Upfront

SKB Announces New Canadian Partnership

SKB Corporation has welcomed SF Marketing Inc. (SFM) Dorval, Quebec, as their new Canadian distributor of SKB cases.  SFM has been providing professional quality products and services to the live entertainment and audio visual industries in Canada since 1978. High-profile brands worldwide have come to trust SFM as their sales, marketing, distribution, and service arm in the Canadian marketplace.

"Everyone at SFM is excited and delighted about our new partnership with SKB to bring the best cases in the world to our customers," says SFM's vice president of sales John Warwick. "SKB is both a legend and an innovator in the case business and we are proud to be associated with such an iconic brand ".

Hal Leonard to Distribute Apogee Pro Audio Interfaces

Recent talks between Hal Leonard Corporation and Apogee Electronics, an industry leader in digital audio recording technology, have culminated in a new distribution deal for the MI and pro audio channels in the US and Canada. Apogee director of worldwide sales Jeremy Stappard reached the agreement with Brad Smith, senior sales and marketing manager for Hal Leonard.

Headquartered in Santa Monica, California – where they proudly design and engineer their products – Apogee has been defining the art of digital audio since 1985. The company continues to innovate with technologies and products that push the envelope, inspire competitors, and lead the studio-quality home recording revolution.

Hurley and Fender Present ‘Strat: 60 Years of the Stratocaster’

Through a unique blend of artists and musicians – including Donald Edward Hardy, Brandon Boyd, Thomas Campbell, Johnny Marr and Shawn Stussy – Hurley and Fender® will recognize the unparalleled heritage of the Stratocaster on its 60th anniversary. Twenty American-made, hand-painted Stratocaster guitars will be auctioned off to raise money for Waves For Water, which in turn will save lives through water-based initiatives.

“STRAT: 60 Years of the Stratocaster” is a collaboration between the two unique brands and pays homage to the iconic Fender Stratocaster® guitar as it embarks on its seventh decade of existence. Each Strat® guitar will include individual designs and artwork by a featured artist and will be auctioned on eBay, October 22 through November 1. Proceeds will benefit Waves For Water, an organization that brings access to potable water to nations in need.

Little Kids Rock to Honor Joan Jett at Annual Benefit

Little Kids Rock will host its sixth annual Little Kids Rock Benefit, honoring Joan Jett and her music. The annual event, this year presented by Guitar Center and produced by Steven and Maureen Van Zandt, will take place on Thursday, Oct. 23 at New York’s iconic Hammerstein Ballroom at The Manhattan Center, a longstanding supporter of Little Kids Rock and a 2014 event sponsor. Alice Cooper, Tommy James, Billie Joe Armstrong, Darlene Love, Glen Hansard, Jesse Malin, Brody Dalle, Mike Ness, Jake Clemons, and other special guests will make up the all-star roster of musicians that will pay tribute to Jett with musical performances, produced by Steven Van Zandt.

Zildjian Sponsors 10th Year of Berklee Artist-in-Residence Program with Aaron Spears

Zildjian and the Berklee College of Music recently concluded the 10th year of the Armand Zildjian Artist in Residence Program. This year’s guest Zildjian artist was Gospel drumming phenom and Usher sideman Aaron Spears.

The Armand Zildjian Artist-in-Residence was created by the Zildjian family in recognition of Armand’s tireless efforts in the promotion of percussive music, principally through the manufacturing of the world-class Zildjian cymbals and the promotion of talented artists. The purpose of the program is to provide Berklee students an opportunity to learn from recognized drummers in a wide range of genres. Past artists-in-residence have included Steve Smith, Peter Erskine, and Antonio Sanchez.

Grover Pro Announces Partnership With Hammerax

Grover Pro Percussion Inc., Massachusetts-based leaders in high-quality professional percussion products, has reached an agreement with Hammerax® which grants them exclusive rights to worldwide distribution.

"I have admired the Grover brand name and been a friend of Neil Grover for over 30 years. Grover Pro represents the pinnacle of quality in every product they touch. The business model of a single distributor working with export distributors and dealers is the best way to reach drummers and percussionists,” states John Stannard, Hammerax president.

JAM Industries Buys Davitt & Hanser (D&H) Distribution from Hanser Music Group

Hanser Music Group has confirmed the sale of its distribution business, Davitt & Hanser, to JAM Industries. The transaction, completed on October 6th, allows Hanser Music Group to focus on targeting new growth opportunities while providing JAM Industries an expanded product line and accessory driven expertise, to better serve its dealer network throughout the United States.

Hal Leonard Hosts John Williams

On Friday, October 3, John Williams made his first visit to the corporate headquarters of Hal Leonard Corporation – his longtime music print publisher.

The relationship between Mr. Williams and Hal Leonard spans decades and has spawned hundreds of publications featuring his famous music. Folios for Star Wars, E.T., Jaws, Jurassic Park, Superman, Schindler’s List, Saving Private Ryan, War Horse, Lincoln, Home Alone and the Harry Potter films are available in formats for many instruments at various levels.

Registration Open for The 2015 NAMM Show

Registration opened on October 1, 2014 for NAMM members planning to attend the 2015 NAMM Show. The world’s largest trade-only event for the music products industry returns to the Anaheim Convention Center January 22-25. NAMM Show badges open doors to more than 5,000 music product, instrument and technology brands, special events, educational sessions and live entertainment.

"NAMM members who make the trip to Anaheim have already demonstrated their commitment to succeed, using the platform of the NAMM Show to stay current on industry trends and business practices to make better decisions in the year ahead,” said Joe Lamond, president and CEO of NAMM. "This event is the crossroads of the global music industry and there is no better place to see all the exciting new products under one roof, meet and hear from industry leaders who are shaping the future for us all and at the same time attend some of the most enjoyable music and networking events of the whole year. We’re looking forward to producing a fun and productive show for our members in January.”

NAMM TEC Awards Celebrates 30 Years and Inducts Nathan East & Ed Cherney into Hall of Fame

The NAMM Foundation will induct revered engineer -mixologist Ed Cherney and bassist Nathan East into the NAMM TEC Awards Hall of Fame during the 30^th Annual NAMM Technical Excellence & Creativity Awards show, to be held Saturday, January 24^th in Anaheim, Calif. Nominees across thirty creative and technical categories have also been announced for the NAMM TEC Awards, the longest-running awards show that specifically recognizes outstanding achievement in audio product innovation and sound production.  

Aphex Moves HQ to Utah

Pro audio brand Aphex® recently announced that it has moved the company to Salt Lake City, in order to increase operational efficiencies by being closer to parent company DWV Entertainment and the core Aphex creative and engineering teams. The move, completed in September, includes opening a new Aphex warehouse in Utah to complement existing manufacturing and shipping facilities in California. 

Best in Music Celebrates 25th Anniversary

Locally owned music retail store Best in Music (Orem, Utah) recently celebrated 25 years in business with an anniversary event on September 12. The event (one in a series of annual anniversary events) saw big deals on music, instruments, and other products as well as the famous drawing for $18,000 worth of prizes.  Musical performances from local bands as well as students and teachers from the Best in Music Education Center held in the store parking lot began at noon on September 13.