Music has always been the focal point of Joe Lamond’s life. After graduating from The State University of New York, Lamond worked in music retail stores by day and pursued his rock star dreams at night. Starting in 1982 as a bookkeeper for a small, independent retailer in Sacramento, Calif., he then moved to Skip’s Music in 1989, where he started in the warehouse. Armed with passion, drive and a natural ability for marketing, he ultimately rose to the position of executive vice president, overseeing the $12 million corporation. Those years of retail experience were critically important in shaping Lamond’s views about the industry, specifically, the important relationship between supplier and dealer.

In 1998, Lamond joined NAMM, the trade association of the international music products industry, as its director of market development. During this time, he launched and managed a number of innovative programs, including Sesame Street Music Works, a joint initiative with Sesame Workshop; increased NAMM’s commitment to funding valuable music-brain research to demonstrate the benefits of playing music to parents, teachers and music advocates; the development of the “Einstein Advocacy Kit,” an informational toolkit that brings that groundbreaking music/brain research to communities working to strengthen their local school music programs; the expansion of
the Weekend Warriors program (an idea developed in part by Lamond while working in retail), which brings Baby Boomers back into active music making; a Smithsonian Institute program celebrating the 300th anniversary of the piano; and Wanna Play?, NAMM’s national public awareness campaign promoting the benefits of playing music for people of all ages.

Under his leadership since 2001, the association’s resources have grown significantly, enabling NAMM to invest more into research, grants and market-building programs than at any time in the association’s history. Positive awareness of the music products industry on Capitol Hill is also at an all-time high, with its government relations efforts helping to ensure that the federal No Child Left Behind Act continues to include the arts as a core subject. In addition, the association created the SupportMusic Coalition, uniting more than 200 organizations to work on behalf of music education.

During Lamond’s tenure, NAMM worked closely with a coalition of key industry partners to introduce the concept of Recreational Music Making (RMM), generating a growing category of people who make music just for fun or as a hobby, so the whole industry can have long-term, sustainable growth; reached millions of people through the association’s participation in the Tournament of Roses Parade; sponsored numerous benefits for music education, including a tribute concert featuring the legendary Sir Elton John; and completely revamped NAMM University’s educational curriculum, resulting in an 80 percent increase in attendance in its first year. NAMM also expanded its international role, produced NAMM University sessions outside of the United States
at the Music China show, and hosted three Global Economic Summits. Lamond also created the NAMM Foundation, which serves as the focal point for the industry’s research and giving.

Lamond is on the boards of numerous music advocacy organizations, including the Museum of Making Music, the Music Achievement Council, the California Music Project and the Smithsonian Institute’s Jazz Appreciation Month. In 2007, Lamond was inducted into the Boys and Girls Club of America’s Hall of Fame. He also sits on the board of the San Diego chapter of the Young Presidents Organization (YPO). Under Lamond’s leadership, NAMM has also been recognized by Americans for the Arts and Vh1 Save the Music Foundation with national merit awards.