National Association of Music Merchants

Last updated
National Association of Music Merchants
AbbreviationNAMM
Formation1901;123 years ago (1901)
Founded at New York City, United States
Type Nonprofit
Legal statuscompany
Purposetrade association
Headquarters5790 Armada Drive
Location
Coordinates 33°07′40″N117°19′02″W / 33.127646°N 117.317136°W / 33.127646; -117.317136
Membership (2023)
15000
President & CEO
John Mlynczak [1]
Website www.namm.org
Formerly called
National Association of Piano Dealers of America

The National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) is a not-for-profit global trade association dedicated to the music products industry. Originally founded in 1901, NAMM is headquartered in Carlsbad, California, and represents 15,000 global member companies and individual professionals.

Contents

History

In 1901, 52 members of the National Piano Manufacturers Association of America formed the National Association of Piano Dealers of America (NAPDA) to unite and promote legitimate piano makers and sellers in New York City at a time when many unscrupulous dealers were selling cheap knock-offs as better and more expensive brands. The organization lobbied heavily in Washington, D.C. to establish fair practices in musical instrument marketing. [2] The organization's first annual trade show and convention was held in Baltimore, Maryland the following year with membership dues at $5.00 per store. [3] In 1912, the NAPDA became the National Association of Piano Merchants of America (NAPMA).

By 1919, after the popularity of early jazz and the marching band music of John Philip Sousa had convinced many piano merchants to produce full lines of band instruments. The NAPMA renamed itself National Association of Music Merchants, or NAMM. [2] NAMM's main focus became music education and fair trade, [4] with NAMM pledging $250,000 in 1920 toward the establishment of a national conservatory of music in the US. [5]

NAMM membership grew from 154 members in 1936 to 554 members in 1941, and in 1946, NAMM headquarters moved to 28 East Jackson Blvd in Chicago. [4]

In 1967, NAMM membership had grown to 1,000. In 1984, NAMM relocated its headquarters from Chicago to Carlsbad, California. [4]

In 1996, NAMM established the NAMM Resource Center to preserve the history of the music products industry, and in 2000 founded the NAMM Oral History Program, an oral history project and archive of recordings of interviews with people from all aspects of the music industry, including music instrument retailers, musical instrument and product creators, suppliers and sales representatives, music educators and advocates, publishers, live sound and recording pioneers, innovators, founders, and musicians.

In 2006, NAMM was granted membership admission to the International Music Council (IMC). [6]

By 2015, NAMM membership had reached 10,000 members. [4]

Trade shows

The NAMM Show is a major music products industry trade show held annually in Anaheim, California. The NAMM-sponsored show typically hosts product exhibits and educational seminars. First held in 1902 as the NAPDA Convention, the NAMM Show is the largest and longest-running music product trade show in the world, [7] with over 2,000 exhibitors and 115,888 attendees in 2020. [8] A smaller convention, NAMM Summer Session, typically takes place in June or July in Nashville. [9]

From 2012 until 2018, NAMM also held NAMM Musikmesse Russia in Moscow, which took place concurrently with Prolight + Sound Russia. [10]

Charitable activities

The NAMM Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that advances active participation in music-making by supporting scientific research, philanthropic giving and public service programs. Incorporated in 2006, [4] the NAMM Foundation is a supporting organization of NAMM, and is funded by NAMM members through trade association activities and private donations. [11] The foundation has a grant program that donates to related programs, advocacy, and research worldwide. [12] Together with the NAMM market development department, between 1994 and 2022 the foundation has reinvested over $200 million in support of music education and to promote music making. [13] [14]

In 1997 NAMM established the International Foundation for Music Research (IFMR), [15] which later became the NAMM Foundation Research Division.

In 1998, the NAMM Foundation established the Museum of Making Music , a museum dedicated to the accomplishments and impact of the people who make, sell, and use musical instruments and products, and the museum was opened to the public in March 2000. [16] [17]

Also beginning in 1998, the Foundation began an annual recognition of schools and their districts with its Best Communities for Music Education award. [18]

Other activities

NAMM supports lobbying efforts in support of the music products industry, as they did in 1964, when William R. Gard, Executive Vice President of NAMM, spoke at a U.S. Congress Ways and Means Committee hearings in support of repealing the 10% Federal Excise Tax on musical instruments that was part of the Revenue Act of 1941. [19]

In 1966, the first film underwritten by NAMM for the American Music Conference (AMC), Bringing Music into the Classroom was released. [4]

In 1993, NAMM funded the research by physicist Gordon Shaw and psychologist and cellist Frances Rauscher at the University of California Irvine into what’s been called the Mozart effect — which suggested classical music could have a short-term benefit on cognitive performance. [7] The NAMM Foundation continues to support the Institute for Music and Neurologic Function, which was founded by the late neurologist Oliver Sacks to research the link between music and neurological conditions including strokes, trauma, dementia, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. [7]

Beginning annually in 2005, NAMM has coordinated the Music Education Advocacy D.C. Fly-In, which brings a coalition of NAMM members together in Washington D.C. to meet with members of the U.S. Congress in support of funding music education in public schools as outlined in the Every Student Succeeds Act. [20] [21] [22] [23]

NAMM has also organized coalitions to advocate for the music products industry in relation to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, or CITES. [24] [25]

Partnerships

In 2018, NAMM announced partnerships with the Audio Engineering Society (AES) [26] and with the Entertainment Services and Technology Association (ESTA), [27] and in 2020, NAMM joined the World Entertainment Technology Federation (World-ETF). [28]

Awards

NAMM has established a number of awards to recognize individuals, institutions, and organizations for contributions to music, with its highest honor, the NAMM Music for Life Award, recognizing individuals and organizations that demonstrate support for promoting music education and creating more active music-makers, with the NAMM Music for Life Award awarded to such varied recipients as singer/songwriter Nanci Griffith, [29] former politician and music education advocate Mike Huckabee, [30] former National Endowment for the Arts chairman Bill Ivey, [31] songwriter Kara DioGuardi, [32] Kenny Loggins, [33] Mark Ronson, [34] and Brian Wilson, among others. [35]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MIDI</span> Electronic musical instrument connection standard

MIDI is a technical standard that describes a communication protocol, digital interface, and electrical connectors that connect a wide variety of electronic musical instruments, computers, and related audio devices for playing, editing, and recording music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fender (company)</span> American musical instrument manufacturer

The Fender Musical Instruments Corporation is an American manufacturer and marketer of musical instruments and amplifiers. Fender produces acoustic guitars, bass amplifiers and public address equipment; however, it is best known for its solid-body electric guitars and bass guitars, particularly the Stratocaster, Telecaster, Jaguar, Jazzmaster, Precision Bass, and the Jazz Bass. The company was founded in Fullerton, California, by Clarence Leonidas "Leo" Fender in 1946. Andy Mooney has served as the chief executive officer (CEO) since June 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trade show</span> Exhibition for companies of a specific industry to present their new products

A trade show, also known as trade fair, trade exhibition, or trade exposition, is an exhibition organized so that companies in a specific industry can showcase and demonstrate their latest products and services, meet with industry partners and customers, study activities of rivals, and examine recent market trends and opportunities.

National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM) is an Indian non-governmental trade association and advocacy group that primarily serves the Indian technology industry. Founded in 1988, NASSCOM operates as a nonprofit organization and serves as a key entity within the Indian technology sector.

The NAMM Show is an annual trade show in the United States organized by the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM), which describes it as "the industry’s largest stage, uniting the global music, sound and entertainment technology communities". It is typically held in January at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Buchla Electronic Musical Instruments</span> Synthesizer and MIDI controller manufacturer

Buchla Electronic Musical Instruments (BEMI) was a manufacturer of synthesizers and unique MIDI controllers. The origins of the company could be found in Buchla & Associates, created in 1963 by synthesizer pioneer Don Buchla of Berkeley, California. In 2012 the original company led by Don Buchla was acquired by a group of Australian investors trading as Audio Supermarket Pty. Ltd. The company was renamed Buchla Electronic Musical Instruments as part of the acquisition. In 2018 the assets of BEMI were acquired by a new entity, Buchla U.S.A., and the company continues under new ownership.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tom Lee Music</span>

Tom Lee Music is a musical retail company, Tom Lee Music Hong Kong was founded in 1953 by Thomas T.V. Lee. Tom Lee Music Canada was founded in 1969 and operate independently from the Asia operation. The Canadian head office is located in Vancouver. Tom Lee Music Hong Kong has 15 stores in Hong Kong and 1 in Macau. The thirty thousand square feet flagship store in Tsim Sha Tsui is one of largest musical instruments and accessories retailers in South East Asia, offering the most extensive range of product including pianos, guitars, amplifiers, percussion, electronic keyboards, music publications, professional and personal audio products. Tom Lee Music also offers the Yamaha Music Program. In 1960, Tom Lee Music became the exclusive distributor of Yamaha musical instruments and audio equipment in Hong Kong. The Canadian operation operates 12 locations across Canada under the Tom Lee Music and Steinway Piano Gallery names.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Museum of Making Music</span> Music museum in Carlsbad, California

The Museum of Making Music, is a division of the National Association of Music Merchants' NAMM Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization located in Carlsbad, California. The museum opened to the public on March 5, 2000. Its mission is to "explore the accomplishments and impact of the music products industry through educational and interactive exhibitions and programs and directly connect visitors with hands-on music making."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">American Meat Institute</span> Former trade association representing the U.S. meat and poultry industry

The American Meat Institute (AMI) was the oldest and largest trade association representing the U.S. meat and poultry industry. In 2015, it was merged into the North American Meat Institute (NAMI).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yamaha Entertainment Group</span>

Yamaha Entertainment Group of America, is a division of the American subsidiary of Yamaha Corporation. It is based in Franklin, Tennessee and was created and developed in 2001 by Vice President Chris Gero. YEG is responsible for the development and advancement of Yamaha brand name through numerous artist-related activities worldwide, which includes endorsements, artist imaging, artist marketing, concert production, media operations, piano logistics, tour support, product placement, artist related publications, artist website development and strategic alliances.

The TEC Awards is an annual program recognizing the achievements of audio professionals. The awards are given to honor technically innovative products as well as companies and individuals who have excelled in sound for television, film, recordings, and concerts. TEC is an acronym for Technical Excellence and Creativity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NAMM Oral History Program</span> Interviews with music products industry

The NAMM Oral History Program is an oral history project and archive of recordings of interviews with people from all aspects of the music products industry, including music instrument retailers, musical instrument and product creators, suppliers and sales representatives, music educators and advocates, publishers, live sound and recording pioneers, innovators, founders, and musicians.

The Music Trades is a 133-year-old American trade magazine that covers a broad spectrum of music and music commerce, domestically and abroad. Founded in New York City in 1890, it has been based in Englewood, New Jersey, since the mid-1970s. The Music Trades is one of the oldest continuously published trade publications in the world. The May 2024 issue — Vol. 172, No. 4 — is about the three thousand one hundred and thirty-third issue. A controlling ownership over the last 94 years — seventy-one percent of the publication's total age — has been held by three generations of the Majeski family; few publications have been as long closely held by a single family.

Jamstik™ is a brand of portable, app-connected (MIDI) guitars made by Zivix, a music technology company based in Minneapolis, MN. The guitars are designed in Minneapolis and manufactured by a contract manufacturer based in South Dakota, United States.

Menchey Music Service, Inc. is a family-owned chain of eight musical instrument stores in Pennsylvania and Maryland. From its store locations and through direct arrangements with schools, Menchey Music sells and rents musical instruments and accessories, offers music lessons, and provides musical instrument repair.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chesbro Music Company</span>

Chesbro Music Company is a privately owned American manufacturer and wholesaler of musical instruments, musical instrument accessories and sheet music. Chesbro Music was founded in 1911 and is based in Idaho Falls, Idaho. Chesbro owns Teton Guitars, and has been run by female CEOs since 1953.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robert Wilson (music entrepreneur)</span>

Robert Allan David Wilson, MBE, born in 1951 in the Scottish Borders, is an entrepreneurial business leader, musician and philanthropist. He lives in Knebworth, Hertfordshire. He was awarded an MBE in the 2016 Queen's New Years Honours for services to the music industry and charity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andertons Music Co.</span> English musical instrument retailer

Andertons Music Co. is a musical instrument retailer based in Guildford, Surrey, England. Its online store is one of the United Kingdom's top 150 e-commerce sites, with sales approaching $40 million per year. It is widely known among guitarists for video demonstrations by owner Lee "The Captain" Anderton, Rob Chapman, and Peter Honoré a.k.a. "Danish Pete". It also partly owns Chapman Guitars alongside Monkey Lord Ltd, which is in turn owned by Rob Chapman and his wife Natassja Chapman. Lee Anderton is also an investor in multiple musical equipment brands, including Victory Amplification, EastCoast Guitars, Burns Guitars London, Landlord FX, and Ordo.

The Women's International Music Network (WiMN) is an organization that provides support, information, and community for women within the music industry. Founded in 2012 by Laura B. Whitmore, the WiMN produces and hosts events, workshops, and panels, including the She Rocks Awards.

The Australian Music Association (AMA) is an industry association for the music products industry in Australia, established in 1977. Its predecessor was the Australian Music Trades Association (AMTA). It hosts events such as the Melbourne Guitar Show and Sydney Drum and Percussion Show, and initiated Australian involvement in Make Music Day in 2018, now celebrated annually. The AMA published the magazine Australian Musician in print from 1995 until 2012, and online between 2014 and July 2023.

References

  1. ↑ Mitchell, Kevin (5 August 2023). "John Mlynczak". Front Of House Magazine. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
  2. 1 2 Hunter, Dave (18 January 2019). "NAMM: The greatest show on Earth?". Guitar.com. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
  3. ↑ Frederic, E.M. (30 January 2019). "NAMM 2019 – Believing In Music For Over A Century". The Hollywood Times. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "NAMM Timeline". NAMM.org. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
  5. ↑ "Senators Favoring Conservatory Hail Merchants' Action". Musical America. 6 March 1920. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
  6. ↑ "NAMM Admitted to International Music Council". 30 November 2006. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
  7. 1 2 3 Duffy, Thom (20 January 2016). "NAMM: A Mecca for Musical Gearheads - Don Was To Receive The Les Paul Award". Billboard. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  8. ↑ "A New Decade, A Crossroads of Opportunity: The NAMM Show, The Global Platform for Innovation in Music Products, Pro Audio and Entertainment Technology Returns to Anaheim". NAMM. 20 January 2020. Retrieved 30 January 2024.
  9. ↑ Lecaro, Lina (24 January 2019). "NAMM Show Returns to Anaheim Convention Center, Bigger and Better Than Ever". LA Weekly. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
  10. ↑ "NAMM Musikmesse Russia to return to Moscow for Seventh Annual Fair". NAMM.org. 26 March 2018. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
  11. ↑ "Sir Elton John Yamaha/NAMM Concert Raises $330,000 for Music Education Charities". namm.org. 25 February 2003. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  12. ↑ "The NAMM Foundation Announces $675,000 in Grants to Music Education Programs Worldwide". namm.org. 6 July 2017. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  13. ↑ "NAMM Foundation Announces $482.5K Given in Grants in 2022". musicincmag.com. 23 September 2022. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
  14. ↑ Schneider, Marc (19 January 2024). "Executive Turntable: NAMM Foundation Losing Luehrsen; Norwegian Lines Up a Music Cruise Captain". Billboard. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
  15. ↑ "International Foundation for Music Research Re-Opens Funding Opportunities on Re-Launched Web Site". NAMM.org. 16 August 2002. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
  16. ↑ "About the Museum of Making Music in Carlsbad, California". www.museumofmakingmusic.org. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
  17. ↑ "Another Hidden Gem in Carlsbad - The Museum Of Making Music". The Vista Press. 17 February 2022. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
  18. ↑ "The NAMM Foundation Announces 25th Year of Best Communities for Music Education Program". NAMM.org. 24 October 2023. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
  19. ↑ United States House of Representatives (15 July 1964). U.S. Congress House Committee on Ways and Means: Hearings Vol. 1, 88th Congress, 2nd Session, 1964, Part 3. 88th Congress, 2nd Session, 1964. p. 577. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  20. ↑ "NAMM Advocates for Music Education". musicconnection.com. 19 September 2022. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
  21. ↑ Ferrisi, Dan (15 July 2016). "Largest Ever NAMM Fly-In Builds On Past Successes". Music & Sound Retailer. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
  22. ↑ Heil, Emily (22 May 2018). "Cause Celeb: 'Madam Secretary' actor Erich Bergen lobbies for arts education". Washington Post. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  23. ↑ "Chili Peppers' Chad Smith To Lobby Congress On Importance Of Music Education". Look To The Stars. 7 March 2013. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  24. ↑ "NAMM Presents Industry Coalition at CITES Conference of the Parties to Address Musical Instruments and CITES Protected Species". NAMM.org. 15 November 2022. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
  25. ↑ Barber, Chip; Clowes, Austin (22 March 2017). "Guitar Industry Grapples with Trade Restrictions on Rosewood, One of its Most Prized Timbers". forestlegality.org. Retrieved 29 January 2017.
  26. ↑ Wissmuller, Christian (11 May 2017). "AES to Join the 2018 NAMM Show". mmrmagazine.com. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
  27. ↑ "ESTA and NAMM Reaffirm Alliance for The 2019 NAMM Show". NAMM.org. 16 April 2018. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
  28. ↑ Wissmuller, Christian (14 October 2019). "NAMM Joins World-ETF". mmrmagazine.com. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
  29. ↑ Morris, Edward (10 July 1993). "Nashville Scene". Billboard. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
  30. ↑ Hudson, Wayne T. (2010). Metamorphosis: Unapologetically Finding Hope in Changing Political Parties. Lake Mary, Florida: Creation House. ISBN   978-1-61638-144-8.
  31. ↑ "Vanderbilt's Ivey wins lifetime award from NAMM". vanderbilt.edu. 20 July 2009. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
  32. ↑ "Kara DioGuardi Earns NAMM's "Music For Life" Award". American Songwriter. Jan 2011. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
  33. ↑ Tangcay, Jazz (3 June 2022). "NAMM Honors Kenny loggins With Music For Life Award". Variety. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
  34. ↑ Aswad, Jem (19 January 2024). "Mark Ronson to Receive Music for Life Honor at NAMM Show" . Retrieved 29 January 2024.
  35. ↑ Gallo, Phil (29 November 2011). "Exclusive: NAMM to Honor Brian Wilson For Music Education". Billboard. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.