Leann Ryan

Leann Ryan is Vice President of Owned Brands at The Music People, where she works closely with the company’s On-Stage brand. Early in her career at the company, she worked directly with founder Jim Hennessey. Jim began as a distributor in 1979 and built The Music People into a successful manufacturer of music accessories, including the popular On-Stage stands. Leann admired Jim’s creative vision and his focus on product development, and that focus became the backbone of her own career. She went on to lead product development and business development projects for both The Music People and On-Stage. That work let her ideate new products and help the company continue Jim’s commitment to serving musicians. Her contributions have materially shaped the brands that musicians rely on every day. In 2026 Leann attended the Women of NAMM Leadership Summit and shared her story in her NAMM Oral History interview.