Summer NAMM 19 rocked Nashville
An in-depth immersion in the
music industry
By Preshias Harris for Country Music News International Magazine & Radio Show
Summer NAMM 2019 is now one for the
history books, but once again, it was a three-day ‘Musical Mecca’
for anyone whose life revolves around the world of music.
I was there for all three days at
Nashville’s Music City Center. Although I have attended Summer NAMM
many times (and occasionally the even larger ‘winter’ NAMM in
Anaheim, California) it was a joy to experience the excitement
through the eyes and ears of the emerging singers and songwriters who
accompanied me to this year’s event.
NAMM is a trade-only business show
catering to domestic and international dealers and distributors.
However, for the second year running, Saturday was designated the
‘Make Music Experience,’ an all-day, all-access event for music
enthusiasts to demo the latest music and pro audio gear from top
manufacturers.
Once again, the Make Music Experience
was a ‘Who’s Who’ of Nashville’s musical talent with
well-known recording artists and musicians mingling with the non-pro
visitors who were able to get a taste of what the music industry is
all about.
In addition to visiting the booths of
500+ exhibitors and more than 1,500 brands, the Experience offered
attendees a robust lineup of sessions curated for emerging artists to
build successful — and sustainable — careers. The sessions
included a masterclass with John Oates (of Hall & Oates) titled
‘Unleashing and Maximizing the Hit Songwriter in You.’ Another
seminar offered was titled ‘Why Is Music Free and How Can We Get
Back on Track.’ Attendees were busy scribbling notes or recording
the words of wisdom on their phones.
Fender and Kala offered group jam
sessions at the Guitar and Uke Circles. These sessions were designed
to teach the basics of each instrument and have participants playing
even if they had no previous experience.
NAMM always brings some surprises and
this year was no exception. At the Gibson booth, you could find a
spectacular throne made entirely of guitars. Maybe not really
comfortable to sit on, but super cool! Maybe the gift for the
musician (or record label exec) who already owns everything else!
Meanwhile, at the Timberline booth, they were proudly displaying
their unique T20HGc 12-string harp guitar.
There was plenty of live music to be
heard, of course! The NAMM Avid Stage on the Terrace provided live
music all afternoon, across multiple genres in a fun and relaxed
setting. The region’s top talent (including 2019 Grammy nominee Lee
Ann Womack) created an electric atmosphere and an all-around good
time.
The three-day show attracted 16,001
registered attendees, a 7% increase, and notably, accounted for a 32%
increase in international attendees.
All facets of the of the music industry
were represented, including AVID, BOSS, Hal Leonard, TransAudio,
Martin Guitar, Fender, Gibson, Yamaha, Casio, Ultimate Ears and a
collection of leading plug-ins at Software.NAMM. New exhibitors
accounted for nearly 200 companies and included the likes of British
Drum Company, GO Pedal Boards, Maton Guitars, Whitestone Audio
Instruments, and many others.
“For those of us in the instrument
business, a trip to planet NAMM is as close as most mortals will ever
come to landing on the moon. NAMM imposes maximum distraction,
sensory overload, and atmospheric deprivation on all who enter. Once
on the NAMM floor, all thoughts of the outside world fade away and
the blue planet is but a mere memory.” – Epiphone spokesperson.
More about Epiphone at NAMM at http://www.epiphone.com.
It’s never too early to plan ahead!
The next (winter) NAMM will be held in Anaheim, CA, January 16-19
2020. The Summer NAMM will be back in Nashville July 9-11, 2020.
Mark your calendar and plan to be there. More about NAMM here
https://www.namm.org
Read the official Summer NAMM wrap-up
report here
https://www.namm.org/summer/2019/articles/annual-mid-year-gathering-keeps-industry-strong
About NAMM:
The National Association of Music
Merchants (NAMM), established in 1901, is the not-for-profit
association that strengthens the $17 billion global music, sound and
entertainment technology products industry. Our association and trade
shows serve as the crossroads for professionals seeking the newest
innovations in music, recording technology, sound and stage products.
In addition to access to our trade shows, membership also includes
the latest industry news and education, opportunities for music
advocacy and cost-saving programs to help businesses thrive. All of
these activities and programs are designed to promote music making
for people of all ages, creating a more musical world.
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