News Releases

On Thursday, May 19, the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) and representatives from its membership will travel to Sacramento to join arts leaders and music educators to ask members of the California Assembly for their support in updating the state’s Visual and Performing Arts standards (VAPA). The state’s existing VAPA standards were last updated in 2001 and leave students without access to modern curriculum, instruction, and materials in the arts.

The National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) invites musicians, songwriters, sound and recording professionals, music educators and students to experience Summer NAMM during Music Industry Day. Held on Saturday, June 25 at Nashville’s Music City Center, Music Industry Day will open the doors to NAMM’s members-only tradeshow to learn and connect at professional workshops, see the latest in new gear from leading musical instrument manufacturers, and to enjoy a multitude of artist performances and events.

The National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) is honored to announce the final selections for 2016’s Top 100 Dealer Awards. Now in its sixth year, the Top 100 Dealer Awards spotlight the very best industry retailers who demonstrate exceptional commitment to their stores, neighborhoods and customers, and play an important role in acting as music making ambassadors in their communities.

Summer NAMM is on its way to Nashville, June 23-25, and with it, a robust education program from NAMM U, the industry’s only professional development program. Featuring a series of excellent speakers, how-tos, and strategies, 2016 Summer NAMM will host the biggest ideas and best practices for those in music retail covering the hot topics of  marketing, store design, websites, music lessons, customer experience, finance and more.

Make Music Day, the annual global celebration featuring more than 3,000 free, outdoor musical events in the United States, returns this year on Tuesday, June 21. This day-long event will see the participation of over 35 U.S. cities - nearly twice as many as last year - hosting major events, including New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston, Nashville, Seattle, Portland (OR), Madison (WI), Philadelphia, Detroit, Denver, Cleveland, Washington DC, St. Louis, Chattanooga, Minneapolis/St.

NAMM Musikmesse Russia, an international fair for musical instruments, sheet music, music production and music business connections, and Prolight + Sound NAMM Russia, an international fair of technologies and services for entertainment, integrated systems and creation, will return to Moscow’s Sokolniki Exhibition and Convention Centre from September 15-18, 2016.

On Thursday, May 26, U.S. Secretary of Education John B. King joined Mary Luehrsen, executive director of public affairs of the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) for the organization’s SupportMusic Coalition webinar. On the live call, Secretary King discussed the new federal education law, the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) and its goals for all children to receive a well-rounded education.  Listen to the call in its entirety, here. 

This week, 476 school districts across the United States are being recognized by the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) Foundation as among the Best Communities for Music Education (BCME), out of the nation’s 13,515 school districts. Now in its 17th year, BCME recognizes outstanding efforts by teachers, administrators, parents, students and community leaders who work together to ensure access to music learning for all students as part of the school curriculum.

NAMM members will head to nation’s capital May 23-26, 2016, furthering the case that all children deserve quality, comprehensive school music education programs. With the recent passage of the federal education law – the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) – leaders of the music product industry, artists and other industry influencers will meet with their Members of Congress to thank them for their efforts in passage of the bill and to reinforce the importance of music being listed as part of a well-rounded education for all children.

The inspiration begins here for the global music products industry as registration and housing open for Summer NAMM held June 23-25, 2016 at Nashville’s Music City Center. The annual summer music industry gathering brings together major buying power and the hottest brands in the heart of Music City. With a wider range of professional development offerings and many new and first-time exhibitors, Summer NAMM 2016 is sure to provide a wealth of valuable opportunities.

Music education opportunity is expanding in 19 of the nation’s most high-risk schools and districts thanks in part to ongoing Turnaround Arts support from the NAMM Foundation. Grants to the tune of $142,550 for musical instruments and music classroom materials support the current group of Turnaround Arts schools; the NAMM Foundation has awarded music education grants to all Turnaround Arts schools since its beginning in 2010.

NAMM invites music product retailers worldwide to be recognized for their various contributions to the industry at the sixth annual Top 100 Dealer Awards nominations open. The Awards, which applaud excellence and innovation in music products retailing will be presented Friday, June 24 during Summer NAMM in Nashville.