Music Trades articles from April 2008

Music Trades archives from April 2008

Consistency in ranking methods required.(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
April 1, 2008... In your most recent ranking of the Top 225 Global Music Products firms [Dec. 2007] Roland Corporation was listed as the fourth largest company with revenues of $495 million. A year ago [Dec. 2006), you ranked Roland as number two with revenue...

Competition redefines in-store education.(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
April 1, 2008... Having been in the organ business with multiple Hammond Organ store locations on the North Shore of Boston, I would agree with Bob Popyk that finding a niche or reinventing yourself with teaching is a good path to travel. These days, however,...

Imports stabilize in 4th quarter.(IMPORT TRACKER: What's Coming Into The U.S. And From Where?)
April 1, 2008... FULL-YEAR IMPORT DATA FOR MUSIC and audio products coming into the U.S.A. point to some industry segments that are far outperforming the economy at large and others that have clearly fallen victim to softening consumer spending. When all the...

Too many stores too few shoppers.(Industry Briefings)
April 1, 2008... The growth rate of personal consumption has declined for the third year in a row through 2007, the first time that has happened since consumption slowed for three straight years through 1991, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis. This...

iTunes now number two music seller.(Industry Briefings)
April 1, 2008... iTunes is now the second-largest music retailer in the U.S., behind Wal-Mart. The research firm NPD Group announced that Apple's digital music store has jumped ahead of Best Buy to take the No. 2 slot, just a few months after the...

Musical diplomacy in North Korea.(Industry Briefings)(Concert review)
April 1, 2008... The unprecedented concert of the New York Philharmonic in North Korea on February 26 made the world's front pages the following day, but in North Korea merited only brief mention in the main communist daily. North Koreans, more used to music...

Wal-Mart says consumers want brands.(Industry Briefings)
April 1, 2008... Wal-Mart has been reducing the shelf space it allocates to private label goods. While private label goods are theoretically attractive, offering consumers lower prices and retailers higher margins, the world's leading retailer is increasingly...

The cost of shop lifting.(Industry Briefings)
April 1, 2008... U.S. retailers lost more than $40 billion to theft in 2006, which equaled 1.6% of retail sales and was up $3 billion from 2005, according to the National Retail Federation, a trade group.

Stop chasing after more customers.(EDITORIAL)
April 1, 2008... At any industry gathering, talk inevitably gravitates towards how to expand the market. Some suggest an industry-wide marketing blitz to raise consumer awareness. Others call for innovative new technologies to generate excitement. Still others...

Ford & Fender team up for limited-edition guitar/car: 40th anniversary shelby comes standard with a Carroll Shelby autographed strat.(FOREFRONT)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] FORD MOTOR COMPANY and Fender Musical Instruments Corp. made some noise together at the 37th annual Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Event in Scottsdale, Arizona, January 12-20, racking up more than $88 million in sales...

Line 6 acquires X2 digital wireless.(FLASH)
April 1, 2008... LINE 6, INC., the industry leader in modeling technology for music products, has acquired X2 Digital Wireless Systems, one of the leading manufacturers of digital wireless systems for musical applications. The acquisition gives Line 6 access to...

Eminence & Yamaha celebrate collaboration.(FOREFRONT)
April 1, 2008... YAMAHA CORPORATION of America recently received a citation from Eminence Speaker company heralding the two firms' longstanding relationship. Eminence inducted Yamaha into its Million Dollar Club, which celebrates its most loyal customers, but...

King brand featured in black football exhibit: Conn-Selmer.(FOREFRONT)
April 1, 2008... THE KING 2350 SOUSAPHONE is part of a new display, "Blood, Sweat, and Tears: The History of Black College Football," featured in The College Football Hall of Fame. Here visitors experience the struggle, hard work, and triumph of...

Haspod named top Seymour Duncan rep.(FOREFRONT)
April 1, 2008... ZIGGY HASPOD of Monster Marketing was the recipient of Seymour Duncan's Rep of the Year Award for 2007. Seymour Duncan Vice President of Sales Rick McClendon commented, "Ziggy has been an outstanding performer since he began working for Seymour...

D'Addario expands with new distribution center & wire making joint venture: investments in distribution to improve dealer service and wire machinery to create coated strings.(FOREFRONT)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] INVESTING IN CONTINUED growth, the D'Addario company has opened an expanded distribution center to provide more timely and cost-effective deliveries. Simultaneously, the diversified accessory manufacturer has formed...

XP Audio opens expanded plant.(FLASH)
April 1, 2008... XP AUDIO, INC., manufacturer of Motion Sound keyboard sound systems and Forge bass amplifiers, is moving into a new 20,000-square-foot facility. The move comes as the Motion Sound keyboard amp division has seen a significant increase in sales...

Stars, musicians, and tradition guitars big winners at lone star film fest.(FOREFRONT)
April 1, 2008... TRADITION GUITARS, a fast-growing independent guitar company, was honored by film festival producers for Outstanding Backline Support at the Lone Star International Film Festival held in Fort Worth, Texas, November 7-11. [ILLUSTRATION...

Family retains restructured co.: B. Portnoy.(FOREFRONT)
April 1, 2008... B. PORTNOY CLARINET accessories has reorganized after the passing of founder Bernard Portnoy. Sons Carey and Richard Portnoy now run the business out of Brea, California, and a warehouse in Tucson, Arizona, where all product inspection,...

Hanser Music teams with new St. Louis sales firm.(FOREFRONT)
April 1, 2008... HANSER MUSIC GROUP has partnered with US Music Sales LLC, a newly formed rep firm in St. Louis, Missouri, specializing in musical instrument phone sales and customer ser vice across the U.S. The group consists of five professionals with a...

Talking tabs play-it-now distributed by Charles Dumont.(FLASH)
April 1, 2008... TALKING TABS has signed a national distribution agreement with Charles Dumont and Son for its Play-It-Now series of individual song lesson CDs. Songs are by popular artists including The Beatles, KISS, Eric Clapton, Black Sabbath, Lynard...

Vintage guitars gain position in U.S. market.(FOREFRONT)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] IN A YEAR SINCE bringing John Hornby Skewes' Vintage guitar line to Canada, Musical Instruments Distribution Canada has seen the line take off in 140 retailers nationwide. As exclusive distributor for Vintage guitars...

Highland distribution rights acquired: Power Group.(FOREFRONT)
April 1, 2008... POWER GROUP LTD., an Ontario, Canada-based distributor of musical instruments and professional audio products, has been awarded North American distribution rights for the Highland Guitar line of acoustic, electric-acoustic, and electric...

Scott Hough named Rep of the Year: Galaxy Audio.(FOREFRONT)
April 1, 2008... SCOTT HOUGH of Griffith Sales was awarded Galaxy Audio's Rep of the Year award in Anaheim at the annual Rep Dinner hosted by Galaxy for their sales associates in Anaheim, California. Fairly new to Galaxy Audio, Hough and Griffith Sales have...

Kanstul horn promotion rewards innovative dealers.(FOREFRONT)
April 1, 2008... SIX RETAILERS got the chance to play Santa Claus during the Christmas season as part of an unusual Kanstul Musical Instruments promotion to launch its new 1537 B-flat trumpet. Under the promotion, select dealers invited key customers in to test...

Gabbanelli wins $500K in trademark infringement case.(FOREFRONT)
April 1, 2008... THE UNITED STATES District Court for the Northern District of Illinois ruled that Ditta Gabbanelli Ubaldo Di Elio Gabbanelli and Master Sound Di Ciuccomei Maximiliano & C. S.n.c. infringed Gabbanelli Accordion & Imports, LLC's federally...

Natalie Murphy signs on as endorser: Barcus-Berry.(FOREFRONT)
April 1, 2008... BARCUS-BERRY, a manufacturer of transducer/preamp systems and acoustic-electric violins, has announced a new endorser, Natalie Murphy, violinist for GB Leighton. Murphy, who plays Barcus-Berry's Vibrato-AE violin in Red-Berry Burst and the...

Gear selected for Grammy telecast: JBL.(FOREFRONT)
April 1, 2008... SELECTED FOR THE ABILITY to meet the requirements of the most demanding professional applications, JBL loudspeakers were used in the arena and monitoring rooms of the 50th annual Grammy Awards telecast on February 10 at the Staples Center in...

Rico Reeds: kick off year-long 80th anniversary fest.(FOREFRONT)
April 1, 2008... 2008 MARKS THE 80TH anniversary of the celebrated Rico Reed brand. The company has already kicked off a year-long series of concerts and events to raise awareness of the new Reserve line of saxophone and clarinet reeds In conjunction with...

Publicly traded industry firms.(FOREFRONT)
April 1, 2008... PUBLICLY TRADED INDUSTRY FIRMS PRICE AS OF P/E MAR. 5, 2007 RATIO Apple Computer Inc. $123.89 27.17 Avid Technology $24.56 ...

Ernie Bali's Global Warming Guitar.(FOREFRONT)
April 1, 2008... ERNIE BALL/MUSIC MAN auctioned oft its one-of-a-kind Global Warming Guitar, an incredibly elaborate guitar boasting plenty of creative global warming kitsch that was originally created for and played by Chris Guest at the 2007 Live Earth global...

Exclusive U.S. distributor named: GIG-FX.(FOREFRONT)
April 1, 2008... GIG-FX, INC., has selected Musical Distributors Group of New Jersey as its exclusive distributor for the United States. "MDG is an experienced distributor that is growing because of its policy of product focus," said gig-fx CEO Jeff...

Senseney music changes hands: ensuring continuity, longtime employee Lori Supinie buys out founder Denny Senseney.(RETAILER UPDATE: NEWS FROM THE RETAIL FRONT LINES)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] IN A SEAMLESS OWNERSHIP transition, Senseney Music founder Denny Senseney has announced the sale of his Wichita, Kansas-based retail operation to longtime employee Lori Supinie. The sale is scheduled to take place...

Best Buy opens second music store in Minneapolis.(RETAILER UPDATE: NEWS FROM THE RETAIL FRONT LINES)
April 1, 2008... THREE MONTHS AFTER opening a musical instrument store-within-a-store at its Richfield, Minnesota location, Best Buy Co. Inc. opened a second musical instrument store in the Minneapolis metro area at its Roseville store. The company now operates...

Independent dealer groups merge: IMRA and MusicStoreOwners.com join forces to strengthen retail network.(RETAIL UPDATE)
April 1, 2008... THE DIRECTORS OF MusicStoreOwners.com (MSO), the popular web forum for indie music merchants, have joined the board of the Independent Music Retailers Association (IMRA). By unanimous vote, the directors of MSO and the interim IMRA executive...

Frank & Camille's hosts competition auditions on Disklaviers.(RETAIL UPDATE)
April 1, 2008... NEW YORK PIANO retailer Frank & Camille's sponsored the 22nd Young Artist Competition open to Nassau, Suffolk, and Queens county piano students. Students through grade 12 were invited to compete for cash prizes and the opportunity to perform...

Fraud investigation launched as piano experts appears to close.(RETAIL UPDATE)
April 1, 2008... THE BIASCO FAMILY ONCE AGAIN is at the center of controversy as dozens of customers have come forward to claim that they paid for pianos that were never delivered. Chicago authorities are investigating potential wrong doing on the part of...

Local artists star in percussion clinic: Cascio Interstate Music.(RETAILER UPDATE)
April 1, 2008... CASCIO INTERSTATE MUSIC in New Berlin, Wisconsin, held a World Percussion Clinic on February 3, 2008. Featuring three percussion artists from well-known Milwaukee groups, the two hours and 15 minutes of performances and demonstrations made for...

Keyboard Concepts opens in high-traffic Agoura Design Center.(RETAILER UPDATE)
April 1, 2008... KEYBOARD CONCEPTS has opened a new piano superstore on the north side of the famous 101 Freeway in the brand-new Agoura Design Center. Previously located in Thousand Oaks since 1997, this Ventura County/northwest Los Angeles County store is now...

Had a senior moment lately? Believe it or not, science shows that making music is like the fountain of youth! How to translate these findings into new business.(BOB POPYK ON SELLING)
April 1, 2008... Forgetting things like where you left your keys or the name of your colleague's youngest child? Well, the good news is that experiences like these are perfectly normal, and no, they don't mean you're getting Alzheimer's. "The signs of early...

The music industry cencus.(2008 MUSIC INDUSTRY CENSUS)
April 1, 2008... Between the housing crisis and the credit crunch, there were ample reasons to expect disappointing results in 2007. Yet, outperforming expectations, the industry managed to eke out a tiny gain. While overall industry sales remained virtually...

The top 125: the definitive ranking of the music products industry's top suppliers. A varied list that includes the global, the local, hi-tech, Iow-tech, and more than a few enterprises that defy easy classification.(THE TOP 125 MUSIC & AUDIO SUPPLIERS)
April 1, 2008... Presenting the roster of the industry's 125 largest suppliers by sales serves a few purposes. We are all drawn to scorecards--sports stats are among the most accessed data on the internet--and the Top 125 appeals to this need. It clearly...

Numark: a knack for reviving struggling brands has transformed a DJ company into one of the industry's hi-tech leaders.(Company Of The Year)
April 1, 2008... Everyone loves "second acts" and dramatic comebacks, where the hero triumphs over impossibly long odds. These are the kinds of story lines that make for stirring drama in movie theaters. Unfortunately, in real life, they are exceedingly rare,...

Marty Albertson: with billions of dollars on the line, why the board of directors designated him Guitar Center's "Indispensable Man".(Person Of The Year)
April 1, 2008... Successfully completing a blockbuster $2.1 billion buyout in the midst of a credit crunch that scuttled scores of similar deals, or keeping a large and complex retail business moving forward in an unforgiving economic climate are the kinds...

The Line 6 POD: in the nearly ten years since its introduction, the POD has become a huge seller and changed the way guitarists make music.(Product Of The Year)
April 1, 2008... The two most overused adjectives for describing products in the music industry are "classic" and innovative." To judge by the press releases that cross our desk, twelve months on the market is enough to confer "classic" status, and a new paint...

Beating the market: economic challenges are hardly news to anyone who can flip on a television set. Yet the companies profiled below managed to overcome the problems with a combination of good marketing, innovative new products, and sheer determination. Herewith, a look how they managed turn in such standout performances.(THE TOP 125 MUSIC & AUDIO SUPPLIERS)(Company overview)
April 1, 2008... Electro-Harmonix + 28% LITERALLY A VULGAR pejorative, "Hazarai," means idiomatically "with the works," as one might order a hot dog "with everything." Electro-Harmonix' new Stereo Memory Man with Hazarai--which combines an echo, a...

Where to find them: a directory of the top 125 suppliers.(THE TOP 125 MUSIC & AUDIO SUPPLIERS)(Directory)
April 1, 2008... Akai Professional Tel: 401-658-3131 www.akaipro.com Alesis Corp. Tel: 401-658-5760 www.alesis.com Alfred Publishing Co. Tel: 818-891-5999 www.alfredpub.com Allen Organ Company Tel: 610-966-2202 ...

Jim Cavanaugh to head Cavanaugh Company.(PEOPLE: MOVERS AND SHAKERS)
April 1, 2008... JIM CAVANAUGH has been appointed president of The Cavanaugh Company, only the third to hold the post in the company's history. At 33, he takes over from his father, John V. Cavanaugh, who will become the company's chairman. "I look forward to...

Terry West new President/CEO: Pearl.(PEOPLE: MOVERS AND SHAKERS)
April 1, 2008... PEARL CORPORATION has promoted Terry West to President/CEO of Pearl Corporation USA. West has been an integral member of Pearl since 1987, when he joined the company as art director. He has since managed several different aspects of Pearl...

Nestler promoted to director of sales: Korg USA.(PEOPLE)
April 1, 2008... KORG USA, exclusive U.S. distributor of Korg, Marshall, and VOX, has named industry veteran Douglas E. Nestler director of sales. In his new position, Nestler will focus on driving sales for Korg USA and its dealer network in various...

Buffet Crampon realigns sales and marketing teams.(PEOPLE)
April 1, 2008... BUFFET CRAMPON USA, INC., has announced its 2008 sales and marketing teams. The sales team comprises division managers and inside sales associates for six regions of the United States and three regions of Canada. Cliff Bennett III,...

Michael Palmer joins Allen & Heath: American Music & Sound.(PEOPLE)
April 1, 2008... MICHAEL PALMER has been named national sales manager for Allen & Heath Products in the United States, distributed by American Music & Sound. Palmer has more than 20 years' experience in the audio industry, having served as director of sales and...

Newell Hardy named district sales manager: Pearl River.(PEOPLE)
April 1, 2008... MUSIC INDUSTRY veteran Newell Hardy has been named Pearl River district sales manager for the area encompassing Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kansas, and Missouri. With 25 years of expertise in music sales and management, Hardy brings...

Auralex taps Martin to head sales.(PEOPLE)
April 1, 2008... TO FULLY SERVICE the needs of its customers, Auralex Acoustics recently named Tim Martin director of sales for its growing sales team. Martin brings to Auralex a long history of professional experience in sales, consulting, and leadership. ...

Topolewski joins sales team: Antigua Winds.(PEOPLE)
April 1, 2008... ANTIGUA WINDS has named Brendan Topolewski to a newly created position of sales coordinator. "Growth in the acceptance of the Antigua brand created a need for greater sales support to the professional sales team and Antigua's extensive dealer...

Neely new development manager: Community Professional.(PEOPLE)
April 1, 2008... Loudspeakers has announced the appointment of Ron Neely to the position of development manager. In his new position Neely will be charged with the management of engineering project schedules, coordinating new product introductions, and...

Takamine offers limited-edition "Earth" guitar.(PRODUCTS: THE LATEST AND GREATEST IN NEW PRODUCT INTRODUCTIONS)
April 1, 2008... TAKAMINE "PAYS TRIBUTE to Mother Earth" with its new LTD2008 limited-edition guitar. The LTD2008 depicts planet Earth, as seen from the surface of the moon, suspended in the blackness of space and illuminated in crescent by the rising sun. The...

Van Halen speakers available worldwide: Celestion.(PRODUCTS: THE LATEST AND GREATEST IN NEW PRODUCT INTRODUCTIONS)
April 1, 2008... EDDIE VAN HALEN'S EVH Brand 5150III amplifier is designed to deliver ultimate Van Halen tone through matching 5150III 4x12 cabinets loaded with Celestion G I2 EVH speakers. Now those speakers, originally produced exclusively for the EVH Brand...

Sabian APX cymbals cut through the hardest rock.(PRODUCTS: THE LATEST AND GREATEST IN NEW PRODUCT INTRODUCTIONS)
April 1, 2008... APX IS THE NEW professional cymbal series from award-winning sound innovators Sabian. Featuring a design that delivers a super-bright, intensely-loud, robust, and focused response with extreme cutting power, APX can be heard in any style of...

Vater percussion's POP stimulates drumstick sales.(NEW PRODUCTS)
April 1, 2008... VATER PERCUSSION'S new display unit attractively displays Vater's "Best Sellers" stick models and accessories within a compact two-square-foot space. The display features graphics of Vater artists, with stick selection and manufacturing process...

Q8 bi-amped monitor now shipping: Equator.(NEW PRODUCTS)
April 1, 2008... FOLLOWING ITS DEBUT at the winter NAMM show, the Q8 bi-amped monitor from Equator Audio is now shipping. The Q8 has the power and accuracy of its larger siblings but in a much smaller, less expensive package. Each unit is a perfect cube...

Neorebel series five-piece kits: Peace.(NEW PRODUCTS)
April 1, 2008... THE NEW PEACE Neorebel series kits with matching, painted hardware are made to revolutionize the drumset the way the bikini did for swimwear. Underneath the rebellious, high-fashion exterior lurks a five-piece power rock kit, the de rigueur...

Brazilian percussion line introduced: Latin Percussion.(NEW PRODUCTS)
April 1, 2008... THE LP BRAZILIAN LINE is expanding to include essential percussion to generate a range of samba patterns at Carnaval, relaxed and grinding grooves for the funky partido alto and lovers' serenades in sultry bossa novas. The LP Brazilian...

Worldmax offers new powder coated lugs in three colors.(NEW PRODUCTS)
April 1, 2008... WORLDMAX USA is now offering three colors of powder coating (red, white, and yellow) on certain lugs and counter hoops in addition to the new Satin and Aztec Gold plated finishes. These are in addition to the stock chrome, black, and brass...

Levy's new designer and basket-weave straps.(NEW PRODUCTS)
April 1, 2008... REDESIGNED FOR 2008, Levy's leather Basket-weave guitar straps are made with 2" leather basket-weave on a polypropylene webbed backing. Model MT8BW is available in 11 colors. New in Levy's Designer guitar strap category line are cotton...

Wyman's double leg upright offers unique elegance.(NEW PRODUCTS)
April 1, 2008... WYMAN PIANO COMPANY introduced its new 46" Wyman Pianoforte Vertical Model WV118DL upright piano at the NAMM show in January. This new instrument is finished in classic polished ebony with tasteful polished chrome accents. The beautiful...

Drapesters protective guitar covers: Lanthum Products.(NEW PRODUCTS)
April 1, 2008... LANTHUM PRODUCTS, LLC, an innovative product design company based in Los Altos, California, has introduced a hot new accessory for guitarists. Drapester guitar covers provide stylish, easy-to-use protection from dust and direct sunlight for...

SKB-PDU12 power distribution unit: SKB.(NEW PRODUCTS)
April 1, 2008... NEW FROM SKB is the SKB-PDU12 Power Distribution Unit, designed for professional guitar rack systems and custom pedal board builders. The SKB-PDUI2 includes 12 discrete outputs in a 1U rack design. The unit can power the pedals in a guitar rack...

Remo signature congas with matching heads.(NEW PRODUCTS)
April 1, 2008... REMO HAS ADDED Skyndeep Graphic drumheads to the Poncho Sanchez and Jimmie Morales congas so that the heads now match the drums' Designer's Touch finishes. Skyndeep heads produce excellent sound with warm open tones and bright slaps tones....

Video camera/digital recorder adapter: Music People.(NEW PRODUCTS)
April 1, 2008... NEW FROM ON-STAGE Stands is the CM01 Video Camera/Digital Recorder adapter. When attached to any 5/8" 27-threaded microphone stand this innovative adapter supports a video camera or digital recorder (Marantz PMD620, Zoom H2, H4, and Edirol R09)...

New Grapic Equalizer: Spyn Audio.(NEW PRODUCTS)
April 1, 2008... DESIGNED FOR ANY audio application, the EFD-814 Professional Graphic Equalizer from Miami-based Spyn Audio is an exceptional equalization tool for customizing the listening environment and minimizing unwanted feedback. The built-in feedback...

Randall's new G3 plus series high-octane tube amps.(NEW PRODUCTS)
April 1, 2008... RANDALL AMPLIFIERS has introduced the new G3 Plus Series of heads, speaker cabinets, and combos. Utilizing the tone circuit of the premier V2 & T2 amplifiers, the G3 Plus Series provides an even higher level of performance without the cost of a...

Latest edition blue books released: Blue Book Publications.(NEW PRODUCTS)
April 1, 2008... BLUE BOOK PUBLICATIONS has introduced the new 11th editions of the Blue Book of Acoustic Guitars and the Blue Book of Electric Guitars, written by Zachary R. Fjestad and edited by S.P. Fjestad. These new books provide the reader with the most...

Flightcase BG-300 bass amp. Phil Jones Bass.(NEW PRODUCTS)
April 1, 2008... PHIL JONES BASS has unveiled a new compact bass amp combo model, the Super Flightcase BG-300. Like its smaller brother, the Flightcase BG--150, this amp provides amazing power and performance-to-weight ratio. It not only has great acoustic...

Galaxy any spot traveler.(NEW PRODUCTS)
April 1, 2008... THE ANY SPOT TRAVELER (AS-TV8) from Galaxy Audio is a new battery-operated portable PA system. With an 8" woofer, 1" horn, and 50-watt amplifier, this compact system can be configured in a variety of ways to meet the user's specific needs. ...

Yamaha to distribute BG Franck Bichon in Canada.(NEW PRODUCTS)
April 1, 2008... YAMAHA HAS BEEN appointed as the exclusive Canadian distributor for the entire family of woodwind accessories from BG Franck Bichon S.A.R.L. The deal follows similar agreements with Yamaha for distribution of BG brand accessories in Germany,...

New Hameln line strikes a balance: Phoenix Musical.(NEW PRODUCTS)
April 1, 2008... PHOENIX MUSICAL Instruments, has been distributing since 2001 and has supplied thousands of woodwind and percussion instruments to music stores throughout the U.S. The company has just unveiled a new line of band instruments bearing the brand...

Fusion, Studio 7.2, and EZ Vinyl Converter 2: MixMeister.(NEW PRODUCTS)
April 1, 2008... MIXMEISTER, A LEADING developer of software products for the DJ market, has introduced MixMeister Fusion and MixMeister Studio 7.2. The Fusion and Studio updates for Windows include streamlined performance and features. This release marks the...

Al Vizzutti Signature Trumpet: Yamaha.(NEW PRODUCTS)
April 1, 2008... YAMAHA CORPORATION of America, Band & Orchestral Division, has introduced the Allen Vizzutti Signature Artist Model Trumpet. The YTR-9335VS Bb trumpet was developed by Yamaha trumpet artist Allen Vizzutti and Yamaha Artist Services, Inc. Band &...

Universal Radical guitar shape gig bag: Kaces.(NEW PRODUCTS)
April 1, 2008... HOW MANY TIMES HAVE YOU (or your customers) searched for a gig bag to fit a radically shaped electric guitar and come up empty-handed? With the new Kaces Universal Radical Electric Guitar Bag, your search is over. From Flying V to Warlock to...

Acoustic Guitar's value-added approach: String Letter Publishing.(NEW PRODUCTS)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] STRING LETTER Publishing has announced that in addition to its award-winning Acoustic Guitar magazine and newly redesigned Acoustic Guitar website, it now brings highly valued guitar-related information directly to...

Starclassic Bubinga Cordia drums: Tama.(NEW PRODUCTS)
April 1, 2008... TAMA WAS THE FIRST major drum maker to craft all-bubinga drumsets. The rich-grained but difficult-to-work-with wood had previously been used only as an attractive drum veneer. While other drum makers followed somewhat later with their own...

Mini Me Traveler guitar: Wayne Guitars.(NEW PRODUCTS)
April 1, 2008... WAYNE CHARVEL HAS CREATED the one-of-a-kind Wayne Mini Me Traveler AX. Brand new for 2008, this custom shop, hand-built, made-in-the-USA guitar offers exceptional quality and the playability. According to master guitar builder Wayne Charvel,...

Chris Roberts signs on as endorser: Sierra Guitars.(NEW PRODUCTS)
April 1, 2008... CHR[S ROBERTS, guitarist and singer-songwriter of One Flew South, is the newest endorser of Sierra Guitars. Roberts plays the Sequoia Dreadnought in Vintage Sunburst and the Northstar 12-string acoustic guitar. "I am so happy to be a part...

Alfred releases 2008 Guitar Rock Charts.(NEW PRODUCTS)
April 1, 2008... ALFRED PUBLISHING has introduced a new songbook celebrating the best songs of the year: Rock Charts Guitar 2008: Deluxe Annual Edition. For guitarists, the Rock Charts series is a great source for the biggest hits from the greatest artists...