2007 Summer NAMM Trade Show Opens in Austin

NAMM, the trade association of the international music products industry, opened its Summer NAMM trade show today, which runs through Sunday, July 29, at the Austin Convention Center.

Between 10,000 to 12,000 music products industry professionals from 37 countries are expected to attend Summer NAMM to view the latest musical instruments and products from more than 300 exhibiting companies.

In addition to the many exhibits featuring an array of music products, there are a variety of activities scheduled including the FORTUNE Battle of the Corporate Bands regional semi-finals at 7 p.m. Saturday at The Hang stage inside the convention center. Sponsored by NAMM and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the free event features six “Weekend Warrior” employee bands competing for the winning title before a panel of judges.

On Friday, NAMM President and CEO Joe Lamond and a panel of industry leaders will present the annual “State of the Industry Address,” covering the current climate of the industry, as well as upcoming trends, challenges and opportunities.

Show attendees are also invited to attend a Town Hall Meeting at the Austin Hilton on Saturday morning after enjoying a free breakfast. The Breakfast Session event is an open forum to discuss the changes in the world of music making, and to learn about opinions, ideas and options from industry colleagues.

NAMM University will fill all three days of Summer NAMM with free, information-packed, how-to sessions held right on the show floor (booth #660) every 30 minutes. Taught by industry professionals who have firsthand knowledge about the challenges music products retailers face, the sessions will focus on strategies and tactics that can help retailers improve store practices. The daily sessions kick off every day with a free breakfast at the Austin Hilton at 8 a.m. Scheduled topics include the ABCs of the Cost of Doing Business Survey, how to have your sales staff use your Web site to increase store traffic, and how “themed” displays can draw customers’ attention.

For the first time, Summer NAMM will offer exhibitor training sessions to provide store owners and staff the opportunity to gain valuable insight about specific products from the real experts—the manufacturers themselves—about key selling points to help make the sale.

“Summer NAMM is the perfect opportunity to take advantage of the networking opportunities that have begun to define this summer trade show,” said Lamond. “The summer show offers a more intimate gathering than the NAMM Show to really allow attendees to make those industry connections that can last a lifetime.”

For more information about the events taking place at Summer NAMM, go to www.summernamm.com.

The 2008 NAMM Show will take place Jan. 17–20, 2008, in Ahaheim, Calif.