Music Trades articles from October 2007

Music Trades archives from October 2007

The merits of NAMM's return to Nashville!(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
October 1, 2007... It is great news to hear that NAMM has announced that the summer show will be back in Nashville in 2008. Bringing it back to Nashville should revive summer NAMM like Lazarus from the dead. I anticipate it will be an immediate success. While it...

Guitar Center's private label program.(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
October 1, 2007... Did I just read in your article on GC's private label program that an unnamed manufacturer admits to violating the Robinson Patman Act by providing GC with "promotional expenditures (money for advertising), in-store displays, and a lot of other...

Imports take another breather.(IMPORT TRACKER: What's Coming Into The U.S. And From Where?)
October 1, 2007... IMPORTS OF VIRTUALLY EVERY category tracked by this column slowed considerably during the second quarter ended June 30. With the exception of electric guitars, which jumped 17%, and high-end acoustic guitars, which advanced 3.8%, importers...

What a difference a month can make.(Industry Briefings)
October 1, 2007... In July, consumer confidence hit a six-year high. Within 30 days, however, thanks no doubt to concern about housing and credit markets, the same survey showed a sharp decline in confidence among U.S. consumers. The Reuters/University of...

Move over guitar hero, here comes competition.(Industry Briefings)
October 1, 2007... A new video game that uses a magical guitar to fight evil has won a prize in one of the U.K.'s most respected game contests. Created by the five member Voodoo Boogy team, the game, 'Ragnarawk' won the Commercial Potential prize in the 'Dare to...

Linking rap music to violence.(Industry Briefings)
October 1, 2007... After a spate of shootings and a rising murder rate, police in Colorado Springs, Colorado are saying that gangsta rap is contributing to the violence, luring gang members and criminal activity to local nightclubs. The police publicly condemned...

Sex bias lawsuit against NY Philharmonic settled.(Industry Briefings)
October 1, 2007... A sex discrimination lawsuit filed by violinist Anton Polezhayev against the New York Philharmonic in July 2005 has ended with a settlement. Though specifics were not given, an orchestra official said the musician "dropped his claims."...

Finding the bright spot in the guitar market.(EDITORIAL)
October 1, 2007... The current meltdown in the housing market illustrates a deeply ingrained human tendency to seamlessly extrapolate the recent past into the distant future. A decade of rising housing prices and low default rates prompted otherwise rational...

New leadership for Steinway & Sons: veteran executives Kurrer and Losby to head piano maker as Stevens and Mazurco retire after 22-year partnership.(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)
October 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] NEW LEADERSHIP is poised to take the reins at Steinway & Sons as of January 1, 2008. Thomas Kurrer, an 18-year veteran of Steinway and currently head of Steinway's overseas operations, will succeed Bruce Stevens, who...

Summer NAMM back to Nashville.(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)
October 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] NAMM HAS ANNOUNCED that its 2008 Summer NAMM event will be held in Nashville, June 20-22, 2008, at the Nashville Convention Center. The association held its annual Summer Session in Nashville from 1993 through 2004....

NAMM honors Randy Jackson for arts advocacy.(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)
October 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ON BEHALF OF NAMM, Rick Young of Yamaha presented an Arts Advocacy Award to Randy Jackson of American Idol fame at the U.S. Conference of Mayors held in Los Angeles in June. (l-r) Rick Young; Mayor Douglas Palmer of...

Boss pedals go multi-platinum: 30 million sold! Roland Corporation.(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)
October 1, 2007... GUITARISTS AND MUSICIANS have now purchased over ten million Boss compact effects pedals since the company's launch in 1976. "We're honored and grateful to be in this position," says Paul Youngblood, president of Boss U.S. "It's clear that...

Anthem offers high-profit lines for indie retailers.(FLASH)
October 1, 2007... THE ANTHEM MUSIC Group, Inc. has been founded to help retailers improve cash flow and gross profits while enriching lives through music. The group's CEO, David Kilkenny, has over 15 years of experience in the musical instrument industry, most...

Major expansion launched to meet increased demand for print: Hal Leonard.(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)
October 1, 2007... THE WORLD'S LARGEST MUSIC print publisher is about to get larger by thousands of square feet. Hal Leonard Corporation broke ground August 15 on a 12-acre parcel of land in Winona, Minnesota, where a new state-of-the-art distribution center will...

Guitar trophy rocks Chevy NASCAR race: PRS Guitars.(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)
October 1, 2007... NASCAR FANS FROM ALL over the country who venture to Richmond International Raceway year after year to experience the Chevy Rock & Roll 400 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series race have probably noticed a slight change in the winner's trophy over the last...

Essex piano launch fuels sales growth at Steinway.(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)
October 1, 2007... STEINWAY MUSICAL Instruments, Inc. revenues were flat in the second quarter of 2007 at $92.2 million, as a 5% increase in piano sales offset a 7% decline in band sales. Reduced interest expense and lower bad debt charges increased net income to...

Roland Foundation honors Tomita.(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)
October 1, 2007... IN RECOGNITION OF HIS PIONEERING contribution to the field of electronic music, the Roland Foundation awarded its first-ever Hamamatsu Electronic Arts Award to internationally acclaimed composer and arranger Isao Tomita. On May 25 he was...

Harman pro sales rise 9% in 2007: Harman International.(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)(Financial report)
October 1, 2007... SALES AT THE HARMAN Professional Division advanced 8% to $561 million for the year ended June 30, 2007. The division, which produces JBL speakers, AKG microphones, Soundcraft mixers, Crown power amplifiers, and dbx and Lexicon effect products,...

Presidential contender Huckabee graces Music magazine cover.(FLASH)
October 1, 2007... MAKING MUSIC, a consumer lifestyle magazine for recreational musicians, features former Arkansas governor and presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee on the cover of its September/October issue. Huckabee, a long-time supporter of music education in...

Mackie & SLM post loss as sales decline: Loud Technologies.(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)(Financial report)
October 1, 2007... LOUD TECHNOLOGIES POSTED a net loss of $2.7 million for the three-month period ended June 20, 2007. The parent of Mackie Designs, EAW, Crate and Ampeg amplifiers, Knilling violins, and Alvarez guitars had posted a $300,000 profit a year...

Expands, relocates custom shop: First Act.(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)
October 1, 2007... DUE TO THE OVERWHELMING popularity of its unique custom guitars, First Act has expanded its custom shop and moved to a new location within the company's hometown of Boston, Massachusetts. The new facility has been equipped with two new CNC...

LA schools select student trumpet: Antigua Winds.(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)
October 1, 2007... IN NEED OF OVER 200 student trumpets for the upcoming school year, the Los Angeles Unified School District set out to evaluate and select a brand of trumpet that would satisfy their strict criteria. The LAUSD ultimately chose the Antigua Winds...

Grand piano featured in pre-Olympic ceremony: Hailun.(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)
October 1, 2007... CHINA MARKED the one-year-count-down to the 2008 Olympic Games with a national celebration in Beijing. Featured in the concert presentation was the recently unveiled Hailun 277 Grand Piano. Finished in the Chinese traditional red color for good...

Meinl plans ultra-modern logistics center.(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)
October 1, 2007... ROLAND MEINL Musikinstrumente GmbH & Co. KG has begun a new era in company operations with the construction of an ultra-modern state-of-the-art logistics center. Built on 460,000 square feet of land, the new center will hold up to 6,000...

Upscale Marketing New Western U.S. Rep.: Hornets Drumsticks.(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)
October 1, 2007... HORNETS DRUMSTICKS has appointed Upscale Marketing, Inc. representative for the states of California, Arizona and Nevada. "We're very excited about Upscale Marketing representing the Hornets brand in the West," said Aaron Wilhelm, Hornets...

Kurzweil announces online listening room.(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)
October 1, 2007... IN CONJUNCTION WITH the launch of its new website, Kurzweil Music Systems has launched the first online shootout Listening Room. The Kurzweil Listening Room will allow visitors to the site to listen to and compare the sounds of the most popular...

Liberty DeVitto plays with Hall of Fame house band: Mapex.(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)
October 1, 2007... WHEN IT COMES TO house bands, it's a safe bet that the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame will stage a pretty strong combo. For the second year in a row, Mapex artist Liberty DeVitto sat in as a member of the house band at the hall of fame's annual...

NAMM elects new executive committee.(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)
October 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] NAMM, THE INTERNATIONAL Music Products Association, announced the election of its 2007-2009 executive committee. The election marks a significant change of leadership for NAMM, with Chip Averwater, chairman of Amro...

U.K's premier drums restructures.(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)
October 1, 2007... PREMIER MUSIC International Limited (PMIL) has acquired the brand, business, and certain assets of Premier Percussion Limited as part of a restructuring of that company. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "Premier is one of the oldest and most...

Sabian day observed at Berklee Percussion Festival.(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)
October 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] SABIAN WAS THE center of attention at this year's four-day Berklee Percussion Festival, with an entire day dedicated to events involving the award-winning cymbal maker and Sabian endorsers. Highlights including a...

Fender honors pioneers with "Hall of Fame": a new gallery at Fender headquarters celebrates the remarkable talents of those who led the electric guitar revolution.(COMPANY NEWS)
October 1, 2007... THE PIONEERING GENIUS of Leo Fender has been celebrated in countless books and documentaries, and his name on the headstock of millions of guitars around the world is a constant reminder of his brilliance. Less celebrated is the extraordinary...

Hohner sets world record on 150th year: three-day celebration in Trossingen marked by the largest harmonica orchestra in history.
October 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] HAVING SOLD MORE MUSICAL instruments than any other manufacturer on the planet--over 1 billion harmonicas since 1857--how would Hohner celebrate its 150th anniversary? With a world record, naturally. On September 8...

Why guitar center is going private: CEO Marty Albertson explains the reasoning behind selling to Bain Capital for $2.1 billion.(RETAILER UPDATE: NEWS FROM THE RETAIL FRONT LINES)
October 1, 2007... BAIN CAPITAL'S MOVE TO acquire Guitar Center for $2.1 billion has triggered a wave of industry speculation as to why the leading retailer would sell out to a private equity firm. And in the absence of any public statements from GC management,...

AIMM retailers foil "Limousine Bandit": working together, retailers across state lines unravel a novel credit card fraud and get the "perp" arrested.(RETAILER UPDATE: NEWS FROM THE RETAIL FRONT LINES)
October 1, 2007... HIS REAL NAME HASN'T been made public, but some people call him the Limo Bandit. He came from Indiana and took a credit card scam through Iowa and Illinois, down to Florida and up into Georgia, hitting at least eight music retailers, until one...

Fork's Drum Closet celebrates 25th anniversary.(RETAILER UPDATE: NEWS FROM THE RETAIL FRONT LINES)
October 1, 2007... PEARL CORPORATION congratulated Gary Forkum and the entire staff at Fork's Drum Closet for the store's 25 years of outstanding service to the drum and percussion communities of Nashville and the surrounding areas. Fork's has established itself...

Chryssopoulos named logistics manager: England Piano.(RETAILER UPDATE: NEWS FROM THE RETAIL FRONT LINES)
October 1, 2007... GREG CHRYSSOPOULOS has been promoted to logistics manager at England Piano's Atlanta Megastore Warehouse. Greg's prior experience includes 15 years of technical and logistical service in the piano industry. He will provide logistical support...

Rick Grant appointed president and coo: Jordan Kitt's Music.(RETAILER UPDATE: NEWS FROM THE RETAIL FRONT LINES)
October 1, 2007... RICK GRANT has been appointed president and chief operations officer by the Jordan Kitt's Music board of directors. Bill McCormick, chairman and CEO of Jordan Kitt's Music, said, "This will be an important continuation of Jordan Kitt's legacy...

Amazon cites retailer for customer satisfaction: West Music.(RETAILER UPDATE: NEWS FROM THE RETAIL FRONT LINES)
October 1, 2007... WEST MUSIC OF IOWA received Amazon.com's top award for customer satisfaction at Amazon's Seller Summit in Seattle, Washington, August 15. West Music is the first of Amazon.com's marketplace sellers to receive this award, based solely on...

Retail space to expand by 50%: Bellevue American Music.(RETAILER UPDATE: NEWS FROM THE RETAIL FRONT LINES)
October 1, 2007... SINCE 1984 BELLEVUE AMERICAN Music has been situated on a major east-west street running through the heart of the Overlake area in Bellevue, Washington. This year the store concluded a deal to expand the existing retail space by almost 50% next...

Funky Munky Music sets world record: Kansas City dealer assembles 1,721 guitarists for a rendition of "Smoke on the Water" and a place in the Guinness Book.(RETAILER UPDATE: NEWS FROM THE RETAIL FRONT LINES)
October 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ON THE AFTERNOON OF JUNE 3 in Kansas City, Kansas, Funky Munky Music and a couple thousand friends showed up to paint the town purple-Deep Purple. The people at Funky Munky aren't sure who held the previous world...

Thinking inside the box: instead of focusing only on getting new customers, what about making your store a more enjoyable place, so your existing customers will spend more time there?(BOB POPYK ON SELLING)
October 1, 2007... Years ago, when I was growing up, I loved to hang out in music stores. In fact, I still do. I remember Grinnell's in Detroit, Auburn Music in upstate New York, and Manny's in New York City. It was a kick just to look at and try new instruments,...

Drive traffic to your website now! Type in "music store" on Google and you'll get 510 million results. Some practical advice on search engine techniques that will allow you to stand out in the crowd!(CREATIVE RETAILING)(Website overview)
October 1, 2007... You want to drive traffic to your retail website? Hey, join the crowd. Search the phrase "music store" on the internet and you'll get over 510 million results. With these results and so many other websites competing for the internet user's...

How to find more customers: top industry execs from around the world convened for the sixth NAMM Economic Summit to discuss the most pressing issues facing the industry, specifically.(NAMM ECONOMIC SUMMIT)
October 1, 2007... How can the industry create more active music makers? What are the best strategies for building a competitive enterprise in a global economy? What emerging technologies hold the promise to transform the economy? Is there a better way to teach...

How the Puritans paved the way for rock 'n' roll: to understand why English-speaking countries are on the cutting edge of popular music, and why they enjoy higher guitar sales, take a look at the religious revolutions that rocked the world a few centuries ago. No, we're not kidding.(THE GUITAR MARKET)(Cover story)
October 1, 2007... The trajectory of guitar sales over the past 18 months has been nothing to get excited about. After nearly a decade of unbroken growth, arrows on the sales charts have recently been holding flat, or trending down, depending on which price point...

Why has the entry-level market slowed?: a cross section of retailers cite market saturation, the impact of big box stores, and some unexpected factors to explain the recent decline in low-end guitar sales. The conclusion: the industry must avoid a "race to the bottom".(THE GUITAR MARKET)
October 1, 2007... Kelly Howard Apple Music Row SOMETIMES THE BEST THING you can do with a $99 guitar, says Kelly Howard of Portland, Oregon's Apple Music Row, is to donate it to a guitar contest and hope it gets smashed to pieces. As a pro shop, Apple...

Denver's metal mecca: how family-run Drum City Guitarland has become the destination for hard rockers throughout the Rocky Mountain region.(THE GUITAR MARKET)
October 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "I was wondering what you'd charge for an ESP LTD H-1001. I've heard good things about you on the ESP forum and will be over in America fairly soon. Cheers, Alex." Why would "Alex," a guitarist from the U.K., be...

Peavey redefines the custom shop concept: mating a patented printing technology with a slick website, Peavey enables players to create truly the guitars of their dreams, while opening up an entirely new market.(THE GUITAR MARKET)(Website overview)
October 1, 2007... From the company that introduced computer-controlled manufacturing technology to the guitar industry comes a radical new approach to guitar customization. The newly opened Peavey Electronics custom shop makes use of cutting-edge printing and...

Putting guitar hero to work at retail: how East Coast Music Mall leverages the popularity of the top-selling video game to build store traffic and attract a new customer base.(THE GUITAR MARKET)
October 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] On his way out of Anaheim after Winter NAMM 2006, Rob Jackson saw a new video game called Guitar Hero in a store window. He wanted to see it, find out how it worked and how much it cost, but they were all sold out,...

Opening new markets with an unusual guitar: the "Helmet" guitar is an attempt to appeal to the 175 million die-hard fans of the NFL's 32 teams.(THE GUITAR MARKET)
October 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Steelers were winning their final playoff game en route to Super Bowl XL when Rich Roland first had the idea. A veteran of the commercial sculpture and molding industries, Roland recalled a friend's advice--"You...

Meet NAMM's new chairman Chip Averwater: new association head pledges to raise service levels and aid retailers in negotiating an increasingly competitive market.(NAMM's NEW LEADERSHIP)
October 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Upon joining his family's Amro Music in 1972, Chip Averwater's first position was as a "repo" man, going door-to-door in Memphis to retrieve band instruments from past-due customers. The job forced the University of...

Revamped MIAC powers up Canadian trade show: 36th annual show reflects underlying resiliance of Canadian music market, but also concerns about business in the U.S.(REPORT FROM MIAC)
October 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] In recent years the Music Industries Association of Canada has taken numerous steps toward becoming more effective, more efficient, and more relevant to its membership. By far the association's primary source of...

Korg USA promotes Colby, Garnick.(PEOPLE: MOVERS AND SHAKERS)
October 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] KORG USA, exclusive U.S. distributor of Korg, Marshall, Toneworks, and VOX, has appointed Mitch Colby as executive vice president and to the newly created position of chief marketing officer (CMO). Colby will...

Chadsey named executive sales director: The Cavanaugh Company.(PEOPLE: MOVERS AND SHAKERS)
October 1, 2007... SUPER-SENSITIVE MUSICAL String Co., Bari Woodwind Supplies, and Black Diamond Strings, all under The Cavanaugh Company, have recently hired Mary Nell Chadsey as executive director of sales. Chadsey previously worked with The Proctor and Gamble...

Laura Pilcher named marketing manager: Musicorp.(PEOPLE: MOVERS AND SHAKERS)
October 1, 2007... MUSICORP HAS appointed Laura Pilcher to the position of marketing manager. Pilcher will manage all corporate communications, media, and public relations. She will be responsible for all industry events sponsored by Musicorp and will serve as...

Sonia Vallis heads LPD International.(PEOPLE: MOVERS AND SHAKERS)
October 1, 2007... SONIA VALLIS, formerly general manager of LPD International, will succeed her father and company founder Harry Bernstein as president and CEO. Bernstein passed away April 14 at the age of 72, six weeks after being diagnosed with cancer. ...

ATZ to head product development: The Music Link.(PEOPLE: MOVERS AND SHAKERS)
October 1, 2007... THE MUSIC LINK has promoted Travis Atz to director of product development. Atz will oversee development of The Music Link's major brands, including Recording King banjos and guitars, The Loar archtops and mandolins, and AXL guitars. ...

Taylor guitars expands with first-ever solid body.(PRODUCTS: THE LATEST AND GREATEST IN NEW PRODUCT INTRODUCTIONS)
October 1, 2007... TAYLOR'S FIRST solid-body guitar, available in three models, will launch in January with a limited number of pre-production models available this fall. "Our new solid body electrics are a completely original design," said Bob Taylor. "I could...

SKB case offers advanced protection features.(PRODUCTS: THE LATEST AND GREATEST IN NEW PRODUCT INTRODUCTIONS)
October 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] SKB CORPORATION has redesigned the SKB-61 SG Type Guitar case to incorporate the technologies and features introduced to their Deluxe Guitar Line in January 2007. The SKB-61 SG Type Guitar case has a new plush-lined,...

World's smallest condensor mics introduced: Audix.(NEW PRODUCTS)
October 1, 2007... AUDIX HAS BROKEN new ground in its Micros Series, the world's smallest condenser microphones with integrated preamp and detachable cable, in the M1250 and the M1280. Both new models feature newly designed circuitry with immunity from RF...

Gig Gard expands cover line.(NEW PRODUCTS)
October 1, 2007... LAUNCHED AT SUMMER NAMM, Gig Gard covers protect an instrument from dampness, dust, knocks, scratches, and spills, while keeping it warm and safe on the gig, in the studio, on the shop floor, and in the home. The Gig Gard easily drops over the...

Helix bass guitars: Lace.(NEW PRODUCTS)
October 1, 2007... LACE MUSIC Products' new Lace Helix line of bass guitars is part of the company's new Lace Red Label Series of designs, created by Don Lace. Helix basses feature a sensuous new body design incorporating data-system-style control knobs,...

Major Music Supply offers new cello kit.(NEW PRODUCTS)
October 1, 2007... MAJOR MUSIC SUPPLY has unveiled a new addition to the Vivace Stringed Instrument Line in the VC-200C Cello. These cellos feature an all-solid spruce top with a solid flamed maple back and sides. All are shop-adjusted in the U.S. by a luthier...

Mighty Bright roadie light: Gold Crest.(NEW PRODUCTS)
October 1, 2007... GOLD CREST LLC, makers of the popular Mighty Bright music lights, has introduced a new product package designed not only for musicians, but also for the "roadies" and sound technicians who work backstage. Comprising a Carabiner LED Microlight...

LC-1 chorus pedal: Landmine Pedal Co.(NEW PRODUCTS)
October 1, 2007... ON THE HEELS of its hot-selling LD-1 Landmine Analog Distortion Pedal, Ontario, Canada-based Landmine Pedal Co. is introducing a new high-quality, low-cost chorus pedal. The LC-1 Analog Stereo Chorus. "Sales of the LD-1 have surpassed even...

Reunion Blues expands with mandolin bags.(NEW PRODUCTS)
October 1, 2007... REUNION BLUES HAS expanded its Prestige leather line to meet the needs of mandolin players. Two new black leather mandolin bags, one for the "A" shape and one for the popular "F" model, feature form-fit sizing and sidewall construction for...

Wm. Knabe & Co. 170th marked with new anniversary models: Samick.(NEW PRODUCTS)
October 1, 2007... IN RECOGNITION of the 170th anniversary of the birth of Wilhelm Knabe, Samick Music Corp., which owns the Knabe brand, has unveiled two new premium-quality pianos: the WKG-58A grand and the WKV-121A upright. Both instruments feature: a tapered...

Cortex all-in-one i-Pod mixer: GCI Technologies.(NEW PRODUCTS)
October 1, 2007... CORTEX, A PART of GCI Technologies, has introduced for retail sale "the first-ever compact, easy to carry, all-in-one mixing solution for the Digital DJ." The groundbreaking dMIX-300 Digital Music Control Station seamlessly integrates the power...

Messenger bags fully loaded for kids: Gator.(NEW PRODUCTS)
October 1, 2007... GATOR'S LIGHTWEIGHT Messenger Bag Series is designed for kids who are sick and tired of old school traditional band cases. For the past two years Gator has worked with local band departments to revolutionize a band case line to fit the needs of...

Get'M Get'M Wear Gothic strap line: Gator.(NEW PRODUCTS)
October 1, 2007... GET'M GET'M WEAR has defined rock 'n' roll style with its new "Gothic" line of guitar straps. Made with '70s British rock flare in mind, these beautifully made, soft, all-leather straps are detailed with heavy Italian buttons in different...

Piano wizard game reaches new players: Allegro Multimedia.(NEW PRODUCTS)
October 1, 2007... ALLEGRO MULTIMEDIA, a leading provider of music gaming software and musical education tools, has created Piano Wizard, a patented four-step learning method that allows anyone to play piano or keyboard by using a proprietary computer game engine...

New pickup technology available in January: Graph Tech Guitar Labs.(NEW PRODUCTS)
October 1, 2007... GRAPH TECH GUITAR Labs' new acoustic and MIDI pickup technology, currently available on Carvin's NS1 Nylon Synth-Access guitar, will be available to all guitarists looking to upgrade in January 2008. The cutting-edge technology allows gigging...

Reinhold Bogner collaboration results in new Spider Valve Amps: Line 6.(NEW PRODUCTS)
October 1, 2007... LINE 6, INC., has introduced a new line of Spider Valve tube-based amplifiers, the result of their breakthrough collaboration with tube amp titan Reinhold Bogner. Known for their amp and effect technology, Line 6 has applied the same superior...

Behringer Vintage Tube Monster distortion pedal.(NEW PRODUCTS)
October 1, 2007... BEHRINGER HAS INTRODUCED its first tube distortion pedal in the Vintage Tube Monster VT999. The VT999 features the warm sound of a hand-selected 12AX7 vacuum tube. Three-band EQ provides precise, post-distortion tone shaping. In addition, this...

Ministar guitar and Minijazz bass: Codel Enterprises.(NEW PRODUCTS)
October 1, 2007... TOUTED AS "the world's smallest and lightest full-size guitar and bass," the new Ministar guitar and Minijazz bass are now available from Codel Enterprises. The guitar has a 25 1/2" scale, the bass has a 34" scale, and both have 24 frets. ...

New Sax Dakota USA line unveiled: LaPlaca & Assoc.(NEW PRODUCTS)
October 1, 2007... INDUSTRY VETERAN Pete LaPlaca has launched a new brand, Sax Dakota USA, to realize his vision for professional-level saxophone design. The company currently offers tenor and alto saxophones with a number of outfit, finish, and feature options....

MTS Series guitar preamp system: Randall Amplifiers.(NEW PRODUCTS)
October 1, 2007... THE MTS SERIES modular guitar preamp system by Randall Amplifiers combines the tone of time-tested tube amplifiers with the convenience of flexible modular technology. The MTS Series is designed to make it quick and simple for musicians to...

SHS studio mics hit market.(NEW PRODUCTS)
October 1, 2007... SHS INTERNATIONAL has introduced a new series of high-quality studio microphones in the S71 and S72. The S71 is a large diaphragm vocal mic that features a double windscreen solid brass machined capsule assembly for a precise polar...

Microsite social network forum launched: Fishman.(NEW PRODUCTS)
October 1, 2007... FISHMAN IS PURSUING a new generation of web-based communities in a new microsite, "True Life. True Live" (www.truelifetruelive.com), and two social networking sites, one on MySpace (www.myspace.com/fishmanacoustic) and one on YouTube...

High-Definition Revoicer system: Godin.(NEW PRODUCTS)
October 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A GODIN GUITAR equipped with the new High-Definition Revoicer system is designed to be like having two sets of pickups in one guitar. The HDR revoices and augments the frequency range of each pickup, taking them to...

Gemstone announces partnership with Weril.(NEW PRODUCTS)
October 1, 2007... GEMSTONE MUSICAL Instruments, in partnership with the Brazil-based Weril Musical Instruments, has announced that it will distribute a comprehensive line of Weril brass instruments to North America. Founded in 1909 and still owned and managed by...

Launches Axtone by Giannini Brand: Etros Music.(NEW PRODUCTS)
October 1, 2007... A BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP between Etros Music and Giannini Brazil has given birth to a new branding strategy and a new international brand: Axtone by Giannini. Giannini student guitar models have a strong reputation for being "real instruments"...

Timara String Drop for alternate tunings: Dillon Guitar.(NEW PRODUCTS)
October 1, 2007... THE NEW TIMARA String Drop facilitates controlled alternate tunings. Called "the most innovative guitar product since the invention of the tremolo," this U.S.-made device is perfect for drop D tuning. It can also be used on any string and is...

Sandy Feldstein.(DEATHS)
October 1, 2007... MUSIC INDUSTRY veteran Sandy Feldstein lost his year-long battle with cancer on August 30, 2007, at his home in Tarzana, California. He was 66. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] As a player, author, educator, mentor, and music advocate,...

Robert McDowell.(DEATHS)
October 1, 2007... ROBERT MCDOWELL, former head of Ludwig-Aeolian Music in St. Louis and a former president of NAMM died suddenly of a heart attack on August 24 as he was preparing to play a round of golf. His wife of 61 years, Kathryn "Kay" McDowell, had died a...