An in-depth immersion in the music industry
By Preshias Harris
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.
The Make Music Experience
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 & Kala’s Guitar & Uke Circles
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. You can see a video of Jamie Dupuis playing ‘Live And Let Die’ on a Timberline Harp Guitar at YouTube here.
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.
200 ‘new’ exhibitors
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 here.
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.
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.
Preshias Harris is a music journalist and music career development consultant with the emphasis on new and aspiring artists and songwriters. Her book, ‘The College of Songology 101: The Singer/Songwriter’s Need to Know Reference Handbook’ is available at www.collegeofsongology.com Follow her blog at www.nashvillemusicline.com