News Releases

The National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) announced today that its National Music Store Appreciation Day returns to local communities on a larger scale this year with National Music Store Weekend. Held May 6 to May 8 as a special three-day celebration, local music stores will host open houses nationwide and encourage aspiring music makers to take that first step toward playing and singing.

Better known for her elegant charm and enviable red carpet couture, multi-award-winning actress Halle Berry was recognized for her lesser-known role as a flutist, in a national survey commissioned by the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM). According to survey results, Berry was hailed as America’s favorite “Unexpected Musician,” a personality not primarily known for playing a musical instrument with a majority of 29 percent.

In a year that saw budgetary crises and partisan conflict at all levels of government, the NAMM Foundation today announced the results of its 12th annual Best Communities for Music Education (BCME) survey, which acknowledges schools and districts across the U.S. for their commitment to and support for music education in schools. In all, 179 communities out of 279 that submitted surveys were recognized, including 172 school districts and seven schools. 2011 marks the first year that individual schools received this impressive designation.

The National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) kicked off the fifth anniversary of its National Wanna Play Music Week today, an effort to inspire people of all ages to pick up an instrument and experience the fun and benefits of making music. The week kicks off today with “Music Monday,” featuring more than 2,000 schools, organizations and individuals across North America who will be demonstrating their musical talents by performing the designated “Music Monday” songs or a song of their choice.

The National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) today announced that the winning teen band of this year’s SchoolJam USA competition called Peligro 614 recently had the opportunity to travel to Germany to perform at the SchoolJam Germany finals competition onsite at Musikmesse 2011.

The National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) today announced that during the month of May NAMM Member retailers who are enrolled in the GE Money Music program can offer their customers a 12-month deferred interest promotion with a lower dealer rate in celebration of the association’s National Wanna Play Music Week. The limited promotion is available to customers who purchase at least $499 in merchandise, and saves the NAMM Member retailer over 20 percent off of the standard 12 month deferred interest promotion.

The NAMM Foundation announced today that it hosted several music-related events at the National School Boards Association (NSBA), held this past weekend in San Francisco, Calif., to show its support of school music education and demonstrate to school board members the benefits of children actively participating in school music programs.

A recent nationwide Gallup poll found that 85 percent of Americans who don’t currently play a musical instrument wish that they did. Additional studies have shown that playing a musical instrument positively impacts children’s cognitive skills, in addition to building confidence, self-discipline, and helping kids and teens connect socially with their peers. One’s life-long musical journey begins at home and is nurtured at the local music store.

The National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) today announced its support of three upcoming popular music festivals to demonstrate to music enthusiasts of various ages and demographics the fun and benefits of playing music. Through its support of the Vans Warped Tour ‘11, Country Throwdown Tour 2011 and the 2011 Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival, NAMM will be highlighting its core message on festival websites and in various communications that making music is fun for people of all ages and has many proven social, wellness and academic benefits for everyone.

The National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) today announced that schools, after-school programs, musical groups or individuals who would like to encourage others across North America to play an instrument or sing can now register for NAMM’s Music Monday event, the kickoff to the association’s fifth annual National Wanna Play Music Week May 2-8, and play a song in order to motivate people to experience the fun and proven benefits of playing an instrument.

Messe Frankfurt, producers of the International Musikmesse, Music China, Prolight + Sound, and Prolight + Sound Shanghai, and NAMM, producer of the NAMM Show and Summer NAMM, announced today that they will be co-producing new shows in Russia in May of 2012. The new shows will be called NAMM Musikmesse Russia and Prolight + Sound NAMM Russia and will take place in Moscow's Expo Centre from 16 to 19 May 2012.  

Wanna Play Music Day, which will be held on Saturday July 23 during 2011 Summer NAMM (July 21-23, 2011) in Nashville will get some additional promotional help from several of the leading musician-targeted consumer magazines in the industry thanks to a new alliance announced today by NAMM, and publishers New Bay Media and Modern Drummer Publications.