NAMM Prepares to Host the Fifth Global Economic Summit of the Music Products Industry

NAMM, the International Music Products Association, will host the Fifth Global Economic Summit of the Music Products Industry, August 25–28, 2004, in Carlsbad, Calif. Every three years, NAMM hosts a group of key industry leaders, media and advisers to explore emerging markets, reinforce global relationships and share different visions of the path to long-term, sustainable industry growth.

“The Global Economic Summit meetings have benefited the music products industry by producing new concepts including the funding of music-brain research and the exciting new Recreational Music Making movement, among many others,” said Joe Lamond, president and CEO, NAMM. “We’re honored to host such a prestigious delegation of industry leaders. When you get this level of talent together, it’s amazing what can happen.”

Several experts are scheduled to speak on topics such as global economics, demographics, music research and supply chain management with the overall shared goal of unifying and strengthening the global music products industry and creating more music makers worldwide. Among those confirmed to speak are Dr. Lester Thurow, a professor of management and economics at MIT for more than 30 years; Jeff Jordan, senior vice president of U.S. operations for eBay; Dr. Don Hodges, a Covington Distinguished Professor of Music Education and director of the Music Research Institute at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro; John Terwilliger, vice president of market development for the Uniform Code Council and noted international consultant Sir Kenneth Robinson.

Dr. Barry Bittman and Karl Bruhn, co-founders of the Recreational Music Making and Wellness movement, will also address delegates on the concept’s progress while outlining the potential this movement holds for the industry. This concept was recognized in one of the recommendations endorsed by attendees at the Fourth Global Economic Summit, held in 2002. In addition, Summit discussion will include the advancement and refinement of the four other recommendations adopted at the 2002 meeting in an effort to form an action plan that can guide the industry both now and in the future.