News Releases

Following a precipitous drop in sales between 2008 and 2009, high-end, custom, and boutique acoustic guitars are making an encouraging comeback. Headed into the 2014 NAMM Show, sales of high-end, luthier-crafted and custom acoustic instruments are at a five-year high. Guitar craftsmen and dealers point to a strengthening economy and growing pool of accomplished players for the increase in people searching for (and purchasing) their fretted Holy Grail.

The “mad scientist of electronic music,” known simply as BT, will host the NAMM Foundation’s 29th Annual TEC Awards (Technical Excellence & Creativity), Friday, Jan. 24, in Anaheim, Calif., during the NAMM Show, the music product industry’s premier event.

As the global music products industry prepares for the biggest NAMM Show in five years, the industry looks forward to the all-encompassing live music experience and networking opportunities that are completely unique to NAMM. Live performances range from the NAMM GoPro Stage on the Grand Plaza headliners Jonny Lang, Sheila E., and Robby Krieger to surprise product demos throughout the show floor featuring some of the greatest musicians, DJs and producers of our time.

Tim Lautzenheiser, VP of Education for Conn Selmer (left) and Richard Crain, President Board of Directors, Midwest Clinic (far right), flank Joe Lamond (center), president and CEO of the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM). Lamond received the Midwest Clinic's Music Industry Award  for his outstanding support of music education. Among his accomplishments on behalf of music education, Lamond was honored as instrumental in creating the NAMM Foundation, which serves as the philanthropic arm of the association, raising funds to support NAMM’s mission.

The personalities, products and emerging technology fueling today’s electronic dance music (EDM) fever play a central role as the NAMM Show returns to the Anaheim Convention Center January 23 – 26, 2014. More than 300 brands will debut the next generation of DJ-related gear at the 2014 NAMM Show making the event a must-attend for brands and buyers looking to predict and profit from EDM’s bright future.

The NAMM Foundation has announced 10 historic 20th-century musical and sound inventions ranging from 1915 through 1998 that will be inducted to its ninth TECnology Hall of Fame. Inventions that have greatly impacted the audio, sound and recording industries will be presented Saturday, January 25, 2014 as part of The NAMM Show’s H.O.T. Zone.

Continuing its commitment to advancing participation in music making, The NAMM Foundation is supporting a research project in collaboration with the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities and its Turnaround Arts program. Turnaround Arts expands music and arts education in low-performing schools with the goal to close the achievement gap and increase student engagement using high quality, integrated arts education.  

NAMM members will have access to the most essential menu of professional enrichment sessions in the NAMM Show’s history when the world’s leading trade event for the music-products industry returns January 23-26, 2014. The Anaheim Convention Center will light up with technological savvy, marketing innovations, and fresh business approaches at Retail Boot Camp, the NAMM Idea Center, the H.O.T. Zone, and iconic Breakfast Sessions.

The NAMM Foundation will help send 56 recipients of the NAMM President’s Innovation Award to the 2014 NAMM Show in Anaheim. The graduate and undergraduate students, all of whom are pursuing careers in the music industry, will receive cash awards to attend the annual trade show Jan. 23-26, where they will explore careers from industry leaders. Awardees will participate in professional development offerings and have access to more than 1,400 exhibits at this global music products trade show

The NAMM Foundation’s 15th annual Best Communities for Music Education (BCME) survey is open for participation by school districts and schools across the country. The survey acknowledges and celebrates U.S. schools and districts for their commitment to and support of comprehensive music education in schools. Nearly 2,000 schools and school districts participated in the survey last year, resulting in a record number of designations.

Increased influence in the rapidly growing Russian market Both shows will take place at Sokolniki Exhibition and Convention Centre in order to provide continuity to the industry NAMM Musikmesse Russia International Fair for Musical Instruments, Sheet Music, Music Production and Music Business Connections 11 to 14 September 2014, Sokolniki Exhibition and Convention Centre, Moscow

The NAMM Foundation has finalized nominees for the 29th Annual Technical Excellence & Creativity Awards. Nominees across 30 technical and creative categories include production teams for artists such as Adele, Bruno Mars, and Daft Punk, as well as for television and film projects such as Game of Thrones and Argo, and for interactive games such as Assassin’s Creed. The awards ceremony is set for Friday, Jan.