Music Trades articles from July 2007

Music Trades archives from July 2007

Will the FTC find manufacturers guilty of unfair trading?(LETTERS)
July 1, 2007... IS MAP PRICING FAIR, and will it remain legal? Personally, I don't think it will survive the current FTC investigation of the music industry. The FTC's first question is always "how does a policy benefit the consumer?" In the 1970s, after 30...

The need for music education.(LETTERS)
July 1, 2007... I've just read your editorial in the April issue on the need for music education and felt moved to record with you how many times I've read your articles and always found them a great combination of logic, clarity, and love of the industry. And...

Band imports surge in 1st quarter.(IMPORT TRACKER: What's Coming Into The U.S. and From Where?)
July 1, 2007... THE LATEST INSTALLMENT of Import Tracker, our quarterly look at musical instrument imports to the U.S. paints a picture of markets that can be best be described as roller coasters. Everything that has to do with school music products is "off...

New instrument lets disabled play it by ... nose?(Industry Briefings)
July 1, 2007... A computerized instrument that allows people to play music with the tip of their nose could give those who suffer from physical disabilities, such as cerebral palsy, the chance to experience music's positive effects. Zane Van Dusen, a recent...

Musical training enhances typing skills.(Industry Briefings)
July 1, 2007... Psychology professors at Davidson College recently had 541 participants take a typing test and then respond to 12 questions about their typing quirks and musical training. The test revealed that musical training was indeed related to typing...

Air Guitar Nation documentary.(Industry Briefings)
July 1, 2007... Air Guitar Nation is a new documentary that traces the experiences of two men, David S. Jung and Dan Crane, destined for a global smackdown of air-guitar masters held in Oulou, Finland. There, the next generation of air-guitar prodigies is...

Thieves caught in $4m violin heist.(Industry Briefings)
July 1, 2007... Austrian police captured six ethnic Georgians who are charged with stealing a rare Stradivarius violin worth an estimated $4.1 million from a Vienna apartment. In an audacious theft, the crew used a blow torch to open a safe containing the...

The biggest market you've never heard of.(EDITORIAL)
July 1, 2007... Billions of terabytes of data, readily accessible on the internet, give the impression that all knowledge and insight are just a few mouse clicks away, and that there are no longer any untapped opportunities. But if we now know everything, how...

NAMM returns to Austin: what to look for, how to have a great time, and why you should make the trek to the live music capital of the country.(NAMM PREVIEW: Summer Session In Austin)(Company overview)
July 1, 2007... The largest suppliers and the smallest mom and pop retailers have one thing in common in the current marketplace: They re both acutely uncertain about where the business is going and how they should best position themselves. Industry sales are...

Yamaha NAMM booth showcases music month.(OCTOBER IS YAMAHA MUSIC MONTH: Time To Play!)(Company overview)
July 1, 2007... THE YAMAHA CORPORATION of America's Pro Audio & Combo Division will promote its "October is Yamaha Music Month" campaign at Summer NAMM 2007. Participation in Yamaha Music Month is open to qualified dealers. The incentives are intended to drive...

Music dealers resource group offers logistical aids for retailers.(NAMM PREVIEW: Summer Session In Austin)
July 1, 2007... MUSIC DEALERS Resource Group invites all m.i. dealers to stop by NAMM booth 757 (near the Namm Idea Center) for information and to sign up for the new "Dealers Advantage Club" program. According to John Broermann of MDRG, this is a unique...

NAMM Austin exhibitor list.(NAMM PREVIEW: Summer Session In Austin)
July 1, 2007... NAMM Austin Exhibitor List a little bit of this 527 Ace Karaoke 1510 Ace Products 1225...

Miller succeeds Saunders as Kaman Music CEO: 35-year company veteran pledges continued investment in service to keep the parent company of Ovation, Latin Percussion, and Takamine Guitars "ahead of the curve".(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)
July 1, 2007... EDWARD G. "ED" MILLER has been named president of Kaman Music Corporation, succeeding Robert H. Saunders who is retiring. In keeping with Kaman's tendency to promote from within the ranks, Miller is a 35-year company veteran who spent the past...

Bechstein acquired Bohemia Piano.(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)
July 1, 2007... Bohemia Piano S.R.O. in Jihlava, Czech Republic, has sold the remaining 51% of its shares to its major shareholder, C. Bechstein CZ s.r.o. The company's new name will be C. Bechstein Europe s.r.o., with headquarters in Jihlava. Both...

Custom shop a hit with baseball legend Gibson: Fender.(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)
July 1, 2007... Legendary World Series hero and baseball MVP Kirk Gibson knows a lot about the important qualities that can turn a piece of wood into pure magic. With that knowledge and a passion for music, Gibson started a friendship with the Fender Custom...

Yamaha trims stake in motorcycle affiliate.(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)
July 1, 2007... YAMAHA CORPORATION OF JAPAN has sold 13.6 million shares in Yamaha Motors Corporation, reducing its stake in the motorcycle and marine engine manufacturer to 14.9% from 19.8% previously. The approximately $380 million proceeds from the stock...

Elixir strings marks 10th year with t-shirt giveaway.(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)
July 1, 2007... TEN YEARS AGO W.L. Gore & Associates, the company that made "Gore-Tex" a household word, introduced a unique new guitar string that boasted a thin Teflon coating. Purists scoffed that players would reject anything other than a traditional...

Airwave inks distribution agreement with Hohner: Hohner.(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)
July 1, 2007... HOHNER INC. HAS ENTERED into an exclusive North American distribution agreement with Airwave Technologies, a manufacturer of wired/wireless microphones, in-ear monitor systems, and slimline headsets. "I'm very excited and pleased to...

Rep firms expand online M.I. sales channel: Gear By Owner.(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)
July 1, 2007... THE 2007 SUMMER NAMM show will mark a strong second half for GearByOwner.com as the company announces the hiring of independent sale firms across the USA. CEO Phillip Lentini announced the hiring of nine independent sale firms to cover 45...

Remo marks 50th year with drum days fest in Los Angeles.(FLASH)
July 1, 2007... Remo Drums is celebrating its 50th anniversary by giving back to the city that has been home for 50 years. Drum Days LA is a multicultural celebration of the power of rhythm, a power that unites people in joy and celebration. Beginning...

Free website services for retail stores: GRK Manufacturing.(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)(Website overview)
July 1, 2007... GRK MANUFACTURING is offering its expertise to help retail store customers gain their fair share of the piano accessories market. Brad Neal, director of marketing and Hannah Einterz, director of sales, have teamed to assist stores in developing...

Hal Leonard to distribute music minus one play along series.(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)
July 1, 2007... A SERENDIPITOUS meeting at this year's Winter NAMM show between industry pioneers Keith Mardak, chairman and CEO of Hal Leonard Corporation, and Irv Kratka, founder and CEO of Music Minus One, has led to an agreement whereby Hal Leonard will...

Trust Network aids Freehand in Germany.(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)
July 1, 2007... WITH HELP FROM The Trust Network Ltd. (TTN) of the U.K., Freehand Systems has made Klemm Musik Technology its exclusive distributor in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Klemm Musik Technology, which held an 840-square-meter booth at this...

Japanese sales group tours headquarters: Fishman.(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)
July 1, 2007... YASUHIRO WATANABE of Yamaha Music Trading (YMT) Corporation, Fishman's new Japanese distributor, visited Fishman at its Wilmington, Massachusetts, headquarters at the end of April. Watanabe, product manager for the entire Fishman line for...

Lacuna coil presents "unplugged" tour: Ovation.(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)
July 1, 2007... DURING STOPS ON their recent Jagermeister Tour, Italian Goth rockers Lacuna Coil performed intimate unplugged sets to jam-packed audiences at select Ovation dealers throughout the United States. The band, outfitted with an arsenal of Ovation...

Top Drum Corps select King "Ultimate" Marching Brass.(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)
July 1, 2007... SEVEN LEADING DRUM corps from DCI and one corps from Drum Corp Europe have chosen the King "Ultimate" Marching Brass from Conn-Selmer as their exclusive brass line. Superior design and sound advantage, physical control, and maneuverability all...

Levy's strengthens ties with distributors.(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)
July 1, 2007... HARVEY LEVY recently visited Levy's newly appointed distributor, Harris Teller, for a sales training session at its headquarters in Chicago. Harris Teller and Kaman Music Corp. were recently appointed distributors of Levy's and will supplement...

Stedman Corporation to handle shipping: Big Bends.(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)
July 1, 2007... BIG BENDS' "Tech in a Tube" Guitar Nut Sauce sales have steadily advanced since the business started in 2001. Six years later, Big Bends founder Jeff Massey has outgrown his Plainwell, Michigan, shipping facility. In an effort to keep up with...

"My Little Baldwin Club" offers online music education.(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)
July 1, 2007... BALDWIN PIANO, part of the Gibson family of brands, has announced the launch of the My Little Baldwin Club. The online piano lesson plan targeted to preschool-aged children offers an opportunity for fun, interactive lessons that have proven,...

Hamilton Stands moves to historic location.(FLASH)
July 1, 2007... BEFITTING ITS 124-year history, Hamilton Stands Incorporated has moved its offices to historic downtown Lebanon, Ohio. Hamilton Stands was founded in 1883 by Krauth & Benninghofen in Hamilton, Ohio. Early patents (prior to 1900) include a...

Kaman Music net rises on cost control initiatives.(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)
July 1, 2007... KAMAN MUSIC Corporation posted sales of $50.8 million for the first quarter of 2007, down 3.1% from the first quarter of 2006. Operating income for the division was $1.6 million, up 24.9% from the first quarter of 2006 due to the consolidation...

Share prices of publicly traded industry firms.(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)
July 1, 2007... SHARE PRICES OF PUBLICLY TRADED INDUSTRY FIRMS PRICE AS OF P/E 52-WEEK RANGE JUNE 14, 2007 RATIO HIGH-LOW Apple Computer Inc. $118.50 37.50...

Sales drop hurts net, NEMC deal pending: QRS Music.(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)
July 1, 2007... QRS MUSIC TECHNOLOGIES reported sales of $3.2 million for the three-month period ended March 31, 2007, a 36% decline from last year's revenue of $4.4. million. For the quarter, the company posted a net loss of $257,062 compared with a loss of...

Loud Technologies posts loss on 13% sales decline.(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)(Financial report)
July 1, 2007... LOUD TECHNOLOGIES posted a net loss of $5.9 million on sales of $50.9 million for the three-month period ended March 31, 2007. For the same period a year ago, the company had a net loss of $595,000 on sales of $58.6 million. Loud...

Flat video sales hurt net income: Avid.(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)(Financial report)
July 1, 2007... AVID TECHNOLOGY, INC., parent corporation of Digidesign and M-Audio, reported revenues of $218.9 million for the three-month period ended March 31, 2007, compared to $218.1 million for the same period in 2006. Net income for the quarter was...

Wireless spectrum smackdown: audio and computer industries at odds over FCC plans to regulate certain bandwidth.(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)
July 1, 2007... COMPUTER MANUFACTURERS, including Dell, Hewlett Packard, and Microsoft, are lobbying the Federal Communications Commission to open a segment of the wireless spectrum to any and all hand-held communication devices. They argue that this...

Taye reorganizes Canadian operation.(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)
July 1, 2007... JOINED WITH A NEWLY appointed distributor in Canada, Taye Drums has fully recovered from its mid-April cessation of relations with its former distributor. Taye's customers in Canada are now serviced by Mississauga, Ontario-based Power Group....

Bruce Stevens to retire after 22 years as Steinway CEO: Spencer Stuart search firm retained to find successor.(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)
July 1, 2007... BRUCE STEVENS has announced that he will retire from his post as president & CEO of Steinway & Sons by the end of this year. During his 22-year tenure as head of the renowned piano maker, Stevens expanded the company's global distribution,...

Slow-moving inventory solution: Wrightway Music website.(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)
July 1, 2007... WRIGHTWAY MUSIC Products' new venture, www.goingTODAY.com, will feature one musical item per day on a neat and simple website. These items differ vastly from day to day, ranging from instruments of all types down to even the smallest...

Jay Leno takes delivery of Estonia grand: Pianoforce.(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)
July 1, 2007... JAY LENO, HOST OF NBC'S Tonight Show, recently received delivery of his new Estonia 6' 3" Hidden Beauty grand piano. The piano is equipped with the new Pianoforce Player System featuring the new Performance controller. At 17,000 square...

Cable TV show audience grows: Straight-Ahead Guitar Show.(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)
July 1, 2007... STRAIGHT-AHEAD Guitar TV Show features the world's most impressive guitar players, guitar builders, and factory reps, providing educational, enlightening, and entertaining interviews, plus hands-on demonstrations of new products every week....

Music Master's Guitar Wheel earns artist endorsements.(FLASH)
July 1, 2007... WHAT STARTED OUT as a father and son's endeavor to construct a product of music theory has grown into a flow of artist endorsements and product input for Music Master Publishing. The signature product of Music Master Publishing is the...

Boomwhackers sales hit milestone: Whacky Music, Inc.(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)
July 1, 2007... WHACKY MUSIC, INC., has announced that the worldwide sales of its award-winning Boomwhackers Tuned Percussion Tubes have passed the five million mark. First introduced in 1995, the patented Boomwhackers are unique instruments made of brightly...

Master Design division introduced: U.S. Masters Guitar Works.(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)
July 1, 2007... MASTERS DESIGN is a new brand and division of U.S. Masters Guitar Works, an innovator, designer, and manufacturer of high-performance all American-made electric guitars and bass guitars. Masters Design brings together the technology,...

GCI Technologies sponsors Green Light Open Mic project.(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)
July 1, 2007... CORTEX, A PART OF GCI Technologies, has announced its sponsorship of the Atlanta, Georgia-based Green Light Open Mic community hip-hop project set to kick off this summer. The project, a continuing series of events, features a complete mobile...

New England guitar festival celebrates all facets of fretted instruments.(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)
July 1, 2007... PREMIER GUITAR SHOWS will kick off its series of regional guitar festivals with the New England Guitar Festival, September 15-16. Held at Boston's Bayside Expo Center, the New England Guitar Festival is expected to host as many as 150 guitar,...

Hal Leonard now exclusive distributor: Art Strings Publishing.(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)
July 1, 2007... HAL LEONARD CORPORATION has signed an agreement with Fort Collins, Colorado-based Art Strings Publishing LLC to exclusively distribute products featuring the music-themed artwork of Karen Cannon. The deal, reached by Hal Leonard Senior Vice...

Laps For Life benefits Cancer Center: Paul Reed Smith Guitars.(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)
July 1, 2007... PAUL REED SMITH Guitars brought a new "Laps For Life" effort to the sixth-annual Hyperfest June 23. Racers, vendors, and spectators descended on Summit Point Raceway near Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, as PRS sponsored the festival for the third...

Donation helps rebuld New Orleans school: Composite Acoustics.(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)
July 1, 2007... THROUGH THE Live with Regis and Kelly show, Composite Acoustics was able to surprise Dr. Charles Drew Elementary School in New Orleans, Louisiana, with a donation of guitars to rebuild the school's music program. On August 29, 2005,...

Services geared toward increasing store income: Charles Dumont & Son.(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)
July 1, 2007... CHARLES DUMONT & SON, Inc., a leader in print music distribution, has been servicing music stores worldwide since 1945. With main office in Voorhees, New Jersey, and satellite offices in New York, California, and Florida, sales representatives...

2007 Vault Tour hits Western Canada: Sabian.(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)
July 1, 2007... CANADA-BASED CYMBAL manufacturer Sabian began bringing its celebrated Vault Tour to seven cities across Western Canada starting June 5. Designed to give local drummers the opportunity to get up close and personal with Sabian's master craftsmen,...

Morgan Hill to distribute Wedgie accessory line.(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)
July 1, 2007... WEDGIE HAD THE fresh designs in guitar picks and drum accessories; Morgan Hill Music had the means to bring them to the world. The two joined forces in a merger announced this spring, whereby Morgan Hill Music was made parent company and...

Independent rep firm takes on upper Midwest: Bedrock Brands.(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)
July 1, 2007... NICK BARBIERI HAS FOUNDED Bedrock Brands, a new independent rep firm serving Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and the Dakotas. Barbieri, who started with St. Louis Music in 1995, has achieved sales increases for 11 consecutive years. ...

Golden Sound offers new product lines.(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)
July 1, 2007... GOLDEN SOUND DISTRIBUTORS, is the newly formed distribution company that is representing a wide range of brands, including: Rheuben Allen saxophones, clarinets and woodwind accessories; Zephyrwinds band instruments; Ronnie Laws Signature...

Piano city's run of bad luck six car crashes in 12 years: after car plows into storefront, resourceful California dealer holds a successful tent sale and even sells the arresting cop a piano.(RETAILER UPDATE: NEWS FROM THE RETAIL FRONT LINES)
July 1, 2007... THE PIANO CITY STORE in West Covina, California, is having an unscheduled tent sale. They didn't have a choice. Another car just plowed through their showroom, and it won't be repaired for at least three more months. It's the sixth time this...

American Music finds big business in small goods.(RETAILER UPDATE: NEWS FROM THE RETAIL FRONT LINES)
July 1, 2007... HIGHLIGHTING ITS ABILITY to provide dealers with the products and support to generate consistent and strong revenue, American Music of Seattle reported that the Music Accessories brand has helped make a significant impact on its bottom line...

Autographed guitars benefit disabled kids: West L.A. Music.(RETAILER UPDATE: NEWS FROM THE RETAIL FRONT LINES)
July 1, 2007... WEST L.A. MUSIC recently donated two guitars autographed by top country music artists to William Shatner's 17th-annual Hollywood Charity Horse Show. An Epiphone PR 150 Acoustic Guitar was signed by 12 artists including Keith Urban, Kix Brooks...

Bill's and Fender celebrate 100 years: Bill's Music.(RETAILER UPDATE: NEWS FROM THE RETAIL FRONT LINES)
July 1, 2007... BILL'S MUSIC IN BALTIMORE recently celebrated "Fender Day." Between Fender's 60th anniversary and Bill's 40th, the two have combined for 100 years in business. What started for Bill's Music as an 8 x 8 guitar lesson studio is now over 36,000...

Thomas Lang Clinic draws SRO crowd: Cascio Interstate.(RETAILER UPDATE: NEWS FROM THE RETAIL FRONT LINES)
July 1, 2007... FEW DRUMMERS CAPTIVATE an audience like international drumming superstar Thomas Lang. Making one of just a handful of North American stops on his current tour promoting Roland V-Drums, Lang drew a packed house on the Cascio Interstate Music...

Bonnie Fitch opens second Las Vegas location.(RETAILER UPDATE: NEWS FROM THE RETAIL FRONT LINES)
July 1, 2007... WHEN BONNIE AND CLYDE Fitch opened their first music store in 1981, it was going to be called Bonnie & Clyde's. Clyde designed a logo with a tommy gun shooting musical notes, but in the end they called the store Bonnie's Music Shoppe instead....

Contest winner takes home Ibanez JS100: Gand Music & Sound.(RETAILER UPDATE: NEWS FROM THE RETAIL FRONT LINES)
July 1, 2007... MITCHELL GREEN OF Northbrook, Illinois, was named grand-prize winner in the fourth-annual "Guitar Idol @ Gand" solo contest held in April by Gand Music & Sound in Northfield, Illinois. Over 100 guitar and bass players competed in the...

Management team expands to meet growth: Sweetwater.(RETAILER UPDATE: NEWS FROM THE RETAIL FRONT LINES)
July 1, 2007... SWEETWATER HAS added four new full-time and nine part-time positions, bringing its total employment to 280. Mike Lentine, newly appointed director of information technology, was born and raised in Akron, Ohio. He started Lentine's Music with...

Steinway Society hosts competition: Steinway Gallery Naples.(RETAILER UPDATE: NEWS FROM THE RETAIL FRONT LINES)
July 1, 2007... THE STEINWAY PIANO Society of Naples recently awarded $11,000 to 12 winners of the 2007 Florida Gulf Coast University/Steinway Piano Competition. The University also awarded scholarships. Nearly 100 students aged 6 to 18 participated in the 8th...

All things are not equal, especially price: some thoughts on how to create perceived value and build customer trust so you don't have to continually match every lowball price that comes along on the internet.(BOB POPYK ON SELLING)
July 1, 2007... All things being equal, a customer will usually buy where whatever they need is cheapest. Think about it; you do too. If gas is four cents a gallon cheaper across the street, you go there, if you can save $2,000 on a new car, you go to that...

Prescription for avoiding a summer sales slump: contrary to popular belief, there are ways to generate store traffic when your customers are heading for the pool. Targeted promotional events, outdoor concerts, block parties, and street fairs are just a few of the ways to keep your business brisk.(CREATIVE RETAILING)
July 1, 2007... The sun is out. The weather's warm. It's the season everyone heads outdoors, not into stores, resulting in a "summer sales slump" for many retailers. But don't throw in the towel and head for the pool just yet because there are ways to keep...

Nordiska "fan" helps sell quality story: recognizing that "seeing is believing," new Geneva piano display educates consumers to the fine points of Nordiska piano construction.(SALES TOOLS)
July 1, 2007... GENEVA INTERNATIONAL founder Earl Matzkin was so confident in the workmanship on his Nordiska Pianos that he took some of them apart to show it off. A "fan display" first unveiled at the January NAMM show reveals each layer of the piano tilted...

Is your service department a "necessary evil" or a profit center? In an era of stepped-up competition from the internet and national chains, a good repair department can provide you with a compelling competitive edge. Dan Parker shows how it can also be an important money maker.(RETAIL STRATEGIES)
July 1, 2007... The heart of any retailer's band and orchestra program is the repair shop, and skilled technicians are essential to maintaining your rental fleet and providing a marketable advantage over big-box, internet, and discount-focused competitors. But...

Eminence speakers west, and now east: Rob Gault resisted Asia's pull for years. When the global economy's realities finally compelled him to establish a presence there, he was determined to do it "the right way.".(EMINENCE OPENS IN CHINA)(Company overview)
July 1, 2007... Eminence Speaker LLC has always been a "brand behind the brands." Specializing in the design and manufacture of unique models for leading companies such as Yamaha, Peavey, Community, Gibson, Epiphone, Marshall, Ampeg, Fender, Gallien-Krueger,...

Retail up! In today's street slang, forward-thinking music dealers might be asked, "What up, retailers?" The smartest ones might well answer ...(ONLINE MARKETING)(Company overview)
July 1, 2007... Fifteen years ago only a small percentage of music retailers had websites. Today it's almost unthinkable not to have one. But as retail sites' pervasiveness has grown, so too have consumers' expectations for their functionality, far beyond the...

Rare & beautiful Ramirez guitars: singlemindedly pursuing excellence for the past 125 years, the Ramirez family has earned a reputation as Spain's premier guitar makers. Despite extremely limited production, their guitars are revered worldwide. What makes them so special?(Ramirez: The First Name In Classical Guitars)(Company overview)
July 1, 2007... Ferrari enthusiasts expect to wait up to three years for a $250,000 model 599 GTB Fiorano, and the company makes only about 250 of the cars available to its U.S. customers. In the world of Spanish classical guitars, Ramirez Guitars...

Mason & Hamlin dealer academy fuels sales growth: developing well-honed sales skills and thorough product knowledge, Mason & Hamlin aids retailers in sale of high-end U.S.-made pianos.(INDUSTRY MARKETING)
July 1, 2007... IS IT POSSIBLE THAT A three-decade run to produce products at the lowest possible prices in Asia is beginning to wane? Anyone who has been in the music industry during this time has witnessed the relocation of countless piano, band instrument,...

"DIM" weight hits sour note with shippers: strategies for controlling costs as FedEx, UPS, and DHL recalibrate their shipping rates.(RETAIL STRATEGIES)
July 1, 2007... SHIPPERS WANTING to determine package costs in the future will probably wish they had paid better attention in high school geometry class. Many carriers including FedEx, UPS, and DHL are beginning to use dimensional weight (aka "DIM" weight) to...

Housing blues ... do slumping home sales hurt the piano business? Retailers discuss how the bursting housing market bubble has affected their piano sales.(RETAIL: Q&A)
July 1, 2007... THE REAL ESTATE BUBBLE began to deflate in late 2005. Home price appreciation fell from 13.2 percent in 2005 to 5.9 percent in 2006--a precipitous 55% decline. New home sales have already plummeted 17 percent in 2006. How has this trend...

Operation: Music Aid: one retailer's dedicated effort to use the power of music to help heal our wounded troops.(Beyond The Call Of Duty: Operation Music Aid)
July 1, 2007... Even the precious little good news coming out of Iraq tends to have a dark underside. Improved body armor, state-of-the-art medical technology, and highly skilled, heroically dedicated doctors and nurses have kept the death toll much lower than...

Hal Leonard promotes Lady, Fuhry and Fritsch.(PEOPLE: MOVERS AND SHAKERS)
July 1, 2007... HAL LEONARD CORPORATION has made three promotions to its upper management team. Doug Lady has been named senior vice president of sales; Rick Furhy has been promoted to vice president of international sales; and Tom Fritsch has been promoted to...

Steinway names Adams VP and controller.(PEOPLE: MOVERS AND SHAKERS)
July 1, 2007... STEINWAY & SONS has tapped Richard E. Adams as its new vice president and controller. In this new post he will oversee budgeting, operational analysis, and financial reporting at the piano maker's New York headquarters. Adams was most...

Eunson, Jarret new district managers: YAMAHA.(PEOPLE: MOVERS AND SHAKERS)
July 1, 2007... YAMAHA CORPORATION OF AMERICA, Pro Audio & Combo Division, has announced two new appointments. Cole Eunson has been appointed district manager for combo products (guitar, bass, and drums), while Woodrow "Woody" Jarrett has been named district...

Harman names Paliwal CEO & vice chairman.(PEOPLE: MOVERS AND SHAKERS)
July 1, 2007... HARMAN INTERNATIONAL, the parent company of JBL, Lexicon, Digitech, Soundcraft, and AKG, has named Dinesh Paliwal chief executive officer and vice chairman. Paliwal, 49, is currently president, global markets and technology, and a member of the...

Richardson appointed national sales manager: Tornavoz Music.(PEOPLE: MOVERS AND SHAKERS)
July 1, 2007... TORNAVOZ MUSIC, the world's leading supplier of nylon-string guitars and accessories, has promoted Troy Richardson to the national sales manager position. Previously the western regional sales manager, Richardson has played an active role in...

Sales and support staff expanded: Fishman.(PEOPLE: MOVERS AND SHAKERS)
July 1, 2007... FISHMAN RECENTLY appointed Jay Blout as inside sales manager and Frank Padellaro as customer support supervisor. Blout will be responsible for the management and coordination for the inside domestic sales team as well as handling key accounts...

Audio pioneer Sennheiser celebrates his 95th birthday.(PEOPLE: MOVERS AND SHAKERS)
July 1, 2007... NOTED AUDIO PIONEER and Sennheiser Electronics founder Dr. Fritz Sennheiser celebrated his 95th birthday on May 9. In June 1945 Dr. Sennheiser founded his "Laboratorium Wennebostel" in an abandoned laboratory of Hanover's Technical University...

Padgitt appointed vice president: Fender.(PEOPLE: MOVERS AND SHAKERS)
July 1, 2007... FENDER MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Corporation has appointed Jason Padgitt to the newly established position of vice president, public relations and corporate communications. Padgitt joins Fender after more than ten successful years with Los...

Cramer named vice president: Ron Tunks Sales.(PEOPLE: MOVERS AND SHAKERS)
July 1, 2007... BASED IN LARGE PART on his lead role in building the company's Systems Contracting Division, Bill Cramer has been named vice president at Ron Tunks Sales. Cramer joined the Systems Contracting division in 1994 after 18 years as owner of...

Brandom heads Disklavier marketing: Yamaha.(PEOPLE: MOVERS AND SHAKERS)
July 1, 2007... YAMAHA CORPORATION of America has announced the appointment of music industry veteran Bill Brandom to the position of Disklavier marketing manager in the company's Piano Division. For the past two years Brandom has served as Senior...