Music Trades articles from September 2005

Music Trades archives from September 2005

Should mail-order retailers collect sales tax?(LETTERS)(Letter to the Editor)
September 1, 2005... Our August editorial, arguing that as a matter of fairness, mail order retailers should collect sales tax, obviously touched a nerve with our readership. Herewith, their comments, both pro and con, on the merits of equal sales tax treatment....

Is rock 'n' roll really dead?(LETTERS)(Letter to the Editor)
September 1, 2005... I read with interest Fred Bramante's letter to the editors about the demise of Rock & Roll radio, its potential effect on the m.i. industry, and NAMM's obligation to counter the threat. While I have the greatest respect for Mr. Bramante's...

Quarterly retail sales data.(MARKET INTELLIGENCE)
September 1, 2005... MARKET INTERLLIGENCE QUARTERLY RETAIL SALES DATA THREE THREE THREE MONTHS MONTHS MONTHS ENDED ...

China delinks the yuan from the U.S. dollar.(Industry Briefings)
September 1, 2005... In response to growing protectionist fears in the United States, the Chinese government announced that it would "unpeg" the Chinese yuan from the fixed exchange rate of 8.25 to the dollar and allow it to float against a "market basket" of...

The power of Apple's GarageBand ... a personal account.(Industry Briefings)
September 1, 2005... Seattle Times columnist Jeff Carlson gave powerful personal testimony to the market-building power of Apple's recently introduced GarageBand music recording software. In a July 15 column, he wrote, "I've been just a music listener for most of...

Outside merchants boost sales at Amazon.(Industry Briefings)
September 1, 2005... Increased activity among the Independent merchants who sell through the Amazon.com website made a major contribution to sales gains at the leading internet retailer. Several hundred independent retailers, offering everything from beauty...

If you're an "S" Corporation, watch out.(Industry Briefings)
September 1, 2005... "S" Corporations, which allow corporate profits to be taxed to shareholders as income, are the single most popular corporate entity of choice among privately held businesses. The IRS has announced plans to step up audits of the nearly 3.2...

Times are tough, so what else is new?(EDITORIAL)
September 1, 2005... One of the few things that hasn't seemed to change at all since we began publishing in 1890 is the universally held belief that the market challenges of the day are far more daunting than anything encountered by our predecessors. This mindset...

Finding strength in numbers: Southern California retailers hone skills with music for everyone cooperative.(GUEST EDITORIAL)
September 1, 2005... NOTHING IN THE RETAIL music business is easy and falling in our laps anymore. More than 300 independent retail music stores gave up the fight in '04. Today, each of us has to do our homework, keep learning, be creative, and re-evaluate every...

Kaman buys MBT/Musicorp creating $220 mil. mega distributor: purchase price set at $30 million, combined company will have 600,000-sq.-ft. in eight distribution centers nationwide.(INDUSTRY FOREFRONT)
September 1, 2005... KAMAN MUSIC CORPORATION has acquired MBT/Musicorp, to create the dominant music distributor with annual sales of approximately $220 million. The sale price was approximately $30 million, subject to post-closing working capital adjustments. ...

Gibson CEO rubs shoulders with royalty.(INDUSTRY FOREFRONT)
September 1, 2005... GIBSON CEO HENRY JUSZKIEWICZ mingled with Her Majesty the Queen of England and other members of the Royal Family at the Guards Polo Club in London. The event was the Cartier International Coronation Polo Match, where Gibson sponsored the...

Limited edition guitars mark 30th anniversary.(ESP Guitars)
September 1, 2005... ESP GUITARS is marking its 30th year in business throughout 2005 with limited edition guitars, a 30th anniversary logo, and terrific events over the course of the entire year. "ESP is thankful to everyone who helped us grow over the...

Alfred sells IMP to Faber Music.(FLASH)
September 1, 2005... ALFRED PUBLISHING HAS sold its International Music Publications (IMP), the European printed music business of Warner Bros. Publications, to Faber Music. The company made the announcement on July 1. Alfred completed its own purchase of Warner...

Trace Elliot back in the USA, and available from Peavey.(INDUSTRY FOREFRONT)
September 1, 2005... TRACE ELLIOT, the British amplifier manufacturer, unveiled its new product line at the Peavey booth at the NAMM Summer Show in Indianapolis. Peavey has the North American distribution rights for the Trace Elliot brand of bass and acoustic...

New Mojo Strings Division.(U.S. Music)
September 1, 2005... U.S. MUSIC CORPORATION has launched the Mojo Strings Division. For years, U.S. Music has been the original equipment string manufacturer for several well known string brand names. The company recently made significant investments in machinery...

Roland User Group earns APEX Award.(U.S. Music)
September 1, 2005... ROLAND'S USER'S GROUP magazine has earned an APEX 2005 Award for Publication Excellence. The popular Roland publication was recently honored in the "Magazines & Journals" category. The power-packed issued featured a superstar artist...

48th Convention held in Kansas City.(Piano Technicians Guild)
September 1, 2005... THE SOUND OF JAZZ, the smoky taste of BBQ, and a collage of language and nationalities marked the 48th annual Piano Technicians Guild Convention and Technical Institute held June 15-19 in Kansas City, Kansas. "Because Kansas City is the...

Hal Leonard to distribute Willis Music educational catalog.(INDUSTRY FOREFRONT)
September 1, 2005... WILLIS MUSIC COMPANY has awarded Hal Leonard Corporation exclusive long-term publishing and distribution rights for Willis's acclaimed catalog in North America, South America, and other territories. Willis will retain ownership of all...

MOOG Etherwave theremin wins design award.(INDUSTRY FOREFRONT)
September 1, 2005... MOOG MUSIC'S ETHERWAVE Pro theremin has won the 2005 Excellence in Design Award from Appliance Design Magazine. The instrument was selected for consideration based on its pleasing aesthetics and fine craftsmanship. The award, given in the...

Gary Kahler reintroduces acclaimed Kahler tremolo.(INDUSTRY FOREFRONT)
September 1, 2005... AT THE 1982 NAMM show, with heavy-metal rock in full swing, Gary Kahler caused a sensation with his radical new Kahler tremolo. Featuring a unique cam-design that offered a more even tension, the unit was immediately accepted, and Kahler left...

Fourishing school guitar program from GAMA draws expanded industry support.(INDUSTRY FOREFRONT)
September 1, 2005... GAMA, THE GUITAR and Accessories Marketing Association, has provided training to school music teachers to teach guitar over the past decade. Conservative estimates suggest that the program has influenced at least $50 million dollars in retail...

Third annual golf event at NAMM.(Zildjian)
September 1, 2005... ZILDJIAN'S THIRD ANNUAL golf event was held Thursday, July 21, at the famous Brickyard Crossing in Indianapolis. The Brickyard Crossing is the number-one-rated public course in Indiana; it runs alongside the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and...

Top artists endorse Onori.(Onori Accessories)
September 1, 2005... RICHIE ONORI, founder and president of Onori Accessories, has been in the business since 1981. His newly formed company displayed an array of unique and visually appealing products at the NAMM summer show in Indianapolis, from the innovative...

Codel Enterprises drops burns guitar, introduces new J3 guitar line.(INDUSTRY FOREFRONT)
September 1, 2005... CODEL ENTERPRISES is the new name of Burns USA, which was formed in January 2002 to help introduce the Burns London and Brian May guitars into the U.S. market. As of June Codel Enterprises ceased representing Burns London and its products and...

New facility in Stoughton, MA.(Harris Musical)
September 1, 2005... HARRIS MUSICAL PRODUCTS, Inc., moved its entire operating headquarters from Waltham, Massachusetts, to its new, expanded facility in Stoughton, Massachusetts, on July 1. This moves represents a major expansion in size and capability and is the...

Full line of Bohemia Piano uprights & grands offered.(INDUSTRY FOREFRONT)
September 1, 2005... BOHEMIA PIANO of Prague, Czech Republic, with factories in Jihlava and Hradec Kralove, has announced that a full line of uprights and grand pianos is now available for export to North America. Uprights are available in the following sizes:...

Gig bag maker reunion blues acquired.(Ace Products)
September 1, 2005... ACE PRODUCTS GROUP of Sonoma, California has acquired Reunion Blues, the well-known manufacturer of high-end leather instrument bags. Terms of the purchase were not disclosed. The merger of Reunion Blues with Ace Products Group unites two...

New magazine marks 1st anniversary.(MAKING MUSIC)
September 1, 2005... MAKING MUSIC, a unique lifestyle magazine for music-making hobbyists and amateur musicians, is entering its second year. "Our advertising, distribution, and production goals have all been met," said Editor-in-Chief Antoinette Follett, "but,...

Yamaha program puts B&O dealers in Costco: test program brings dealers into "big-box" environment for mutual benefit.(INDUSTRY FOREFRONT)
September 1, 2005... YAMAHA'S BAND & ORCHESTRAL Division, has announced a pilot program tinder which authorized local retailers will market instruments through Costco stores in several locations. The initiative is designed to give these retailers the benefit of...

Share prices of publicly traded industry firms.(INDUSTRY FOREFRONT)
September 1, 2005... SHARE PRICES OF PUBLICLY TRADED INDUSTRY FIRMS PRICE AS OF AUGUST 10, P/E 2005 ...

Elderly music vs. Gibson: leading vintage dealer sued for advertising "Gibson copy".(RETAILER UPDATE)
September 1, 2005... THE PRESENCE OF a "Gibson copy" banjo on the Elderly Instruments website has landed the Lansing, Michigan-based retailer in the middle of a lawsuit with Gibson Guitar Corp. In early June, after spotting a banjo on the Elderly website described...

Perfomance session with Freddy Demarco.(Bill's Music House)
September 1, 2005... BILL'S MUSIC HOUSE in Baltimore, Maryland, recently hosted an informational and performance session with Freddy DeMarco featuring Vox and Marshall amplifiers. DeMarco showed Bill's attendees the ins and outs of Vox and Marshall products while...

Music & arts acquires Coffey Music.(RETAILER UPDATE)
September 1, 2005... AS THIS ISSUE WENT to press, the Music & Arts division of Guitar Center had completed the acquisition of Coffey Music of Norwood, Massachusetts. A single-store operation with a strong market position in the suburbs south and west of Boston,...

Guitar Center posts 18.5% sales gain net advances 6.3%.(RETAILER UPDATE)
September 1, 2005... GUITAR CENTER, INC sales advanced 18.5% to $402.3 million in the second quarter, tip from $339.6 in the same period a year ago. Consolidated net income increased 6.3% to $12.9. The Company's second quarter net income includes charges of $2.1...

Sherman Clay fetes top sales performers in Tahoe.(RETAILER UPDATE)
September 1, 2005... SHERMAN CLAY'S President's Club recently honored its top performers in a five-day retreat at the Hyatt Resort in Lake Tahoe, Nevada. Twenty-one members and their guests enjoyed daily events sponsored by manufacturers including Yamaha, Steinway...

Retailer & Ernie Ball present Vinnie Moore Seminar.(Pat's Desert Music)
September 1, 2005... GUITARIST VINNIE MOORE conducted a seminar on July 21 at Pat's Desert Music in Las Vegas. Moore has presented over 150 clinics worldwide. At Desert Music he demonstrated various playing techniques, and his thorough explanations and natural...

150TH store opens in Greenville, SC.(Guitar Center)
September 1, 2005... GUITAR CENTER OPENED its 150th store on July 14 in Greenville, South Carolina. The store is located at 2463 Laurens Road. The grand opening celebration kicked off with a gala one-minute pyrotechnics show at 7 p.m. and included performances...

Retailers sponsor AES show.(RETAILER UPDATE)
September 1, 2005... SIX OF THE nation's leading pro audio retailers have agreed to support the 119th Audio Engineering Show scheduled for October 7-10 in New York City, as Official Retail Sponsors. The marketing effort is designed to build end-user attendance. ...

Why direct mail still works: email may be cheaper and easier, but snail mail still delivers better results. Maybe it's because envelopes feel more personal. Maybe it's because customers like to hold something in their hands.(BOB POPYK ON SELLING)
September 1, 2005... Not so long ago, only a few people had email addresses. Now no self-respecting computer owner (and that's just about everybody) would be without one. Just as very few people today are without a cell phone and cable TV, few people are without...

How do you judge a trade show? With some giving it raves and others offering a thumbs-down, NAMM's first show in Indianapolis drew mixed reviews. Despite observations of weak dealer turnout, nearly everyone was upbeat about the second half of the year.(INDIANAPOLIS NAMM REPORT)
September 1, 2005... For Bill Mendello, CEO of Fender Musical Instruments, NAMM's Indianapolis show was an unqualified success; his salesforce had a full schedule of appointments, new products, like the John Mayer Stratocaster and the Gretsch "Irish Falcon" guitar,...

Mixed report on indy but an optimistic fail forecast.(INDIANAPOLIS NAMN REPORT)
September 1, 2005... Exhibitors Assess The NAMM Show PUT NEARLY 500 companies selling everything from accordions to zithers under a single roof for four days and then ask them how things went. Needless to say, the responses are going to vary significantly,...

NAMM's state of the onion session.(INDIANAPOLIS NAMM REPORT)
September 1, 2005... ONE OF THE MAJOR benefits of attending any show is the opportunity to gauge the "state of the industry." NAMM made the task that much easier for Indianapolis attendees by assembling a cast of industry luminaries for the first-ever "State of the...

Profit-building ideas from NAMM.(INDIANAPOLIS NAMM REPORT)
September 1, 2005... FOCUS F0R PROFIT "IMAGINE THIS CONTAINER represents 100% of your time and energy," said Mark Goff, jar in hand, as he kicked off his seminar titled "The Incredible Power of Focus." Drawing on years of experience as the owner of Paige's...

Piggybacking on the popular iPod: Numark's innovative DJ mixer promises to appeal to huge new market.(INDIANAPOLIS NAMM REPORT)
September 1, 2005... APPLE'S IPOD IS ARGUABLY the single biggest breakthrough in consumer audio since the creation of the Sony Walkman 25 year ago. Last quarter alone more than five million iPods were sold. With the introduction of the iDJ, Numark has created the...

Core one bus generates major buzz in Indy.(INDIANAPOLIS NAMM REPORT)
September 1, 2005... CORE ONE CREATIVE sponsored free rides on a luxury motor coach for attendees at the 2005 Midwest Music Summit (MMS) during the Indianapolis Summer NAMM show. With music blaring from CD compilation of various Midwest Music Summit independent...

Longtime St. Louis music chief Gene Komblum receives birthday surprise at NAMM.(INDIANAPOLIS NAMM: REPORT)
September 1, 2005... A VISIBLY STARTLED Gene Kornblum was greeted with loud cries of "Happy Birthday" as his wife, Helen, and Jamie Engen, Loud Technology CEO, guided him into a surprise party attended by over a hundred friends and colleagues. The event was in...

PMC members discuss market-building strategy.(INDIANAPOLIS NAMM: REPORT)
September 1, 2005... THE PERCUSSION MARKETING COUNCIL met to discuss ongoing market-building initiatives. Eric Ebel reiterated NAMM's ongoing support of the PMC and discussed an alliance with the Boys and Girl's Clubs of America that will introduce drumming to a...

John Majeski receives Grossman Lifetime Achievement Award.(INDIANAPOLIS NAMM REPORT)
September 1, 2005... JOHN F. MAJESKI JR., editor emeritus of The Music Trades, was presented with the Henry Grossman Lifetime Director Award at the annual membership meeting of the American Music Conference. Named in honor of the late Henry Grossman, founder of...

Gator names top reps.(INDIANAPOLIS NAMM: REPORT)
September 1, 2005... Gator cases CEO Jerry Freed and vice-president/general manager Mark Stone presented sales achievement awards to its top rep firms. Jerry Freed; Don Ludwig, Bormann Marketing; Mark Stone. Jerry Freed; Doug Brown and John Stafford, On The...

PRS & Waves team up to offer Amp- & effects-modeling software.(INDIANAPOLIS NAMM REPORT)
September 1, 2005... ONE OF THE "WOW" products unveiled in Indy was the new GTR (Guitar Tool Rack) system designed by music software giant Waves in association with Paul Reed Smith Guitars. The system was introduced at a press conference by Waves CEO Gilad Keren...

Peavey 40th anniversary dealer meeting.(INDIANAPOLIS NAMM REPORT)
September 1, 2005... PEAVEY ELECTRONICS outlined an ambitious marketing and product development program at a 40th anniversary dealer meeting immediately prior to the Indianapolis NAMM show. In an effort to burnish the Peavey brand, Marketing Director Tony Moscal...

Franchising comes to the music industry: Samick aims to expand the marketing with a franchise concept that combines music education with m.i. and home keyboard products.(NEW MARKETING STRATEGIES)
September 1, 2005... WITH THE OPENING OF the first SMC Music Center & Learning Academy in Chesterfield, Missouri, a St. Louis suburb, SMC Music Corp. (Samick) is launching an ambitious franchising program that could ultimately lead to as many as 200 independently...

As much as any single company, percussion pioneer Gretsch can take credit for creating the modern percussion industry. After decades of corporate turmoil, the company has come roaring back, blending its rich 122-year-old tradition with stronger distribution and a much broader product line. Once again the market is calling for that Great Gretsch Sound.(PERCUSSION MARKET)
September 1, 2005... "That Great Gretsch Sound" is one of the most enduring company slogans in the music products industry. In an age of routine pronouncements of "new-and-improved," Gretsch managers are outwardly proud of what got them to their 122nd year. When...

A drummer-focused approach to building the market: how Long Island Drum Shop generates profitable growth in a fiercely competitive marketplace.(PERCUSSION MARKET)
September 1, 2005... SANDWICHED BETWEEN a Guitar Center and a Sam Ash within ten miles to the east and a Guitar Center and a Sam Ash within ten miles to the west, Long Island Drum Center could easily have become the big-box "lunch" of the island. But since it...

Keller--the first name in drum shells: O.E.M. manufacturer takes the spotlight with innovative new, shell designs.(PERCUSSION MARKET)
September 1, 2005... ONE COMPANY HAS dominated U.S. drum shell manufacture for decades. Until recently it had led the industry without drawing attention to itself. Though its activities were common knowledge to the drum and percussion sector's manufacturers,...

Rhythm tech: creating solutions for drummers for 25 years.(PERCUSSION MARKET)
September 1, 2005... IF, IN GENERAL TERMS, necessity is the mother of invention, necessity's specific offspring have included some of the most significant innovations in the music products industry. The pursuit of solutions to problems encountered in a practice...

Spurring market growth: how Hudson music's educational video pioneers Rob Wallis and Paul Siegel help expand the percussion market.(PERCUSSION MARKET)
September 1, 2005... DRUMSET UNIT SALES HAVE grown an average of nearly 16% over each of the past seven years. For 25 years Rob Wallis and Paul Siegel, founders of Hudson Music LLC, have helped propel this market-expanding wave, ever inspiring and motivating...

How Meinl cymbals makes headway in the U.S.: taking a page from the playbook of famous German brands like Porsche and Mercedes, venerable cymbal maker Meinl makes inroads in North America with a tailored product and marketing strategy.(PERCUSSION MARKET)
September 1, 2005... ROLAND MEINL BEGAN MANUFACTURING cymbals a year after he founded Roland Meinl Musikinstrumente in 1951. However, to many American music retailers and consumers, the company experienced something of a rebirth in 2000. That was the year that...

Tschetter to direct product management.(QSC Audio)
September 1, 2005... GERRY TSCHETTER HAS joined QSC Audio as director of product management. He takes charge of a new market-driven product management team dedicated to product development and product marketing. Prior to joining QSC Tschetter spent eight years...

Luce elected to string industry council.(D'Addario)
September 1, 2005... DAVID LUCE, D'Addario's bowed strings brand manager, has been elected secretary of the American String Teachers Association's String Industry Council. His term runs until March 2007. Luce, who graduated from Texas Tech University with a...

Ramotowski to head Antigua Winds.(PEOPLE)
September 1, 2005... JOE RAMOTOWSKI HAS joined Antigua Winds as president, with responsibility for all aspects of management. Of primary focus will be analyzing and developing the processes and infrastructure to ensure continued growth while providing superior...

Barrow heads new product development.(Community Professional)
September 1, 2005... CHRISTOPHER BARROW HAS been promoted to manager of new product development at Community Professional He will lead the company in cultivating its new product goals and designs, lending direction to the entire development process of Community...

Yamaha RGX-A2 electric with A.I.R. body.(PRODUCT NEWS)
September 1, 2005... THE ALL-NEW Yamaha RGX-A2 electric guitar weighs in at a mere 5-1/2 pounds and features a proprietary A.I.R. (Alternative Internal Resonance) constructed body, LED illuminated cylindrical die-cast knobs and cylindrical tuners, aluminum...

AXL's heavy metal Rapture series.(FLASH)
September 1, 2005... AXL has introduced four new Rapture Amplifiers with explosive power, tailored for the heavy metal market. Features on the new Rapture guitar amps include an Accutronics reverb for the rich, warm tone found in classic metal amps, Duncan...

Affordable CX112 classic condenser.(Audix)
September 1, 2005... AUDIX HAS INTRODUCED a new' condenser microphone that combines exceptional style, performance, and durability, all at a very attractive price. The stylish new CX112 features a 28mm (1.07") gold-sputtered diaphragm with a film thickness of...

All-purpose guitar tool.(Farley's Essentials)
September 1, 2005... THE GUITAR TOOL from Farley's Essentials is a precision America-made all-purpose tool with a carbide steel-cutting blade that is capable of industrial-level work. "It's not a 'use once and toss' tool," said a spokseman. "Players will use this...

New lights from House of Troy.(PRODUCT NEWS)
September 1, 2005... LEADING LAMP manufacturer House of Troy has introduced five new piano lamps especially designed to complement ebony finished pianos. The lamps are available in black with brass accents [telephone] 800-428-5367. [website]...

Korg's Digital Tuner Metronome now shipping.(PRODUCT NEWS)
September 1, 2005... KORG IS NOW SHIPPING its TM-40 Digital Tuner Metronome, a multi-function digital tuner and metronome in a single, compact. easy-to-use package. Designed as a practice tool for wind, string, keyboard, guitar, and other instruments. it allows...

Three-Packs for reeds.(Rico)
September 1, 2005... THE RICO THREE-PACK is a perfect quantity for rental instruments and especially for students, who need to have spare reeds, or their parents, who balk at buying ten reeds at once. With Rico three-packs they get exactly what they want and need...

Midnight Blues Drum Packs.(Audio Technica)
September 1, 2005... AUDIO-TECHNICA HAS expanded its range of Midnight Blues drum miking solutions with the addition of two new Drum Packs at extremely affordable price points. The MB/Dk4 Drum Pack consists of three Midnight Blues MB 5k snare/tom microphones, one...

Worldmax snare drum line expanded.(FLASH)
September 1, 2005... WORLD MAX HAS expanded its line of snare drums. The new drums join the 5 x 14 drum nicknamed "The Black Dawg." The new 4 x 14 and 6-1/2 x 14 are nicknamed The Puppy and The Hawg, respectively. They are joined by the 3-1/2 x 13 "Guppi" and the 7...

Paragon Splash 'N' Stacker.(Sabian)
September 1, 2005... THE LATEST IN Sabian's Signature Nell Peart Paragon range of cymbals is the Paragon Splash 'n' Stacker Pack. It includes a 10" Paragon splash with a Double-Hinged cymbal stacker that allows the splash to be locked into virtually any position on...

Highly practical cable spool.(Techra)
September 1, 2005... TECHRA HAS UNVEILED a new cable spool that is designed to take any form of jack or cannon cable. It is a practical solution for keeping cables clean and tidy. A 1/4" jack can be housed right into the unit on both sides, while handy adapters...

Trademarks obtained for Boomwhackers.(Whacky Music)
September 1, 2005... WHACKY MUSIC, the maker of Boomwhackers, announced on June 13 that it has trademarked the unique coloring systems utilized on its Boomwhackers Musical Tubes and associated products. It has additionally developed the trademark Chroma-Notes...

Mid-priced gig bags.(Ritter)
September 1, 2005... RITTER'S RCG700 series of mid-priced gig bags, introduced in the U.S. last year, is rapidly becoming the company's best selling product in this country, according to a spokesman. "We wanted to bring the market and our customers a product that...

The original swab company: introducing "Dave".(Cartoon)
September 1, 2005... Hi, I'm Dave, and Im gonna show ya how to clean your 'phone with this weird rag. Piece o' cake man just drop this little weight in the bell... ... then flip the horn over so the weight falls out... ... then just grab that baby...

Prestige basses debut at Indy.(Ibanez)
September 1, 2005... IBANEZ BROUGHT OUT an impressive number of limited production Prestige basses featuring combinations of exotic woods at the NAMM Summer Show in Indianapolis. The company added a five-string and a six string to its BTB Series, which...

C.W. "Duke" Kramer.(DEATHS)
September 1, 2005... Charles "Duke" Kramer, a longtime Gretsch executive who was known alternately as "Mr. Gretsch" or "Mr. Guitar" died at his home in Cincinnati on July 28 alter a struggle against cancer. He was 88 years old. Born in Lincoln, Illinois,...

Ivor Arbiter.(DEATHS)
September 1, 2005... Ivor Arbiter, thunder of Arbiter Music and a flamboyant fixture in the U.K. music scene for decades, died on July 26. He was 74 years old. An accomplished drummer, Arbiter got his start in the industry in the late '50s when he opened Drum...

Donald J. Plunkett.(DEATHS)
September 1, 2005... DONALD J. PLUNKETT, a charter member of the Audio Engineering Society, its executive director for 20 years, and its past president, died suddenly in New York City on July 15. He was 81. Plunkett's career highlights include working at NBC,...

Lunatic or criminal?(100 Years Ago)
September 1, 2005... All kinds of cranks, fakirs, and swindlers have plied their craft in the Buffalo piano trade. However, a new standard was set by William H. Donwell, a former employee of Denton, Cottier & Daniels. Last week he entered a Buffalo bank and...

Canvassing for sales.(75 Years Ago)
September 1, 2005... "Every radio dealer must go out after business," said Walter Danks, manager of Bergen County Radio in Hackensack, New Jersey. "You won't make any money waiting for it to come to you these days, because people do not buy radios as they buy...

Air-conditioning at NAMM show.(50 Years Ago)
September 1, 2005... NAMM has announced that there will be separate air-conditioned quarters for piano and organ exhibitors at the Hotel New Yorker for the upcoming 1956 NAMM trade show. This represents the first time that air conditioning will be available. Other...

Training deficit.(25 Years Ago)
September 1, 2005... Baldwin Chairman Morley Thompson declares, "The industry is not spending enough on recruiting and training people. As a result, we get caught up in selling only the tangible aspects of our products. We are trying to push music in the same way...