Surprise guest Smokey Robinson joins NAMM President and CEO Joe Lamond during Breakfast of Champions at the 2014 NAMM Show. What follows is an up-close discussion about Robinson’s early musical life and the importance of music in the schools. Robinson, a legendary singer, songwriter and producer, also received the music products industry’s highest honor, the Music for Life Award.

Robin Walenta, president of West Music, has achieved multiple retail breakthroughs at her Coralville, Iowa-based chain operation. During Breakfast of Champions at the 2014 NAMM Show, she sits down with NAMM President and CEO Joe Lamond to discuss everything from her company's breakthroughs in strategic planning and market development to her role as a female leader in the music products industry.

Daniel Haver, CEO of Native Instruments, oversaw his company’s rise from startup to music software pioneer. Since then, Native Instruments has entered the hardware market, undergone a major growth spurt and even influenced musical styles, including dubstep. NAMM President and CEO Joe Lamond looks at these breakthroughs with Haver during Breakfast of Champions at the 2014 NAMM Show.

Jim Odom founded PreSonus in 1995 to solve the problems he’d run into as a recording engineer and gigging musician. Since then, he’s had several product and technology breakthroughs, such as the StudioLive series. NAMM President and CEO Joe Lamond speaks with Odom about his unique story, his breakthroughs and the future of gear during Breakfast of Champions at the 2014 NAMM Show.

David Kalt, owner of Chicago Music Exchange, had a viral video hit in 2012 with “100 Riffs (A Brief History of Rock N’ Roll).” Since then, he’s had more breakthroughs in video marketing and also launched Reverb.com, an online marketplace for buying and selling used gear. NAMM President and CEO Joe Lamond discusses these initiatives with Kalt at Breakfast of Champions during the 2014 NAMM Show.

The last morning of the 2014 NAMM Show began with Best in Show. This session, moderated by Music Inc.’s Frank Alkyer, featured six music retail gear experts from Internet giants and independent powerhouses alike. These judges revealed their picks for the best products and services at the show—gear that’s certain to be a big deal in the year ahead. Watch the entire session.

Summer NAMM 2013 kicked off with the NAMM Retail Summit. The session looked at ways music retailers can supercharge their fourth quarter and holiday season. During his opening remarks, NAMM President and CEO Joe Lamond explains the urgency for the session. "Let's face it: the fourth quarter of last year—not so easy," he said. "So we're going to arm you today with a plan for the holiday season."

Summer NAMM 2013 kicked off with the NAMM Retail Summit. The session looked at ways music retailers can supercharge their fourth quarter and holiday season. In this segment, NAMM President and CEO Joe Lamond speaks with Gabriel O'Brien of Larry's Music Center and Chris Johnson of Musician's SuperStore. These retailers have successfully competed with national retailers on Black Friday weekend but take opposite approaches. Listen in as they reveal their proven strategies.

Summer NAMM 2013 kicked off with the NAMM Retail Summit. In this segment, NAMM President and CEO Joe Lamond interviews Lauren Haas Amanfoh of Royalton Music Center. During the holidays, Amanfoh decided to forgo guitar pack sales and focus instead on promoting mid-level, individual guitars. The outcome? A 300-percent spike in her individual guitar sales.

Summer NAMM 2013 kicked off with the NAMM Retail Summit. In this segment, NAMM President and CEO Joe Lamond speaks with three prominent music retailers about creative ways to drive store traffic during the busiest days of the year, when customers are most time-stretched. Hear how to maximize sales from Jeff Mozingo of Mozingo Music, Ryan West of West Music and Peter Sides of Robert M. Sides Family Music Centers.