make- Music, Inc. to LaunchEquity Acquisition Partners, LLC Designated Series Education Partners (“LEAP”), is currently under investigation in New York for possible breaches of fiduciary duty.The New York law firm of Levi & Korsinsky has stated that it will focus on whether the MakeMusic Board of Directors breached their fiduciary duties to stockholders by failing to adequately shop the company before entering into the transaction. The concern is that LEAP is underpaying for its shares, thus unlawfully harming MakeMusic stockholders.
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Getzen Company Changes Hands
hoff | Upfront | April 1, 2013In 1939, T.J. Getzen founded The Getzen Company in a converted barn behind the family home in Elkhorn, Wisconsin. That year, a family tradition in the musical instrument business was born. Following that heritage, Brett and Adam Getzen, the great-grandsons of the company’s founder, have announced that they have purchased the Getzen Company from their father, […] Read More... -
Robert M. Sides Family Music Acquires Haines Music
hoff | Upfront | April 1, 2013Robert M. Sides Family Music Centers recently announced the acquisition of Haines Music in Selinsgrove, Pa.Haines Music owners Pam and Nevin Garrett are retiring after 37 years in the music business, while 25-year Haines school service representative Rob Ensinger will continue to serve his schools as the newest member of the Robert M.Sides team. Haines […] Read More... -
Benedetto Guitars Celebrates 45 Years
hoff | Upfront | April 1, 2013Founded in 1968 by American luthier Robert Benedetto, Benedetto Guitars, Inc.of Savannah, Georgia is celebrating 2013 as their 45th Anniversary. The small but internationally renowned company builds some of the world’s most collectable and expensive instruments while still focusing their production on the needs of professional and aspiring jazz guitarists. Benedetto " guitars have been […] Read More... -
Summary Judgment For Ultimate SupportSystems in Patent Infringement Lawsuit
hoff | Upfront | April 1, 2013As previously reported in MMR, on March 23rd, 2011, K.H.S. Musical Instrument Co., Ltd., the manufacturer and supplier of the HERCULES Guitar Stands, filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Ultimate Support Systems Inc. of Loveland, Colorado. The lawsuit involves US Patent No.7,105,732 owned by K.H.S. and claims infringement by Ultimate Support and its Guitar Stand […] Read More... -
Audix Rep of the Year
hoff | Upfront | April 1, 2013Cliff Castle, Audix VP of sales and marketing, announced the winner of 2012 Audix Rep of the Year award at the annual rep and distributor meeting.
This year’s winner, Reflex Marketing, is headed by Bob Brennan, along with Rob Schnell and John McFadden. Covering the Metro New York, New Jersey and Eastern Pennsylvania regions, Reflex Marketing has represented Audix for over 14 years.
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NAMM’s 2013 Top 100 Dealer Awards
hoff | Upfront | April 1, 2013Entries are now being accepted for NAMM’s 2013 Top 100 Dealer Awards, w hich spotlight the music instrument and products industry’s best, brightest and most proactive retailers. The awards will be presented during Summer NAMM, July 11-13, 2013 in Nashville, and recognize retailers in seven “Best of” categories, with the 2013 “Dealer of the Year” […] Read More... -
Orange Announces Dealer & Sales Representative of the Year
hoff | Upfront | April 1, 2013Orange Amplification announced that Sweetwater Sound Inc. has been awarded USA " Dealer Of The Year 2012 and Bill McDaniel has been presented with USA Sales Representative Of The Year 2012 at the Winter NAMM 2013. Sweetwater Sound, Inc. surpassed all previous Orange USA Dealer Of The Year winners’ sales records in 2012. Sweetwater has […] Read More... -
Mike’s Monster Guitar Opens in Cambridge
hoff | Upfront | April 1, 2013On March 1st, the Massachusetts Avenue space in Cambridge, Mass. that had formerly housed longtime local music retail mecca, Sandy’s Music, reopened as an entirely new operation: Mike’s Monster Guitar. The store’s " owner Mike Feudale (“Skinny Mike,” guitarist/frontman for Boston-based garage rockers The Coffin Lids), worked at Sandy’s for 18 years, doing repairs and […] Read More... -
School of Rock Opens 100th Location
hoff | Upfront | April 1, 2013School of Rock recently celebrated the opening of its 100th School in The Woodlands, Texas. “We are excited about reaching this 100 school milestone,” said School of Rock CEO, Chris Catalano. “Our sustained growth helps ensure that we can continue to expand the inspirational opportunities for our students while at the same time creating employment […] Read More... -
My Cat From Hell Star Jackson Galaxy Appears at TKL’s NAMM Booth
hoff | Upfront | April 1, 2013Once a part time animal shelter worker with a growing reputation as a “cat whisperer,” Jackson Galaxy is now the star of the successful Animal Planet television show, My Cat From Hell, which begins its fourth season in 2013. Galaxy, who carries around a trademark “Guitar Case o’ Cat Mojo” on his calls to troublesome […] Read More...
