jonathan breen
president, the music shoppe and NAMM BOARD MEMBER
“From discussing careers in music with students during the Day of Service to meeting with legislators to advocate for support for music education and the arts, attending the Fly-In was an amazing experience! Every NAMM member should experience this at least once!"
Advocacy at Work: NAMM's 20th D.C. Fly-In
On May 13, 2026, more than 100 NAMM member delegates visited Capitol Hill to champion two of the industry's most pressing priorities: securing federal funding for music education and urging members of Congress on key committees to exempt musical instruments from existing and potential future tariffs. This high-impact experience provided NAMM members the opportunity to meet directly with their representatives, share firsthand accounts of how tariffs are affecting their businesses, and make the case for why music education remains an essential investment for students across the country.
Delegates arrived prepared — armed with personal stories, professional insight, and the full support of NAMM staff and seasoned lobbyists. Through intensive advocacy training, members were equipped to engage in meaningful, high-level conversations with lawmakers on the issues that matter most to the music products industry.
Illuminating Careers in the Music Industry for High School Students
Every NAMM D.C. Fly-In begins with a Day of Service hosted by The NAMM Foundation — a chance for member delegates to connect directly with students and bring the music industry to life. This year, The NAMM Foundation once again hosted Network With the Pros at a D.C.-area high school, where industry professionals shared their career journeys and answered students' questions about the many paths a life in music can take. The Day of Service is a meaningful reminder of what's at stake: by inspiring the next generation, delegates reinforced the very case make on Capitol Hill — that music education is worth fighting for.
Did You Know?
2019
2019
was our biggest year with over 100 delegates.
2020
2020
we held a virtual advocacy summit due to the pandemic.
2023
2023
had 85 delegates representing 41 states and had the highest number of first-time delegates in 15 years!
2024
was an election year and so we focused on our policy priorities and planned for an epic 2025 Fly-In!
2025
The 19th NAMM D.C. Fly-In resulted in 200 meetings with members of Congress and/or their staff!
2026
NAMM's 20th Fly-In brought 100 delegates from all 50 states to lobby for music education and targeted tariff relief.
Caption
From Left: Pete Johnston, Julia Rubio, John Mlynczak, Claire Kreger-Boaz, Bethany Gilbert, Jillian Harrington, Lisha Baer, Eric Ebel
Highlights from the 2026 D.C. Fly-In
In 2026, more than 100 delegates representing all 50 states met with 200 Members of Congress and/or their staff to ask for Title I, Title II, and Title IV, Part A funding for music education. The Fly-In included a trade delegation who met with key members of the Senate Finance and House Ways and Means committees to share the economic impact of current tariffs and potential trade restrictions and to ask for exclusions for music products, components and the raw materials used to manufacture them.
This year’s Fly-In also featured Congressional Record, a bipartisan event on May 13 celebrating the unifying power of music and the arts — with participation from members of the Congressional Musicians Caucus and Congressional Arts Caucus, all made possible by NAMM’s support.
The D.C. Advocacy Experience in Photos
