Music Trades articles from February 2007

Music Trades archives from February 2007

Rethinking music education could boost student participation.(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
February 1, 2007... On October 19, 2006, Fred Bramante, New Hampshire Board of Education past chairman and owner of Daddy's Junky Music, held a two-session conference with members of the New Hampshire Music Educators Association, local music educators from NH...

Remembering Bill Schultz.(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
February 1, 2007... Thank you so much for your touching editorial on Mr. Schultz. I, like so many others, am living an enriched life because he saw something in me that others may not have. Bill was like a lather to me, and I feel blessed to have known him...

The world's largest piano.(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
February 1, 2007... While I found the Industry Forefront item "Lazare Tours with World's Largest Piano" interesting, it is in error. Currently the world's largest piano is one built by David Rubenstein. This instrument, at 368cm (or just over 12') is about...

Imports point to a slowing market.(IMPORT TRACKER: What's Coming Into The U.S. And From Where?)
February 1, 2007... With few exceptions, imports of all music and audio products registered declines for the third quarter, extending a nearly one-year old trend. Guitar imports declined for the fourth consecutive quarter with acoustics dropping 13.9% and...

Should MAP policies be scrapped? With suppliers adopting multi-level distribution policies and the growth of internet retailing, David Rice argues that 85% of all MAP policies go unenforced, which places full-service retailers at a serious competitive disadvantage.(GUEST EDITORIAL)
February 1, 2007... Minimum Advertised Pricing, better known as MAP, has become a widely accepted policy throughout the m.i. industry. The specifics of various supplier policies differ widely, but in theory, they all have the same objective. By setting a floor on...

Keeping the guitar vital for the next generation: with just 42 members, the Guitar and Accessories Marketing Association has helped move guitar into the schools, creating hundreds of thousands of new players. If your business is involved with the guitar, you need to join and become a part of the movement. Read on to find out why.(GUEST EDITORIAL)
February 1, 2007... GAMA (Guitar and Accessories Marketing Association) is the only association that represents guitar and guitar accessory manufacturers and distributors worldwide. GAMA's mission is to promote an interest in playing the guitar and thus increase...

You may have more leverage than you know!(EDITORIAL)
February 1, 2007... As they were walking out of a store after a sales presentation, a sales manager was overhead remarking to his rep, "I can't believe that he [the dealer] didn't ask us for a better deal." This true story has particular relevance at a time when a...

Godin guitars offers clinics & new models at NAMM.(Breaking NAMM News: Important Stuff To See & Do)
February 1, 2007... GODIN GUITARS WILL STAGE onsite clinics and showcase an array of new models at the Winter NAMM Show in Anaheim. The clinics will be conducted by Robert Godin, company founder and president. New this year to the Godin showroom is a mini-stage...

Stars on view at Markley exhibit.(Breaking NAMM News: Important Stuff To See & Do)
February 1, 2007... A VIRTUAL WHO'S WHO in the rock world will be making appearances at the Dean Markley Strings booth, #5710, during the Winter NAMM Show. The roster includes legendary guitarists Dick Dale and Jimmy Dale, guitarist Nuno Bettencourt, bassist and...

Phonic Corporation marks 30th anniversary with NAMM bash.(Breaking NAMM News: Important Stuff To See & Do)
February 1, 2007... PHONIC HAS SCHEDULED its 30th anniversary bash for the Winter NAMM Show from 4 to 5 P.M. on Thursday, January 12, Room 212A, Level 2, of the Anaheim Convention Center. The company will give away cash prizes and the highly anticipated universal...

Hagstrom presents Smear at NAMM.(Breaking NAMM News: Important Stuff To See & Do)
February 1, 2007... PAT SMEAR FROM The Foo Fighters and The Germs will visit the Hagstrom Booth, #5700, at the Winter NAMM Show on Saturday, January 20, to sign autographs. He is currently on the Foo Fighter's acoustic tour, and the Germs recently concluded the...

Gretsch holds Snare Drum Extravaganza at NAMM.(Breaking NAMM News: Important Stuff To See & Do)
February 1, 2007... THE GRETSCH DRUM Company will be displaying 50 one of a kind USA custom snare drums from its Ridgeland, South Carolina Factory as part of the company's 2007 "Snare Drum Extravaganza" during Winter NAMM. Each one-of-a kind drum was constructed...

Graph Tech hosts innovators at NAMM.(Breaking NAMM News: Important Stuff To See & Do)
February 1, 2007... GRAPH TECH GUITAR LABS, the world's largest manufacturer of guitar nuts and saddles, is rallying retailers, manufacturers and performers to "Graphtech Your Axe" at this year's NAMM show. A "living soundtrack" at the Graph Tech booth, #5920,...

Mel Bay 60th anniversary concert at NAMM.(Breaking NAMM News: Important Stuff To See & Do)
February 1, 2007... MEL BAY PUBLICATIONS is partnering with John Pisano's Guitar Night and Eastman Guitars to present a free talent-filled concert celebration on Friday night, January 19, at the Sheraton Park Hotel Ballroom on Harbor Boulevard from 9 P.M. to...

Dean Guitars presents NAMM webcast.(Breaking NAMM News: Important Stuff To See & Do)
February 1, 2007... THANKS TO DEAN Guitars, "what happens at the NAMM show no longer stays at the NAMM show." In celebration of Dean Guitar's 30th anniversary the company is giving the world a never-before-seen look at Winter NAMM with its "Live From NAMM"...

Vandoren hosts Vando Jam at NAMM.(Breaking NAMM News: Important Stuff To See & Do)
February 1, 2007... BUILDING ON THE incredible success of VandoJazz, Vandoren will host its Vando Jam at the Winter NAMM show. The jam is open to everyone and will take place on the eve of NAMM, Thursday, January 17, from 8 p.m. until midnight at the Pulse...

Billy Joel & Stevie Wonder to be honored at Young Chang 50th bash.(Breaking NAMM News: Important Stuff To See & Do)
February 1, 2007... THE NEW MANAGEMENT team at Young Chang North America and Kurzweil Music systems is inviting Young Chang and Kurzweil Music dealers, past, present and future, to attend a 50th anniversary party at NAMM. The party will be held on Saturday,...

Official NAMM exhibitor list: as of December 21, 2006.(NAMM 2007 PREVIEW)
February 1, 2007... Official NAMM Exhibitor List As Of December 21, 2006 3 DRUMSTICKS 3555 3L INTERNATIONAL 5825 65AMPS ...

Gibson acquires Dongbei Piano: third-largest Chinese piano maker renamed "Baldwin Dongbei" and will serve as a base for addressing both Chinese & global piano markets.(INDUSTRY FOREFRONT)
February 1, 2007... GIBSON GUITAR has stepped up its commitment to the piano business, acquiring 100% ownership of Dongbei Piano Co., Ltd., the third largest piano producer in China. A grand signing ceremony was held on December 14 in Yingkou, Liaoning Province,...

Connolly to distribute K&M stands in U.S. market.(INDUSTRY FOREFRONT)
February 1, 2007... K&M AMERICA, LLC, a division of Connolly & Co., Inc. of East Northport, New York, has been named primary agent for the U.S. distribution of music products manufactured by Konig & Meyer GmbH & Co. KG (K&M Germany). K&M Germany, headquartered in...

Distributing Peavey Jack Daniel's guitars: Musicorp.(INDUSTRY FOREFRONT)
February 1, 2007... MUSICORP HAS BEEN named national distributor of Jack Daniel's guitars from Peavey Electronics. The guitars, made exclusively by Peavey, are specially designed for Jack Daniel's enthusiasts, avid music fans, serious collectors, and dedicated...

First act supports Boston Arts Academy.(INDUSTRY FOREFRONT)
February 1, 2007... FIRST ACT HAS made a major donation to the Strings Outreach Program of the Boston Arts Academy (BAA). This year's donation of $53,597 continues a partnership that started three years ago when First Act initiated the project with BAA, bringing...

Rolling Stone Charlie Watts visits Zildjian factory.(INDUSTRY FOREFRONT)
February 1, 2007... DRUMMING ICON CHARLIE WATTS of the Rolling Stones made his first visit to the Zildjian factory on September 21 following the Rolling Stones kicking off the U.S. leg of their "Bigger Bang" tour at Boston's Gillette Stadium the previous night....

Rockfield-equipped BC rich guitars top Guitar World awards: Rockfield Pickups.(INDUSTRY FOREFRONT)
February 1, 2007... TWO BC RICH guitars equipped with Rockfield pickups have been given Guitar World magazine's Platinum Award for Quality and Design. BC Rich chose to arm its new Mockingbird Exotic Classic and Bich Exotic Classic 10 guitars with Rockfield's Mafia...

Kaman & Musicorp to distribute Eldon Brand Instruments: Antigua Winds.(INDUSTRY FOREFRONT)
February 1, 2007... ANTIGUA WINDS HAS appointed Kaman Music and Musicorp as exclusive United States distributors for Eldon Band Instruments manufactured by Antigua Winds. Joe Ramotowski, president of Antigua Winds, said, "Antigua's reputation for quality...

Clarinetist Robson joins Legere Roster.(FLASH)
February 1, 2007... LEGERE REEDS HAS announced two additions to its artist roster. Barnaby Robson, principal clarinetist with the Philharmonia Orchestra of London, has joined the company's roster of endorsing artists who use its premium line of synthetic...

Taylor restructures line into three families: "acoustic," "acoustic/electric," and "electric" designations reflect product innovations, add logic to sales presentations.(INDUSTRY FOREFRONT)
February 1, 2007... OVER THE PAST three decades Taylor Guitars has established itself as a market leader in acoustic/electric guitars. The instant success of President Bob Taylor's recent innovations in the acoustic and electric markets with the GS and T5 have...

Story & Clark Power Center Program: QRS.(INDUSTRY FOREFRONT)
February 1, 2007... QRS MUSIC Technologies, Inc. (OTCB:QRSM), a leader in the design, manufacture, and distribution of pianos, piano-based audio and multimedia products, music and piano accessories, has unveiled its new Story & Clark Power Center Program. Designed...

AuctionSound offers ecommerce solution.(FLASH)
February 1, 2007... ONLINE SALES IN the music industry have skyrocketed in recent years. New product sales have increased 37% on eBay, and used product sales have increased 22%. AuctionSound is an eBay consignment software solution that enables music...

New facility in Savannah: Benedetto Guitars.(INDUSTRY FOREFRONT)
February 1, 2007... ROBERT BENEDETTO, renowned archtop guitarmaker and author of the definitive book Making An Archtop Guitar, formed a new company, Benedetto Guitars, Inc., in June 2006. Located in Savannah, Georgia, the company's 9,000-square-foot leased...

Skinner becomes co-owner: BGE Financial.(INDUSTRY FOREFRONT)
February 1, 2007... BGE FINANCIAL CORPORATION, an industry leader in band and orchestra industry financing, announced that DANSR President Michael Skinner joined Bill Gray, CEO, and Greg Grieme, President and CFO, as a stockholder in BGE Financial Corporation...

Guitar pioneer Gary Kramer encores with Delta wing "Tomcat" Guitar.(INDUSTRY FOREFRONT)
February 1, 2007... GUITAR INNOVATOR Garu Kramer, who founded the Kramer guitar company with a unique metal neck guitar, has returned to the guitar industry with the introduction of the Tomcat Guitar, a unique new instrument. Featuring a radically different...

Publicly traded industry firms.(INDUSTRY FOREFRONT)
February 1, 2007... PUBLICLY TRADED INDUSTRY FIRMS PRICE As OF DEC. 18, P/E 2006 RATIO Apple Computer Inc. ...

Gonzalez Reeds sales up 70%: Argendonax.(INDUSTRY FOREFRONT)(Financial report)
February 1, 2007... AT GONZALEZ REEDS of Argentina, sales for 2006 rose by 70% as a result of the 80% growth in production. The reeds, made by Argendonax S.A., have been distributed in the United States for the past two years by Conn-Selmer. Gonzalez is conducting...

SIT Strings now standard on ESP guitars.(INDUSTRY FOREFRONT)
February 1, 2007... STARTING IN 2007, all ESP and LTD guitars will be factory-equipped with S.I.T. Strings. S.I.T. Strings Co., founded in 1980, is a full-line manufacturer of fretted instrument strings based in Akron, Ohio. S.I.T. has been the string of choice...

Major retailers on board: Gearbyowner.com.(INDUSTRY FOREFRONT)
February 1, 2007... WHILE STILL IN ITS INFANCY, gearbyowner.com is seeing exponential growth by attracting major retailers and production companies to post new and used products on its website. Gearbyowner.com is the brainchild of industry veteran Phillip Lentini,...

Endorser list grows: Hagstrom Guitars.(INDUSTRY FOREFRONT)
February 1, 2007... HAGSTROM'S ROSTER of endorsing artists is growing rapidly. Panic! at the Disco, All-American Rejects, the Justin Timberlake Band, and the John Legend Band, all artists at the top of their game in all different genres, are relying on the...

Kid's Guitar Course earns iParenting Media award: Alfred Publishing.(INDUSTRY FOREFRONT)
February 1, 2007... THE KID'S GUITAR COURSE from Alfred Publishing has been honored as one of the "Greatest Products of 2006" by iParenting Media. The Kids' Guitar Course is a fun method that teaches how to play songs on the guitar right away. This complete...

A world leader in print distribution: Charles Dumont & Son.(INDUSTRY FOREFRONT)
February 1, 2007... CHARLES DUMONT & SON, Inc., is one of the world's leaders in print music distribution. Its Voorhees, New Jersey, facility has been servicing music stores worldwide since 1945. It has satellite offices in New York, California, and Florida. ...

A profitable approach to band instrument sales: margins' downward spiral stops with Gemstone's new Minimum Sales Price policy.(INDUSTRY FOREFRONT)
February 1, 2007... ALL LEVELS OF THE BAND INSTRUMENT MARKET have abetted consumers' taste for low-priced products, and fierce competition among retailers has eroded margins for nearly all concerned. One manufacturer has drawn a bold line in the sand. Effective...

U.K. Company wins two awards: Stentor Music.(INDUSTRY FOREFRONT)
February 1, 2007... STENTOR MUSIC CO. Ltd. of the United Kingdom won the "Best Bowed Instrument" award, sponsored by Classic FM Radio, at the Music Industries Association (MIA) Awards held in October in London. The award was given for the Stentor Student II Violin...

Now distributing Fernandez and HiWatt: Kaysound.(INDUSTRY FOREFRONT)
February 1, 2007... KAYSOUND IMPORTS, INC., announced that effective January 5, 2007, it is assuming the North American distribution rights for Fernandes Guitars and HiWatt Amplification. "We have full faith in the professional management team at Kaysound and...

Expanded Kaman website powerful resource for retail strategy.(INDUSTRY FOREFRONT)
February 1, 2007... KAMAN MUSIC FURTHER improved its Dealer Network website with a new "Success Story" section that is filled with a wealth of retail merchandising and marketing strategies. The newest section augments the network's extensive real time information...

Banner year for drum pedals: Duallist.(INDUSTRY FOREFRONT)
February 1, 2007... 2006 WAS A banner year for Duallist's drum pedals. The company has considerably expanded activities on several fronts, and the artist roster now features a diverse range of players, from the heaviest of rock to pop, Latin, and jazz styles....

Company seeks division manager: Eastman Winds.(INDUSTRY FOREFRONT)
February 1, 2007... EASTMAN WINDS has begun a search for its first brass and woodwind division manager, as well as product managers to oversee the Eastman Winds line of band instruments and the Amadeus by Haynes flutes. "Our goal is to seek out progressive,...

Gewa Music named North American distributor: Howard Core.(INDUSTRY FOREFRONT)
February 1, 2007... HOWARD CORE COMPANY, a leading supplier of stringed instruments and accessories in the United States, has named Gewa Music as the exclusive distributor for Gewa stringed instrument products in North America. Gewa Music is the main supplier of...

Fendler Wholesale distributes Music Stamp.(INDUSTRY FOREFRONT)
February 1, 2007... THE MUSIC STAMP SERIES named FMI Wholesale, a division of Fender Musical Instruments Corp. (FMIC), as its U.S. distributor, effective January 2007. The Canadian-based company specializes in educational accessories for working musicians,...

From stoves to Steinways--new owners for Bradford's.(RETAILER UPDATE)
February 1, 2007... FOR MORE THAN TWO decades Barbara & Dennis Wanless made their living selling appliances--ranges, refrigerators, dishwashers, etc. In 2003 they sold the business, Haasch Appliance, in Milwaukee, but Barbara remained at the store under its new...

Guitar Center sells 185 Blackie replicas for $3.7 mill, in seven hours.(RETAILER UPDATE)
February 1, 2007... GUITAR CENTER, INC., made history when it purchased at auction, for $959,500, the Fender Stratocaster guitar once owned by Eric Clapton and affectionately known as "Blackie." Guitar Center also made history when 185 Fender Custom Shop Tribute...

Sam Ash founder inducted into Long Island Music Hall of Fame.(RETAILER UPDATE)
February 1, 2007... THE LATE SAM ASH SR., founder of the Sam Ash chain of music stores, was among the first group of inductees into the Long Island Music Hall of Fame, along with such notable music figures as George Cohan, John Coltrane, Billy Joel, and Marian...

Canadian retailer sends harmonicas to troops.(FLASH)
February 1, 2007... MUSICSTOP, A MUSIC retailer in Halifax, Nova Scotia, made a Christmas gift of 2,600 harmonicas to Canadian troops stationed in Afghanistan. The store invited its customers to participate in this initiative by donating a dollar and signing one...

Dealer hosts Gibson Guitar Truck: Bill's Music House.(RETAILER UPDATE)
February 1, 2007... BILL'S MUSIC HOUSE in Baltimore, Maryland, recently hosted the Gibson Guitar Truck, which was chock-full of brand new, classic, and artist signature model Gibson guitars. Customers were able to try out instruments and effects while getting...

Retailer closes after 30 years: The Only Guitar Shop.(RETAILER UPDATE)
February 1, 2007... THE DOORS AT The Only Guitar Shop in Clifton Park, New York, closed on December 2, 2006, after 30 years of serving the needs of the Capital District in Albany. Owner Dave Triller said, "It's been a great 30 years." He added that he's been...

West Music delivers historic Steinway to Iowa Capital.(RETAILER UPDATE)
February 1, 2007... WEST MUSIC OF Coralville, Iowa, has donated an 1878 Steinway & Sons grand piano to the University of Iowa Old Capitol Museum. The piano is valued at $73,200. The 1,500-pound antique piano is the latest piece to be added to the collections...

Staff expanded with 19 new hires: Sweetwater Sound.(RETAILER UPDATE)
February 1, 2007... SWEETWATER SOUND of Fort Wayne, Indiana, has created 19 new positions, expanding its sales staff with 16 new sales engineers, one new sales assistant, a new studio engineer for the Sweetwater Productions recording studio, and a new kitchen...

NAMM's "monster" impact on music making: NAMM recently observed its fifth anniversary of partnering with Sesame Street to expose new generations to the joys of making music.(NAMM & SESAME STREET)
February 1, 2007... SHAVED MARGINS. Hard-charging rivals down the street and across the web. Bread-n-butter musical instruments selling between bikes and bake ware at the local BestWal-Target. An explosion of hobbies and interests to compete with playing an...

What is the future of digital recording? Digidesign and its M-Audio subsidiary offer solutions for every type of recording application, from the highest-end studios to your teenager's bedroom. General Manager Dave Lebolt offers his thoughts on where the technology is going and what the coming opportunities are.(INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY)(Company overview)
February 1, 2007... Since 1986 Digidesign has been the industry leader in digital audio production, providing tools for audio creation, post production, collaboration, and distribution to the professional music, broadcast, multimedia, and film industries. Its...

Improving efficiencies and waiting for new opportunities: Michigan is hardly a booming market. Nevertheless, Marshall Music has managed to bolster the bottom line with a relentless focus on improving operations. When the market turns, they'll be ready.(RETAIL PROFILE)
February 1, 2007... Weighed down by the well-publicized difficulties of the American auto industry, the state of Michigan has consistently ranked at or near the top of every index of economic woe. Whether it's unemployment rates, personal bankruptcies, wage...

Birth of a new cymbal: Zildjian's head of R&D explains how and why all those hit products keep coming.(PRODUCT TRENDS)
February 1, 2007... Year after year, cymbal manufacturers deal with a prickly paradox: New models drive sales, but dealers can become overwhelmed by the growing number of SKUs. Particularly smaller retailers are challenged to allocate the required resources--cash...

30 years 10 million pedals! From a humble garage in Osaka, Boss has emerged as a global leader in electronics for the guitar. How the division of Roland effectively blends the soul of rock 'n' roll with precision engineering to deliver a steady stream of hit products.(COMPANY PROFILE)
February 1, 2007... Mention the word "classic" in the context of electric guitars, and Stratocaster and Les Paul are what first come to mind. Slightly less visible on stage, but no less deserving "classic" status is the ever-popular Boss line of effects. Like...

Viewing the school band market from Jupiter's orbit: CEO Keith Gard on why mass merchants aren't a serious competitive challenge, the school music market remains healthy, and how to strike the balance between online and traditional retailing.(COMPANY PROFILE)
February 1, 2007... TALES OF DESICCATED PUBLIC school budgets clash with retailer reports of robust pre-season rentals. Old bugaboos--sales in mass merchant and Brand X horns online--haven't gone away, but no longer seem to be the objects of the industry's...

The unique Spanish guitar making tradition: global competition and other challenges are forcing Spain's manufacturers to face a turning point in their long, noble history.(INDUSTRY AT A CROSSROADS)
February 1, 2007... What's the value of things you can't see? Things like centuries'-old tradition, handcraftsmanship that's been passed down generation after generation, and a passion for making an instrument that embodies the very essence of a national culture....

Sterling speaks: what mass merchants are telling us. Why we need quality standards. Who says the market is soft? Do we make waves or just surf? Major opportunities we miss: the insightful, outspoken head of Ernie Ball/Music Man assesses the guitar market, offers prescriptions for jump-starting growth, and pulls no punches.(MY OPINION)(Company overview)
February 1, 2007... Sterling Ball has spent his life surrounded by music and the music industry. His father Ernie, was the studio guitarist with KTLA in Los Angeles and opened the country's first exclusive guitar store in Tarzana, California, in 1958. Sterling got...

Let your passion ignite your sales: some customers buy on price, others look for convenience. But there is a core of music buyers who look for a relationship with a retailer. Stop worrying about competing and focus your efforts on cultivating relationships.(CREATIVE RETAILING)
February 1, 2007... Admit it. There's only one reason you opened up a music shop. You love music. In fact, you're passionate about it. You live it. You breathe it. And you're not alone. If you Google "Passion for Music" you'll discover somewhere in the range of 29...

With export growth slowing, Sejung bets on higher quality for the future: fueled by low costs and a relentless work ethic, Chinese music manufacturers burst on the world market with unprecedented speed. Times are changing however, and Sejung's J.S. Lee is shoring up his company to compete in a more demanding environment.(SEJUNG PIANO: Redefining Chinese Standards)
February 1, 2007... Five years ago when Westerners started to pour into China to buy musical instruments, a new industry was born as modern factories sprang up throughout the country. The speed with which plants were constructed and the fast pace at which products...

Are MAP prices too low? Is the playing field uneven? Does brick & mortar have a future? What does "service" really mean? What's right & what's wrong? How can independents best compete? A cross section of retailers discuss the hot-button issues and outline strategies for successfully competing in 2007.(RETAILER ROUNDTABLE 2007)(Company overview)
February 1, 2007... Many m.i. retailers feel under siege in a fiercely competitive market. But increasingly they're talking amongst themselves, discussing business strategies, MAP, deflation, the perceived un-level playing field of manufacturers' distribution and...

Build your business with books: take a page from the mass merchants and stock stuff your customers may be interested in--like music books. They'll add to your top line and help sell instruments and audio gear as well.(PROFIT OPPORTUNITY)
February 1, 2007... Successful retailers, both large and small, continually evaluate merchandise to see that it lines up with the tastes and interests of the customers who walk through their doors. According to Brad Smith, senior sales and marketing manager at Hal...

Competing with mass merchants: they may be big and have deep pockets, but they are hardly invincible. Some thoughts on how independents can exploit the weaknesses that are inherent in any large retail operation.(BOB POPYK ON SELLING)
February 1, 2007... If you look through the back issues of The Music Trades, there has been a lot of concern about stores such as Wal-Mart, Costco, Target, and Sam's Club getting into the musical instrument business. The fear is that they will be selling...

Pro-Mark raises the bar: for the past five decades Pro-Mark has labored long and hard to deliver the utmost in drumstick quality. Marking its 50th anniversary this year, the company is devoting the same kind of energy to its marketing programs with the creation of a revolutionary new sales system.(PRO-MARK STICKS AT 50)(Company overview)
February 1, 2007... In 1976 Pro-Mark authored a subtle but significant breakthrough in percussion history when it began shipping its drumsticks in unsealed plastic bags. Previously, the standard industry practice was to sell sticks in sealed packages. As a...

Percussion veteran Phiffer new Ludwig general manager.(PEOPLE)
February 1, 2007... IN A MOVE aligned with the continued global expansion of the Ludwig brand, Jim Phiffer has been named general manager of Ludwig Percussion. The announcement was made by John Stoner, president and CEO of ConnSelmer, Inc. "This new position...

Music & sound fly fishing tour.(PEOPLE)
February 1, 2007... THE INDUSTRY'S SERIOUS anglers convened at Salmon Lake Lodge in Seely Lake, Montana, for the 12th running of the Music & Sound Fly Fishing Tour. Front row (l-r): Stuart Spector, Spector Guitars; Dave Phillips, Dave Phillips Music & Sound; Hyman...

Buzz Goodwin new exec. v.p. sales: JBL Pro.(PEOPLE)
February 1, 2007... INDUSTRY VETERAN BUZZ GOODWIN has been named executive vice-president of sales at JBL Professional. He assumes complete responsibility for the development and implementation of all worldwide JBL Professional sales programs. Goodwin reports...

Bryan Harvey named regional manager: Kawai America.(PEOPLE)
February 1, 2007... BRYAN HARVEY HAS been named regional sales manager for the East Central region at Kawai America. His region includes Virginia, West Virginia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma. In addition to his responsibilities as...

Promotions for Graham & Swift: EMD Music.(PEOPLE)
February 1, 2007... AT EMD MUSIC Antony Graham has been named national sales manager and Andrew Swift has been named assistant national sales manger. Both men have been with EMD since its start in 2003. Prior to joining EMD's sales staff, Antony Graham was a...

Meinhardt heads advertising department: Hal Leonard Publishing.(PEOPLE)
February 1, 2007... JIM MEINHARDT HAS been promoted to advertising manager at Hal Leonard Corporation. He will oversee all of the company's advertising, public relations, and trade shows. Meinhardt started at Hal Leonard in October 2005. His previous...

Edds joins Steinway sales team.(PEOPLE)
February 1, 2007... TOMMY EDDS HAS has joined Steinway & Sons as a field sales representative. He will be calling on retailers throughout the Southeast. "Tommy Edds has a wealth of industry experience dating back to 1979," said Frank Mazurco, Steinway &...

Thatcher heads licensing effort: C.F. Martin.(PEOPLE)
February 1, 2007... HEIDI THATCHER HAS been named licensing and accessories manager at C.F. Martin & Co. She has over ten years of combined experience in brand and eCommerce marketing. Her key responsibilities will be managing the guitar accessories product line,...

Gary Pace joins as director of marketing: Light Source.(PEOPLE)
February 1, 2007... GARY PACE HAS joined Light Source, Inc. (LSI), of Milford, Michigan, as director of marketing. He is responsible for developing and implementing strategies to support LSI's corporate clients For the past nine years Pace was the global sales...

Papa heads Kurzweil sales.(PEOPLE)
February 1, 2007... MIKE PAPA has been appointed national sales manager of Kurzweil Music Systems, a division of Young Chang North America. Papa previously led Kurzweil i from 1995-2001 after serving as national sales manager and marketing manager of Kawai...

Geneva International names Visceglie, Wuensche district managers.(PEOPLE)
February 1, 2007... GENEVA INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION has named two new district sales managers: Joe Visceglie and Charles (Chuck) Wuensche. Joe Visceglie will be managing sales and marketing in the Northeast. He has a long and distinguished background in the...

Pool joins Phonic sales team.(PEOPLE)
February 1, 2007... JASON POOL HAS joined Phonic as a sales associate. He is charged with build long-term customer relationships by extensive sales and product training. "I want to expand our business by helping or customers grow," he said. Prior to working for...

Jeff Sazant vice-president marketing, sf marketing Canada.(CAREER PATH)
February 1, 2007... WHEN GUITAR CENTER sought to hire Canadian citizen Jeff Sazant to manage its flagship Hollywood store in 1997, the U.S. government required that they offer evidence that he was uniquely qualified for the job. The agency's summary report...

Thunder storm inlay motif makes for distinctive Takamine.(PRODUCT NEWS)
February 1, 2007... TAKAMINE'S EAGERLY anticipated Limited Edition Series will feature highly detailed laser-cut inlay with a thunderstorm motif. Appropriately dubbed "The Storm," the dreadnought cutaway guitar is the first stunning black finish Limited Edition...

"GigRig" rolling rackmount system: SKB Corporation.(PRODUCT NEWS)
February 1, 2007... SKB'S GIGRIG REPRESENTS a collaboration of ideas from touring musicians, experienced engineers, and the world's best rotational molding tool makers. The result is a long-awaited rolling rackmount system with an innovative multi-use component...