News Releases

The NAMM Foundation is honored to welcome legendary bassist, educator and author Victor Wooten to its board of directors. In the role of director-at-large, Wooten will serve a three-year term to help guide the work of the nonprofit organization and fulfill its vision: creating access to and advance participation in music making across the lifespan.

CARLSBAD, CALIF., JULY 19, 2023 – NAMM Young Professionals (NAMM YP) and Women of NAMM (WON) recently elected new leaders to continue serving NAMM members on behalf of the music products, sound and entertainment technology industries. NAMM Young Professionals (NAMM YP) has elected two new members to its board of directors. Matthew Kennedy, director of strategic initiatives at C.F. Martin & Co., and Ryan Kotrlik, retail and combo manager at Beacock Music and Education Center, will serve three-year terms with the organization.

The NAMM board of directors has elected a new executive committee to continue the organization’s legacy of service to NAMM members and the industry at large.  

NAMM’s retail members are now welcome to submit their successful ideas, new innovations and best practices for the annual Top 100 Dealer Awards. Returning for its 13th year, the awards will be held at The 2024 NAMM Show, January 25–28, in Anaheim, Calif. Submissions close on July 25.  

The NAMM Foundation is pleased to announce that three award programs are now open for application. These programs offer support to attend The NAMM Show for college students exploring careers in music, college faculty creating innovative music business curricula, and mid-career music business professionals striving for career advancement. Information about applying is available at nammfoundation.org.

NAMM Foundation Vice Chair, CFO of the Gretsch Company, and founder of Mrs. G’s Music Foundation Dinah Gretsch has announced a donation to The NAMM Foundation of $300,000. The gift, a multi-year pledge of $100,000 for three years, will support the growth of The NAMM Foundation’s GenNext program. For more than 10 years, the GenNext program has served college-aged emerging professionals and faculty with a pathway to discover a fulfilling career in the music and creative industries.

At the recent 2023 NAMM Show in Anaheim, CA, the TEC Tracks program included the session “Brandi Carlile on Producing and Uncovering the Artist in the Studio,” which featured Carlile (a 9x GRAMMY® Award-winning singer, songwriter, performer, producer, No. 1 New York Times Bestselling author and activist) in conversation with 4x GRAMMY-winning producer/engineer Dave Way (Fiona Apple, Ringo Starr, Phoebe Bridgers, Echo in the Canyon, Sheryl Crow, Pink, “Weird Al” Yankovic).

On its bridge back to January, The 2023 NAMM Show reunited the global music products, pro audio, and entertainment technology industry in a special session. Held at the Anaheim Convention Center over April 13-15, the three days welcomed the launch of new products, business opportunities, and valuable reconnections as the industry regains its momentum in the post-pandemic economy.

Last night at The 2023 NAMM Show, a standing-room-only crowd at The TEC Experience celebrated twenty-one innovative technical achievement products and technologies, and one studio design project as a part of the NAMM Technical Excellence & Creativity (TEC) Awards. The NAMM TEC Awards are bestowed annually in celebration of the pro audio community and recognizes the individuals, companies, and technical innovations behind today’s sound recordings, live performances, films, television, video games, and other media. View the recipients below.  

At the upcoming NAMM Show in Anaheim, CA (April 13-15), the TEC Tracks education program will present “Brandi Carlile on Producing and Uncovering the Artist in the Studio,” which will feature Carlile in conversation with producer/engineer Dave Way (Fiona Apple, Ringo Starr, Phoebe Bridgers, Echo in the Canyon, Sheryl Crow, Pink, “Weird Al” Yankovic). The session will take place on Thursday, April 13, 1:00-1:50 p.m. PDT, in room 204A&B on the second level of the Anaheim Convention Center.

NEW YORK –  Make Music Day, the worldwide festival of making music held annually on the summer solstice, today announced the return of its vast program with over 4,000 live, free music-making events across the United States on Wednesday, June 21.

Lord Finesse, legendary artist, producer extraordinaire, and member of the iconic hip-hop crew Diggin' In The Crates (D.I.T.C.), will open The TEC Experience at The 2023 NAMM Show, April 13, in Anaheim, California. Consistently named as one of hip-hop's most influential producers and heralded DJs, Lord Finesse will be the vibe curator performing an eclectic DJ set celebrating Hip Hop 50 at the TEC Experience, an evening honoring the people and products advancing music.