NAMM Show 2014 - Music

 

(C) 2014 by Rych McCain, All Rights Reserved. No part of this column may be reprinted, re-posted or duplicated without written permission from Rych McCain Media/Syndication. Violation is subject to applicable laws.

NAMM Show 2014 - Music

By Rych McCain International/Nationally Syndicated Entertainment Columnist

By Rych McCain, www.twitter.com/rychmccain and Facebook (Like me)

The 2014 NAMM Show

Was Business And Fun Again!

By Rych McCain, www.twitter.com/rychmccain and Facebook (Like me)

  They came from all over the globe to meet, greet, drink, eat, play music, sing, learn and get caught up on the latest in musical instruments and technology. Yes we are talking about the 2014 National Association of Music Merchants otherwise known as the NAMM Show that took place Jan 23-26 at the Anaheim, CA. Convention Center. More than 5,000 brands seeking a global buying market set up camp on the convention floor offering their services and wears. Expanding product categories such as technology-driven music products and emerging brands elevated the extravaganza to its largest and most diverse editions yet.

     According to Joe Lamond, president and CEO of NAMM, the show is the global platform for the music products industry and is an annual check-up for what is happening in the music marketplace worldwide. This event offers it all i.e., a wide buying selection, networking with industry pros, informative workshops and plenty of party style socializing. Retail merchants hook up with distributors and suppliers and the crowds flock to the booths ready to try things out and buy. Many new products that are introduced for the first time to the public are done so at NAMM. The lucky one’s who snap them up are usually ahead of the pack because those products won’t hit retail shelves generally until 6 to 8 months later. Retailer Richard Ash, CEO of Sam Ash Music comes to not only seek what’s new but he is also looking for new companies that come out of the woodwork with a product that will break through to the marketplace. He says that for a musician, it’s the ultimate kid in a candy store thing. The general buying traffic was higher this year then it has ever been and the merchants were tickled pink.

    

Sheila E

The live entertainment over the four day stretch included performances by Sheila E., Jonny Lange, Gaby Moreno and Robby Krieger’s Jam Kitchen. Muriel Anderson’s all star guitar night was a SRO packed event at the Anaheim Marriott Platinum Ballroom. Friday’s TEC Awards ceremony welcomed industry insiders to honor sound production and performance pros, while DJ’s live in action along with acoustic artists, drum circles and more carried out the entertaining portions. 

Robby Krieger

    

Smokey Robinson

    

   The Thursday opening morning Breakfast of Champions was address by West Music Company President/CEO Robin Watenta. Motown legend and music icon Smokey Robinson was on hand to receive NAMM’s highest honor the “Music For Life” award.

     There were 303 new exhibiting companies added to the show this year with a 6% increase from international attendees. 636 exhibitors from 49 countries made up more than one-third of the total exhibiting companies. Because today’s technology has opened the door for less musically inclined people to jump into the game, traditional instruments of every shape and size share the NAMN show stage with high-tech wunderkind brands and the latest DJ products. The two worlds are more interconnected than ever before due to the new and different ways people make music now.

    The excitement will continue in Nashville when Summer NAMM returns to the beautiful Music City Center July 17-19. NAMM’s international event will happen in Russia September 11-14 and ProLight + Sound NAMM Russia September 11-14. The NAMM show returns to Anaheim on January 22-25, 2015.

© 2014 Rych McCain Media/Syndication TM 

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