Music Trades articles from August 2005

Music Trades archives from August 2005

Different countries same problems.(LETTERS)(Letter to the Editor)
August 1, 2005... I read with great interest George Gruhn's letter in the June 2005 issue regarding price discounting. I own a medium-sized retail store in Sydney, Australia, and most of the issues George addresses are happening "Down Under" as well. We have a...

Will online retailers have to collect sales tax?(INDUSTRY BRIEFINGS)
August 1, 2005... Recently, tax collectors from 18 Midwestern states met in Chicago to announce an interstate agreement to establish uniform sales tax rules. The agreement is widely seen as paving the way to force online and catalog merchants to collect sales...

Rampant bootlegging cripples music business.(INDUSTRY BRIEFINGS)
August 1, 2005... A new study conducted by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry, says that in addition to online piracy, one in three CDs sold around the world is a fake. Counterfeit CDs outsell legal CDs in 31 countries, including Spain,...

Personnel problems face Chinese industry.(INDUSTRY BRIEFINGS)
August 1, 2005... From a Western vantage point, China seems like a juggernaut, expanding its position in industries around the world. Experts worry about a major problem, however: a shortage of qualified managers. "Most Chinese companies are still state-owned....

Was reduced solar activity the secret of Stradivarius?(INDUSTRY BRIEFINGS)
August 1, 2005... Scientists from Columbia and Tennessee Universities have postulated that reduced solar output in the 17th century may have caused the exceptional musical properties of the famous Stradivarius violins. According to their research, the sun's...

Concert attendance drops 12%.(INDUSTRY BRIEFINGS)
August 1, 2005... North American concert attendance declined nearly 12 percent in the first half of 2005 despite the first drop in average ticket prices in a decade. Fans purchased 14.5 million tickets to the top 100 concert tours from January to June, according...

Sales tax and simple fairness.(EDITORIAL)
August 1, 2005... Brick-and-mortar retailers received a bit of good news in early July when a group of tax officials from 18 states met in Chicago to standardize and streamline sales tax collection procedures. The gathering has widely been seen as a first step...

Prescription for music education: properly quantifying the scope of school music is the first step towards making any improvements.(GUEST EDITORIAL)
August 1, 2005... AFTER READING Brian Majeski's thoughtful column "Time For New Tactics In Promoting Music Education?" (June Music Trades) I found myself compelled to take the bait and accept his offer to all of us to jumpstart a broader conversation on this...

Yamaha PAC division expands sales force by 40% to better serve independent retailers.(INDUSTRY FOREFRONT)
August 1, 2005... YAMAHA CORPORATION of America's Pro Audio & Combo Division (PAC) recently increased its district manager sales force by 40%. According to Vice-President and General Manager Tom Sumner the decision to add resources in the field demonstrates...

BusinessWeek design issue cover features RKS Guitars.(INDUSTRY FOREFRONT)
August 1, 2005... AMONG RECIPIENTS of the 2005 Industrial Design Excellence Awards (IDEA), RKS Guitars was doubly blessed when award sponsor BusinessWeek magazine displayed a "Neon Green" RKS guitar on its July 4, 2005 cover. According to CEO/President Ravi K....

Alice Cooper Band joins artist family.(CRAFTER GUITARS)
August 1, 2005... THE ALICE COOPER BAND has joined Crafter Guitars' artist family. The band is currently on a world tour to promote Alice's new album, "Dirty Diamond." "We are very excited to have the guys in Alice's band touring with Crafter guitars. They are...

EMG pickups pens licensing agreement with AXL in China.(FLASH)
August 1, 2005... PICKUP MANUFACTURER EMG has entered into a licensing agreement with AXL in China. Alan Liu of AXL will oversee the manufacture of EMG-designed products in Shanghai. Some of the first new products to be generated by this agreement will...

Grand openings for new China plants.(SHURE INCORPORATED)
August 1, 2005... SHURE INCORPORATED hosted the grand opening ceremony on June 6 for its two new locations in China: a manufacturing facility in Suzhou and a sales and marketing office in Shanghai. "We are all very excited about this new chapter in Shure's...

New service center improves tech support.(STEINBERG)
August 1, 2005... STEINBERG MEDIA TECHNOLOGIES GmbH has moved and expanded its U.S. customer service and technical support for the U.S. The improvements are part of a push by the new parent company, Yamaha Corporation, to enhance the user experience and simplify...

Pro-Mark & Neil Peart team up to support children's charity.(INDUSTRY FOREFRONT)
August 1, 2005... NEAL PEART, the legendary drummer with RUSH, and Pro-Mark Corporation recently joined forces to complete a promotion that raised $60,000 for a Houston-based charity. The charity, Child Advocates, Inc., works with children by providing...

ETA Systems acquired by Powervar.(INDUSTRY FOREFRONT)
August 1, 2005... ETA SYSTEMS, a division of National Biological Corporation of Twinsburg, Ohio, has been acquired by Powervar, Inc. for an undisclosed amount. ETA Systems manufactures high-quality power protection, distribution, and lighting control...

Ovation Fan Club convenes at New Hartford guitar plant.(INDUSTRY FOREFRONT)
August 1, 2005... OVER A HUNDRED die-hard Ovation guitar fans, traveling from as far away as Hawaii, convened at the Ovation plant in New Hartford, Connecticut, for a day of factory tours, product presentations, and camaraderie, capped off by an evening jam...

Reed-making machines purchased from Glotin.(RICO)
August 1, 2005... RICO HAS PURCHASED all of the single reed-making machines from French reed company Glotin. The precision reed-making machines are already in use at Rico's facilities in Sun Valley, California, and significantly increase Rico's capacity to...

Zildjian divests Malletech division to focus on core business.(INDUSTRY FOREFRONT)
August 1, 2005... ZILDJIAN ANNOUNCED on July 5 that it has divested its mallet division, including the Malletech, Essential, and Stadium series, to Leigh Howard Stevens, founder of Malletech Mallets. Craigie Zildjian, CEO, stated, "Over the past few years...

Community sound opens UK distribution site.(INDUSTRY FOREFRONT)
August 1, 2005... COMMUNITY PROFESSION LOUDSPEAKERS has established Community UK to handle the distribution of its products in the UK and Ireland. The offices opened on July 1. Distribution was previously handled by HSL Productions. Simon Stuart, managing...

Distribution of RollingRiser.(HOHNER/HSS)
August 1, 2005... HOHNER/HSS has been appointed the U.S. distributor for RollingRiser, the pre-eminent manufacturer of portable and mobile risers that are ideally suited for live performance applications in churches and schools as well as retail displays. ...

Sponsorship of Live From Home concerts.(FIRST ACT)
August 1, 2005... FIRST ACT HAS signed on as a leading sponsor for the Live From Home concert series staged by the Housing Works Bookstore Cafe in New York City. The concerts are on the third Friday of every month at the card. "We feel it's important to build...

Viscount US is now Galileo Music.(FLASH)
August 1, 2005... VISCOUNT US announced on June 24 that it has started using its U.S. corporate name, Galileo Music, for all its marketing and sales operations. Looking to put increasing emphasis on its Italian heritage, company executives announced the move at...

Over 10,000 bands enter Ernie Ball's Battle of the Bands.(INDUSTRY FOREFRONT)
August 1, 2005... OVER 10,000 BANDS entered this year's Ernie Ball Battle of the Bands Competition, where approximately 200 unsigned bands will be given the opportunity to perform live on the 2005 Vans Warped Tour. Four unsigned bands were selected to play at...

Share prices of publicly traded industry firms.(INDUSTRY FOREFRONT)
August 1, 2005... SHARE PRICES OF PUBLICLY TRADED INDUSTRY FIRMS PRICE AS OF P/E JULY 11, 2005 RATIO Allen Organ Corp. $58.00 ...

Huge Babicz guitar at music fest.(INDUSTRY FOREFRONT)
August 1, 2005... THE TENTH ANNUAL "Country Stampede" in Manhattan, Kansas, was the site of artist Glenn Shaffner's latest exhibit, a nearly seven-foot replica of the Babicz Spider guitar. The Country Stampede is an immensely popular annual event drawing...

Technical training expanded in China.(PianoDisc)
August 1, 2005... JUST MONTHS AFTER opening its first office in China, PianoDisc has expanded its technical training and support services there. "In response to rising demand for player-piano systems in China, we recently launched a series of educational...

Remo celebrates 22nd year in famed Rose Parade.(INDUSTRY FOREFRONT)
August 1, 2005... THIS YEAR'S 116th Tournament of Roses Parade marked Remo's 22 years of active collaboration with an event that celebrates musicality and creative expression. The parade was led by the thundering beat of two huge seven-foot by ten-foot...

Contest winners announced.(EDEN ELECTRONICS)
August 1, 2005... EDEN ELECTRONICS, a leader in bass amplification, has announced the winners of its recently completed Desktop Wallpaper Contest. In all, seven winners were chosen. Two prizes were awarded in each of three categories. The categories represented...

Music Industries Corp. new U.S. distributor.(ACME LIGHTING)
August 1, 2005... MUSIC INDUSTRIES CORP. is the new exclusive U.S. distributor for Acme Effects Ltd. Based in Taiwan, Acme Effects is a leading manufacturer of lighting and effects for DJ's, nightclubs, houses of worship, theaters, and other entertainment...

Sponsorship of Midwest Music Summit.(CORE ONE CREATIVE)
August 1, 2005... CORE ONE CREATIVE sponsored the Core One Tour Bus (a luxury motor coach) at the fifth annual Midwest Music Summit (MMS) July 21-23 in Indianapolis. The bus provided nonstop service from the NAMM Show at the Indianapolis Convention Center to the...

Conn-Selmer University sharpens educators' skills.(INDUSTRY FOREFRONT)
August 1, 2005... OVER 300 MUSIC EDUCATORS and music education majors from 33 states gathered at the University of Notre Dame to experience what has become the pre-eminent music education event in the industry, Conn-Selmer University. Music educators have...

Dale's drum hosts "Mapex Day" with Liberty DeVitto.(RETAILER UPDATE)
August 1, 2005... DALE'S DRUM SHOP in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, hosted "Mapex Day" on June 11 featuring Liberty DeVitto, a Mapex artist and Billy Joel's drummer. Also featured was a large selection of Mapex drums. Because Dale's is a "Destination Mapex"...

Seven new sales engineers added.(SWEETWATER)
August 1, 2005... SWEETWATER, THE AUDIO and musical instrument retailer in Fort Wayne, Indiana, has added seven new sales engineers to its staff. Stacy Borden, a Fort Wayne native, holds a B.A. in music engineering from Ball State University and is an...

McGraw autographs guitar for charity.(WEST L.A. MUSIC)
August 1, 2005... WEST L.A. MUSIC was on hand for the star studded 40th annual Academy of Country Music Awards, to donate an autographed guitar to the Academy's Charitable Foundation. West L.A. Music arranged to have McGraw sign the Epiphone acoustic guitar...

Fletcher music donates $10,000 to children's hospital.(RETAILER UPDATE)
August 1, 2005... FLETCHER MUSIC CENTERS, based in Clearwater, Florida, recently donated $10,000 to All Children's Hospital (ACH) in St. Petersburg, Florida, continuing the music company's 16-year tradition of supporting one of the nation's top 20 children's...

Pocock to head institutional sales.(SHERMAN CLAY)
August 1, 2005... DAVID POCOCK HAS joined Sherman Clay as the new director of institutional sales for the West Coast Steinway & Sons locations. For the past two years he was the executive director of the Northwest Chamber Orchestra in Seattle. Before moving to...

Scholarship & grant winners announced.(CASCIO INTERSTATE MUSIC)
August 1, 2005... CASCIO INTERSTATE MUSIC in New Berlin, Wisconsin, and the Wisconsin Federation of Music Clubs have announced the 2005 recipients of the Frank S. Cascio Music Education Scholarships and Grants. Five exceptional area high school seniors were...

"Doctors in Recital" promo nets $200,000.(SCHMITT MUSIC)
August 1, 2005... SCHMITT MUSIC of Minneapolis, Minnesota, held its "Doctors in Recital" event at its Sioux Falls, South Dakota, location for the second year, resulting in net sales of $200,000. Two more physicians joined the list of performers, bringing the...

SRO concert/clinic for drummer Mike Mangini.(KIDDER MUSIC)
August 1, 2005... IT WAS STANDING ROOM ONLY on the evening of June 21 when Kidder Music of Sterling, Illinois, hosted an in-store drum concert and clinic with world-class drummer Mike Mangini. Mangini was full of energy and enthusiasm during the two-hour...

The best salespeople of all time!(BOB POPYK ON SELLING)
August 1, 2005... My short and admittedly subjective roster of the industry's greatest salespeople. I know I've left tons of deserving people off the list, so let me know. Your comments will make for a great follow-up column. A few years back I wrote a...

Meet NAMM's new chairman Dennis Houlihan: the President of Roland Corp. US becomes first supplier to hold NAMM's top elected spot, but don't expect a major shake-up. "I'm just going to tap the accelerator a little," he says.(New NAMM Leadership)
August 1, 2005... AS A 15-YEAR-OLD ORGAN prodigy, Dennis Houlihan took an after-school job as a product demonstrator at Don Smith Music & Gospel Supply in his hometown of Fresno, California. The pay was $1.50 an hour, but he concedes today that he liked the work...

The top 200: charting the trajectory of the largest retailers in the U.S.(THE TOP 200 Music Products Retailers In The U.S.)
August 1, 2005... REVENUES WERE $4.381 BILLION AN INCREASE OF 8.8% MARKET SHARE INCREASED FROM 58.3% TO 60% "With unethical practices rampant and a most vexing increase in the willingness of even reputable firms to discount, it has never been more...

Largest music retailers ranked by sales.(THE TOP 200)
August 1, 2005... THE TOP 200 LARGEST MUSIC RETAILERS RANKED BY SALES ESTIMATED REVENUES RANK % 04 03 ...

Sales per employee: making sense of the extraordinary range in employee productivity. How teachers and technicians affect the rankings.(THE TOP 200: PRODUCTIVITY BY EMPLOYEE RANKINGS)
August 1, 2005... "HOW MANY MUSIC STORE EMPLOYEES does it take to screw in a light bulb?" If the following sales-per-employee data is any indication, the answer is, "It varies depending on the store." Ranging from a high of $1.7 million in sales-per-employee to...

Productivity by employee rankings.(THE TOP 200)
August 1, 2005... THE TOP 200 PRODUCTIVITY BY EMPLOYEE RANKINGS EMPLOYEE COUNT Rank 2004 2004 2003 1 FIELDS PIANO & ORGAN 14 14 2 PIANOS...

Sales per location: now that over half of the Top 200 are selling online, it's worth asking what exactly constitutes a storefront?(THE TOP 200: PRODUCTIVITY BY LOCATION RANKINGS)
August 1, 2005... THERE WAS A TIME NOT TOO LONG AGO when a store could be defined as a physical space filled with inventory and staffed by people hired to sell it. In the era of the internet, it's not so simple anymore. There are still no shortages of...

Productivity by location rankings.(THE TOP 200)
August 1, 2005... THE TOP 200 PRODUCTIVITY BY LOCATON RANKINGS ESTIMATED SALES PER STORE...

How big can the biggest players get? A look at consolidation trends over the past century, and the experience of other industries.(THE TOP 200: LARGEST MUSIC RETAILERS)
August 1, 2005... IN 1991, THE FIRST YEAR The Music Trades began ranking the top retailers by sales volume, Guitar Center was predominantly a California operation with sales of $89 million. Sam Ash Music operated exclusively in the New York metro area and had...

The fastest-growing retailers: who racked up the best performances in 2004 and how they did it.(THE TOP 200: LARGEST MUSIC RETAILERS)
August 1, 2005... 30.05% Ed Roman Guitars ED ROMAN GUITARS' chart-topping sales growth reflects sweeping changes in 2004. First, the store nearly tripled its retail space by moving to a 40,000-square-foot guitarist's dream in the heart of Las Vegas....

Where to find them: a directory of the top 200.(THE TOP 200: LARGEST MUSIC RETAILERS)
August 1, 2005... ABE MUSIC 14501 W. Dixie Hwy. Miami, FL 33161 Tel: 305-944-7429 Fax: 305-944-6590 Email: music1@abemusic.com Web: www.abemusic.com CEO: Ibrahim Gonzalez 2004 Sales Rank: 195 ABRACADABRA 1015...

50 states ... 50 distinct markets: a state-by-state review of where the business gets done.(WHERE BUSINESS IS DONE)
August 1, 2005... The harsh rhetoric that accompanies partisan politics has led some to conclude that the United States has never become an irrevocably "divided nation." This may certainly be true when it comes to pulling the lever in the voting booth. Within...

The power of music: groundbreaking research uncovers potent link between music making, stress reduction, and general health.(Recreational: MUSIC MAKING)(Interview)
August 1, 2005... While it's common knowledge that playing a musical instrument is a worthwhile endeavor, relatively little is known about its potential health benefits. Terry Lewis, senior vice-president, Yamaha Corporation of America, and Karl T. Bruhn,...

John D'Addario III promoted to exec. v.p.(D'ADDARIO)
August 1, 2005... JOHN D'ADDARIO III has been promoted to executive vice-president at J. D'Addario & Company, Inc. He began working full-time at the company in 1996, when he started as a production manager. He then took on the responsibility as the fretted...

Music veteran Don Talbot retires.(KAMAN)
August 1, 2005... AFTER 46 YEARS of employment Don Talbot has retired from his position as general manager for Kaman Music Corporation's Ontario, California, distribution center. Having begun his music industry career in 1960, Talbot held a variety of...

Mark Cabaniss named president.(SHAWNEE PRESS)
August 1, 2005... MARK CABANISS has been appointed president of Shawnee Press, Inc., a subsidiary of Music Sales Corporation. The appointment was announced by Barrie Edwards, president of Music Sales. Cabaniss is a 16-year veteran of the print music...

Second generation Goldberg now CEO.(MMB MUSIC)
August 1, 2005... MARCIA LEE GOLDBERG has been named president and CEO at MMB Music, Inc., and Michelle Greenlaw is now executive vice-president. Founder Norm Goldberg continues with the company as chairman. Goldberg joined MMB in 1986, served as director of...

High-powered zoom G2 multi-effects pedal.(PRODUCTS NEWS)
August 1, 2005... ZOOM'S NEW G2 is designed to be the fastest, most powerful multi-effects pedal on the market. According to Zoom, the G2's 32-Bit processing, 96kHz sampling rate, and 24-Bit A/D, D/A converters contribute to realistic modeling of classic guitar...

Zildjian A. Custom medium crashes.(PRODUCTS NEWS)
August 1, 2005... THE ZILDJIAN COMPANY has added seven new cymbals to its award-winning A Custom cymbal series. Available in 14", 15", 16", 17", 18", 19" and 20" sizes, the A Custom medium crashes bring more sound options to one of Zildjian's fastest growing...

Taylor limited editions feature exotic woods.(PRODUCT NEWS)
August 1, 2005... ACOUSTIC GUITAR PLAYERS love wood, and the more exotic the wood, the better. Taylor Guitars' 2005 Fall Limiteds feature a colorful trio of favored tonewoods from around the globe: koa from the tropical Hawaiian Islands, handsome rosewood from...

Hot rods colored bridge pins.(JELLIFISH INC.)
August 1, 2005... JELLIFISH INT'L CORP. debuted its latest offering for the guitar accessories market, HotRods by Jellifish, at the summer NAMM show in Indianapolis. Anodized bridge pins made from a proprietary aluminum alloy, HotRods are offered in six...

New string instruments unveiled for 2005.(AMATI'S FINE INSTRUMENTS)
August 1, 2005... AMATI'S FINE INSTRUMENTS HAS introduced its new lineup of violins for 2005. Prices start at $99 net, which includes a suspension case, French Aubert bridge, and Brazilwood bow. The company carries 17 different models from seven workships,...

Jazz Piano Cocktails Volume 4.(SANTORELLA PUBLICATIONS)
August 1, 2005... SANTORELLA PUBLICATIONS has released a new volume in its popular piano series Jazz Piano Cocktails Volume 4. Arranged by Craig Stevens, the new volume is available for a list price of $9.95 for the book only and $14.95 for the book and CD...

Patented picks now in USA.(TECHRA)
August 1, 2005... TECHRA, ITALIAN EXPERT in plastics and polymers, has introduced a range of new patented picks to the U.S. market. The picks are available in a patented frame that contains ten picks, enabling stores to sell ten picks instead of one--at a good...

Case line a hit in Indianapolis.(AMERITAGE)
August 1, 2005... AMERITAGE REPORTS that there was a high level of activity at its booth at the NAMM show in Indianapolis. On display was the company's extensive line of cases for acoustic and electric fretted instruments, its bluegrass case line, and its new...

Ultimate FX pedal system.(PEDALSNAKE & PEDALTRAIN)
August 1, 2005... PEDALSNAKE AND PEDALTRAIN have announced a joint effort to offer a pedal management system that will forever change the way guitar players use FX pedals. When combined as a system, these two unique products provide a cost-effective and...

New patented position markers.(KEYSTRINGS)
August 1, 2005... KEYSTRINGS LLC has announced licensing opportunities for its newly patented fingerboard position markers. As patented, the KeyStrings markers are permanent position markers, inlaid on the fingerboard using standard construction methods....

Drumstick bags unveiled AT NAMM.(RITTER)
August 1, 2005... RITTER HAS introduced a line of stick bags for drummers and percussionists. It includes bags designed to fit the needs of drummers at all levels. The RCD 100 is aimed at recreational players and young drummers. It has six internal pockets to...

New 2 X 10 model NEOX400 bass combo.(GENZ BENZ)
August 1, 2005... GENZ BENZ' NEW NEOX400-210T bass combo is a powerhouse of tone and features that offers the bassist exceptional versatility. This new model delivers the full 425 watts from the amplifier into the combo cabinet's dual 10" and tweeter...

Artist series Luis Conte shakers.(MEINL PERCUSSION)
August 1, 2005... MEINL HAS introduced two versions of shakers designed in collaboration with master percussionist Luis Conte. The medium-sized plastic bodies feature two shakers connected as one instrument. The red Studio model shaker produces a very subtle and...

ProValve oil endorsed by Dave Douglas.(ULTRA-PURE)
August 1, 2005... JOINING THE LIKES of Wynton Marsalis and Arturo Sandoval, trumpeter/composer Dave Douglas is among the most recent endorsers of Ultra-Pure Valve Oil and Tuning Slide Lube. For the past five years Dave Douglas has repeatedly been named...

"Welcome" DVD with band instruments.(FIRST ACT)
August 1, 2005... FIRST ACT HAS developed an innovative way to welcome new players to the fold. As of June 2005, all First Act band instruments musical include a DVD designed to help first-time players navigate the often confusing process getting started on...

Stylish cabinets for sheet music.(WREN CHEST)
August 1, 2005... WREN CHEST has added three new pieces to its collection of fine furniture music cabinets. The Allegra cabinet boasts ten drawers and measures 42" high by 24" wide by 17" deep. The Legato is an elegant coffeetable cabinet measuring 16" by 36" by...

Piano tapestry designer handbags.(AIM GIFTS)
August 1, 2005... AIM/ALBERT ELOVITZ, Inc., an Inc. 500 company and the largest manufacturer and distributor of music gift accessories in the world, has introduced a new line of Piano Tapestry Designer Handbags. These elegant, high-quality handbags are...

Strong, light instrument cases.(ACCORD)
August 1, 2005... For musicians who are serious about protecting their instruments, Accord Case offers a variety of products of unsurpassed strength, durability, and security. Accord cases are built of advanced composite materials that provide an unmatched...

Drum Mic pack unveiled in Indy.(CAD)
August 1, 2005... CAD HAS INTRODUCED another in a line of popular and affordably priced mic packs for studio and stage: the new four-piece Drum Mic Touring Pack. Designed to provide exceptional audio quality and flexibility for live drum miking, the Touring Pack...

Two-leg hi-hat stand.(TAYE DRUMS)
August 1, 2005... TAYE DRUMS has introduced a new Two-Leg Hi-Hat stand that combines rock-solid stability and variable positioning without extra bulk. "Having two legs instead of three on the hi-hat stand is common for drummers who play double bass pedals, but...

Al Kahn.(PRODUCT NEWS)
August 1, 2005... AL KAHN, the founder of Electro Voice and the inventor of several important microphone models, died on June 15 at his Diamond Lake, Michigan, home. He was 98. Kahn was an industry pioneer and an early supporter of AMC. E-V has been a NAMM...

Mudvayne guitarist new EMG endorser.(PRODUCT NEWS)
August 1, 2005... EMG'S ROSTER of endorsing artists now includes guitarist Greg Tribbett of hot metal-thrash band Mudvayne. The band is currently touring the U.S. in support of their new album Lost and Found, which debuted at number two on the Billboard album...

Slick piano swindler.(100 YEARS AGO)
August 1, 2005... Piano men in Albany are on the lookout for a slick fellow who has had some success in getting pianos off Upstate dealers at a nominal sum. His game is like this: He selects a good piano, makes a small deposit, and tells the dealer to send the...

Conn buys Carl Fischer Div.(75 YEARS AGO)
August 1, 2005... Carl Fischer has merged its musical instrument department with C.G. Conn Ltd. of Elkhart, Indiana. The company will now operate as part of the Eastern division of Continental Music, C.G. Conn's jobbing arm. Walter S. Fischer will become...

NAMM holds Music-Orama.(50 YEARS AGO)
August 1, 2005... NAMM has dubbed its annual convention in Chicago's Palmer House "Music-Orama." The name "Music-Osama" was selected by NAMM directors as descriptive of the great panorama of merchandise to be displayed in more than 213,000 square feet of hotel...

Conn Organ to liquidate.(25 YEARS AGO)
August 1, 2005... Macmillan announced plans to close the Conn Organ division and "liquidate its assets" immediately. Declining industry sales as well as the loss of marketshare had put Conn Organ deeply in the red. The company had a $5.4 million operating loss...

Mackie Designs to go public.(10 YEARS AGO)
August 1, 2005... Mackie Designs, the fast-growing mixer manufacturer, has made a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission to sell approximately 20% of the company in an initial public offering. "Funds from the public offering will be used to expand...