News Releases

On Wednesday, October 6, generous arts, civic and music patrons gathered to enjoy an evening of musical performance by GRAMMY® Lifetime Achievement award-winner, acclaimed musician, and trailblazer, Emmylou Harris.

Today, The National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) announced that The NAMM Show, the annual “family reunion” of the global music, sound, and entertainment technology industry, will reconvene in Anaheim, California at the Anaheim Convention Center on June 3–5, 2022.

From insightful, business-advancing professional development sessions and member-focused networking events to the latest in new gear from established and emerging brands, industry friends and colleagues reconvened in Nashville last week for Summer NAMM (July 15-16), the first in-person event for the industry in 18 months. Filled with optimism for the future, NAMM members gathered to invest in their businesses, reconnect with their industry relationships, and discover the connections, tools, and strategies to help inspire innovation and reignite business in a post-pandemic world.

Earlier today, NAMM announced the finalists for the 37th annual NAMM TEC (Technical Excellence and Creativity) Awards. The announcement coincided with the first day of Summer NAMM, where pro audio professionals and leading industry brands gathered, creating the ideal setting to recognize and celebrate the innovation and creativity of this year’s finalists.

Earlier this evening at Summer NAMM in a special celebration of the spirit of the independent retailer, the industry gathered at the Top 100 Dealer Awards. Now in its eleventh year, the awards honor retailers worldwide who demonstrate exceptional commitment to their stores, neighborhoods, and customers and share in a vision of creating a more musical world through their local communities. Congratulations to the following “Best of” award winners, “Dealer of the Year,” and all Top 100 honorees: Dealer of the Year: West Music Co.

At the recent NAMM Board of Directors meeting, the NAMM Board elected a new Executive Committee to continue the organization’s legacy of service to the industry at-large. In a vote, the Board of Directors elected Joel Menchey, previously NAMM’s Vice Chair and CEO of Menchey Music Service, to the position of Chair of the NAMM Board of Directors.

Earlier today at the annual NAMM Board of Directors meeting, Joe Lamond, NAMM President and CEO, shared his intention to step down as the leader of the 120-year-old trade association, effective spring 2023. Lamond, who has served at the helm of NAMM for the past 20 years, will work with the NAMM Executive Committee over the next two years to ensure a smooth transition of leadership for the association, The NAMM Show and Summer NAMM, and its other member activities.

The submission period to apply for the Bernice Ash Memorial Award is now open. The annual award, which recognizes and honors the remarkable life and legacy of Bernice Ash, a music retail visionary who spearheaded the expansion of the Sam Ash family-owned music stores, was announced earlier this year to continue her commitment to excellence in the industry.

More than 40 iconic buildings and landmarks across the U.S. including Niagara Falls will turn orange in support of Make Music Day, the annual global celebration of music occurring on June 21. Featuring thousands of free outdoor concerts, performances, music lessons and jam sessions nationwide, the all-day musical celebration on the summer solstice will be held in over 100 U.S. cities and the entire states of Connecticut, Hawaii, New Mexico, Vermont and Wisconsin.

In the first in-person event for the industry in eighteen months, Summer NAMM will return to Nashville, July 15-16, at Music City Center. The gathering, which will take place under the latest in health and safety protocols, will offer leading professional development sessions, member-focused events, and networking opportunities against the backdrop of new music and pro audio products from top brands providing connections, tools, and strategies to help reignite business.

On Tuesday, June 21, NAMM’s Museum of Making Music (MoMM) will join the global celebration of Make Music Daywith free, participatory music-making activities and the launch of its new, interactive exhibit: “What Good is Music?” Held on June 21, the summer solstice, Make Music Day is celebrated around the world in over 120 countries and 1,000 cities. The MoMM’s activities and new exhibit are open to the public, and for the day, the Museum will feature a “pay-what-you-wish” admission fee. Music-Making Activities

The National Music Council will honor iconic a cappella group Take 6 and pay tribute to music educators across America for their extraordinary service during the pandemic at the organization’s 37th annual American Eagle Awards on Thursday, July 15, 2021 at the Summer NAMM Show in Nashville.