News Releases

National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) kicks off the fourth annual “National Wanna Play Music Week” today, with nationwide music-making activities continuing through May 7. Designed to educate the public on the proven benefits of playing music, National Wanna Play Music Week aims to promote the many scientifically-proven benefits of making music and to encourage people of all ages to pick-up any type of instrument and learn how to play.

NAMM today announced details for its annual Virtual Advocacy Days Webcast, enabling its Members, associates, SupportMusic affiliates and concerned citizens the opportunity to participate in issue briefing activities that are part of NAMM’s Washington D.C. advocacy efforts on behalf of music education. This year’s briefing day will address U.S. education policy, the pending reauthorization of the U.S. education Act and advocacy for music education in federal legislative policy development.

The TEC Foundation for Excellence in Audio has announced that for the first time its 26th Annual Technical Excellence & Creativity Awards® will be held at the NAMM Show on Friday Jan. 14, 2011, in Anaheim, California. Presented annually by NAMM since 1902, the NAMM Show is the largest trade show for the international music products industry and draws close to 90,000 attendees to its exhibits and educational programs annually.

DAS LABEL/Interscope’s The Pretty Reckless was announced today by the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) as an official spokesgroup of National Wanna Play Music Week, May 3-7. Taylor Momsen, one of the stars of the CW’s hit show, “Gossip Girl,” makes her musical debut this year as the lead singer and songwriter of the The Pretty Reckless. The group appears on the lead single “Make Me Wanna Die” from the soundtrack for the action/comedy film “Kick-Ass” which opens in theatres on April 16, and will be appearing at every show on the annual Vans Warped Tour this summer.

NAMM today announced a continuation of its recent efforts to broaden attendance at Summer NAMM by inviting and allowing its Members to invite more music students, parents, music advocates and enthusiasts to the 2010 event. Called "Wanna Play Music Sunday," NAMM will open its show floor on Sunday, June 20, for these groups to see demonstrations of the latest products, watch unique live musical performances, attend valuable workshops taught by known professional musicians and talk with music products industry insiders.  

 The NAMM Foundation today announced that it is once again inviting music educators to attend “Music Education Days” being held this summer during the 2010 Summer NAMM Show in Nashville, Tenn., the music products industry's mid-year gathering from June 18-20, 2010. 

NAMM, the trade association of the international music products industry, released a new white paper addressing the enormous business changes taking place and analyzing the role trade shows play within the musical instruments and products segment today.

 NAMM, the National Association of Music Merchants, announced today that it will join the Coalition for Music Education in Canada in its sixth annual Music Monday event May 3, 2010, to demonstrate the importance of music education programs throughout North America, and to celebrate the many proven benefits of playing music for people of all ages.

 As the industry was conducting big business at the 2010 NAMM Show, college students hoping to break into the music products business were at the event learning lessons from seasoned professionals and gaining valuable insight about the trade.  For the first time, the NAMM Foundation hosted the recipients of its Music Products Industry Scholarships and President’s Innovation Awards to offer the best and brightest music product industry hopefuls first-hand industry experience at the NAMM Show.

NAMM today announced its search for a new staff director to manage market outreach and retailer promotion activities in order to increase active participation in music making. The Director of Market Development position will create and maintain national partnerships and promotions that will be executed in local markets to directly impact NAMM Member retail stores. Significant executive level music products industry experience is a key requirement.

 The NAMM Foundation announced today that it is now accepting applications for Music Products Industry Scholarships for the 2010 fall semester. The program supports individuals enrolled in college and university music education or music business programs who are preparing for careers in the music products industry.

While the 2010 NAMM Show drew thousands of music product retailers and dealers wanting to explore the latest trends and innovations from industry manufacturers, an event hosted by the NAMM Foundation called “Music Education Days” welcomed educators to attend the trade-only show and gain valuable insight about the best products that can be used specifically in school music education programs.