Make Music Day 2024 Holds The Largest One-Day Music Event in History

CARLSBAD, CALIF., August 1, 2024 – NAMM (The National Association of Music Merchants), the largest global non-profit music trade organization, today announced the monumental results of last month’s Make Music Day, which takes place annually on June 21. The statistics below reflect the enormous impact of Make Music Day and the positive effect music has on communities around the nation.

• 5,304 free concerts, jam sessions, and group lessons took place across the U.S. in honor of Make Music Day, up from 4,814 in 2023 (a 10% increase)

• 145 chapters organized city- or county-wide Make Music Day celebrations, up from 113 in 2023 (a 28% increase)

• 175 music products companies joined in hosting, sponsoring, and organizing Make Music Day events, up over 35% from 2023

“No matter the state of the country or the world, music is an international unifier that brings us all together especially on this one magical day in June” said John Mlynczak, President and CEO of NAMM. “We are beyond thrilled of the impact Make Music Day has made across the U.S and globally. We are proud to partner each year with Make Music Day knowing that this one-day musical event is directly powered by our NAMM Foundation as well as committed NAMM members from around the globe.”

Launched in France in 1982 as the Fête de la Musique, Make Music Day has become a global phenomenon, celebrated by millions of people in more than 2,000 cities around the world, including 145 cities in the U.S., where it has spread widely after debuting in New York in 2007. Held on the longest day of the year, the world's largest annual music event celebrates and promotes the natural music maker in everyone, regardless of age or skill level.

Since Make Music Day’s arrival in the US, NAMM member companies have played a leading role in its success. Among the dozens of national brands taking part this year, Hohner, Rhythm Band Instruments, and Vic Firth collectively donated 8,500 free instruments at 185 events around the country for first-time music-makers to get a free instrument, take a lesson, and join a group jam session. Sweetwater and Make Music Inc sponsored and promoted “Earthgroove,” a school band piece premiering nationwide on June 21 in collaboration with the National Federation of High School Associations. Elixir Strings stepped up with a “String Together” program on Make Music Day, offering free guitar restringing and lessons in 67 music stores in the US, and another 40 in Europe, while Harman led a livestreamed rhythmic relay across 24 countries in conjunction with the Paris 2024 Cultural Olympiad, featuring Harman brand ambassador AR Rahman.

Meanwhile, NAMM member retailers led the growth of Make Music Day in communities around the country, and around the world. Three NAMM Member stores – Heid Music in Oshkosh WI, The Acoustic Shoppe in Springfield MO, and Music Box Inc in Germantown TN – started up new Make Music chapters in 2024, joining 11 other NAMM retailers around the U.S. who spearhead their community’s Make Music Day. Internationally, NAMM members Showgear Online (Nigeria), Phasers International (Ghana), and Gohner (Mexico) lead their countries’ Make Music Day events.