NAMM Kicks Off Annual Summer Trade Show in Nashville
NAMM, the International Music Products Association, today opened its 2004 Summer Session trade show, which runs through Sunday, July 25, at the Nashville Convention Center and the adjoining Gaylord Entertainment Center.
With more than 500 exhibiting companies and thousands of retail buyers, the association’s second-largest trade show is expected to attract more than 20,000 attendees from around the world and is open to manufacturers and retailers from the international music products industry and media who cover musical instruments and products.
NAMM will host a free concert for show attendees tonight from 6 to 8, featuring headlining act The Spin Doctors and additional performances by the Grand Prize Winners of this year’s John Lennon Songwriting Contest.
Along with the many exciting exhibits, attendees can participate in the variety of scheduled activities, including 30 free NAMM University educational sessions addressing topics that range from maximizing small store sales to high-impact marketing, the World’s Fastest Drummer Contest, the annual All-Industry Drum Circle and the Gospel Music Pancake Breakfast, among many other concerts and events.
“The music products industry is fundamentally based on personal relationships, which are renewed every time the industry gathers at a NAMM trade show,” said Joe Lamond, president and CEO, NAMM. “Coming into the show, there’s a sense of cautious optimism in the industry about the economy due to strong second quarter sales, which are up since this time last year. With predictions of continued economic growth and an overall increase in spending on all areas of entertainment, we as an industry need to come together here and work to make music a priority of the public.”
The 2005 NAMM Show will take place January 20–23, 2005, in Anaheim, Calif., and the 2005 Summer Session is scheduled for July 22–24, 2005, in Indianapolis, Ind.
For more information, interested parties can log on to www.nammsummersession.com or call 800.767.6266.
Media Contacts
NAMM Communications - John Dolak, Director
johnd@namm.org
619.735.4028
VITTEK PR – Josh Vittek
josh@vittekpr.com
760.505.5674
The Lippin Group
namm@lippingroup.com
201.317.6618
About NAMM
The National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) is the not-for-profit trade association representing the $18.1 billion global music products industry, with a mission to strengthen the music industry and promote the pleasures and benefits of making music. Comprised of more than 9,000 member companies and individual professionals worldwide, NAMM supports an industry that employs more than 400,000 people globally. Through its programs, events and advocacy efforts, NAMM advances a shared vision of a thriving, innovative and inclusive music products industry where every person has access to the joy of music-making. NAMM also operates The NAMM Foundation, investing in the future of music through the support of education, global grantmaking and featured programs that expand participation in music across all ages and stages of life. Headquartered in Carlsbad, Calif., NAMM serves as a leading voice for the global music products industry through public policy, advocacy, education and other member services. For more information, visit NAMM.org, and learn more about NAMM’s Vision, Mission & Objectives at NAMM About Page.