NAMM NeXT Europe Unites the European Music Products Industry With Inaugural Event

CARLSBAD, CALIF., June 10, 2025 – NAMM (The National Association of Music Merchants), the largest global non-profit music trade organization, has announced the conclusion of NAMM NeXT Europe, a regional summit focused on insights and analysis to shape the future of the European music industry. More than 60 European company leaders gathered at the conference, which was held at the Marriott Hotel Grand Place in Brussels, Belgium, on June 4-5, 2025. 

"After the success of our inaugural NAMM NeXT event in Nashville last year, we wanted to expand globally with a similar event in Europe to unite European leaders and associations — from NAMM member companies to industry partners — around the common goal of strengthening the global music products industry,” said John Mlynczak, president and CEO of NAMM. “The NAMM NeXT Europe event demonstrated why the global music products industry is stronger when we work together to share ideas and focus on how to create more music makers worldwide.”

NAMM NeXT Europe featured sessions with experts from inside and outside of the music business and focused on driving conversations that will take the global industry to the next level. Attendees participated in keynotes, panel discussions and workshops that allowed for a deeper look into critical business issues. NAMM NeXT Europe was proudly supported by nine European music industry associations, including: AVHN, BDMH, CAFIM, Comusica, CSFI, Dismamusica, EMIA, MIA, and SOMM.

The Brussels event featured strategic working groups, along with presentations including:

• John Mlynczak, President & CEO, NAMM: NAMM NeXT Supports Global Cooperation and Partnerships

• Jacob Funk Kirkegaard , Senior Fellow – Bruegel & Peterson Institute: Economics, Trade and Tariffs 

• Rutger Oldenhuis, Founder, RecallDesk: EU Compliance Regulations That Affect the Music Industry 

• Manel Punti, Chair of the EMIA Steering Committee: A Unified Voice for the MI Industry in Europe 

• Anthony Short, Executive Director, Music Industries Association: How Changing Consumer Behavior Is Reshaping the MI Industry  

One of the primary goals for NAMM NeXT Europe was to unite NAMM member communities and partners from across Europe and share insights that NAMM members can take back and implement in their regions.

"Our music products industry, both professional and consumer, is always stronger when we work together toward common goals,” said James Gordon, CEO of Audiotonix. "To be part of this inaugural event, in Brussels, that combines outside-the-industry shared knowledge with inside-the-industry perspectives to help our industry’s growth was very impactful. We can’t wait to participate and support future events.”

"Working with NAMM and this event allowed me to share our global trade expertise to music industry leaders, who can now take these complex issues and business practices back to their headquarters for implementation,” said Jacob Funk Kirkegaard, senior fellow at Bruegel & Peterson Institute for International Trade. "I participate in global conferences frequently, and I was impressed with the diverse group of leaders from so many countries uniting to better their industry through NAMM NeXT.”

The NAMM NeXT format will continue as an investment in the global music industry at large and be held annually in a variety of event formats. As with this year’s Brussels event, future NAMM NeXT events will focus on helping the music industry grow by elevating the companies and people while tackling current business issues.

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