Music Trades articles from September 2007

Music Trades archives from September 2007

Home schooling: a great untapped market.(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
September 1, 2007... Congrats for identifying and writing about one of the great blind spots in our industry: home schooling. My children were home schooled for a few years, as are most of the children in our church. Music making for home schoolers is a pretty big...

Consumer confidence rebounds to six-year high.(Industry Briefings)
September 1, 2007... Consumer confidence hit a six-year high in July, as Americans shrugged off falling home prices to focus on a healthy jobs market instead. The New York-based Conference Board said that its Consumer Confidence Index rebounded to 112.6, its...

Sluggish housing market sinks boat sales.(Industry Briefings)
September 1, 2007... The piano industry isn't the only group plagued by widespread troubles in the housing market. The pleasure boating industry is also feeling serious pain. Thom Dammrich, president of the National Marine Manufacturers Association provides an...

AC/DC goes digital via Verizon wireless.(Industry Briefings)
September 1, 2007... AC/DC is finally selling its music digitally. But not on iTunes. Verizon Wireless has snagged the exclusive rights to sell AC/DC's entire back catalog through March 2008, becoming the first and only digital music store to offer the band's...

Saving the oboe from extinction.(Industry Briefings)
September 1, 2007... The oboe has been listed as one of five classical instruments on a national "endangered species" list because too few people play it and orchestras have struggled to recruit members to their woodwind sections, according to a recent report...

Thoughts on why things always get better.(EDITORIAL)
September 1, 2007... Much was made at the recent NAMM show in Austin of the challenging sales climate. As one dealer said to us, "flat is up in this market." We don't mean to minimize the difficulties, but for the record, revenue downturns are one of the historical...

Umemura succeeds Ito as Yamaha's top executive: a former head of Yamaha Corp. Of America, Mitsuru Umemura brings broad global experience to the task of running the world's leading music company.(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)
September 1, 2007... THE YAMAHA CORPORATION has announced that Shuji Ito has been appointed as chairman and director, while Mitsuru Umemura has been promoted to succeed Ito as president and representative director. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Ito began his...

Community drum circles sponsored at Chazzfest: Musicorp.(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)
September 1, 2007... CHARLESTON, SOUTH Carolina-based Musicorp will partner with Remo in facilitating community drum circles at Charleston's second annual Music & Heritage Festival, or ChazzFest. Chazzfest is a weeklong celebration, with the main event taking place...

JHS promo draws strong American contigent: JHS.(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)
September 1, 2007... THIS YEAR'S ANNUAL JHS EVENT, a summer trade show for dealers, was held on site at the Garforth, Leeds, head office premises of leading independent U.K. and Eire distributor John Hornby Skewes & Co. Ltd. The 2007 event, in its 11th year,...

Drum Days LA marks 50th anniversary: Remo Drums.(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)
September 1, 2007... THIS SUMMER Remo Drums celebrated its 50th anniversary with Drum Days LA, a multicultural celebration of the power of rhythm. The theme Diversity Through Drumming was selected to reinforce the universal appeal of drumming as Remo brought...

JamSpot teams up to promote audio gear: Fishman Transducers.(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)
September 1, 2007... FISHMAN TRANSDUCERS, Inc., has teamed up with JamSpot, Inc., to help promote Fishman's Loudbox Series Acoustic Amplifiers and Aura Imaging Pedals to musicians in the Boston area. Fishman has installed Eoudbox Pro, Loudbox Performer, Loudbox 100...

Alfred relocates Florida office.(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)
September 1, 2007... ALFRED PUBLISHING has relocated its Florida, branch office from Miami to MPC-1, 10214 USA Today Way, Miramar, Florida, approximately 20 minutes north of Miami. Alfred employs a total of 25 staff members in the new branch location, along with an...

Top U.S. school dealers tour Asian manufacturing complex: Jupiter.(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)
September 1, 2007... JUPITER RECENTLY INVITED nine school music dealers on a trip to Taiwan and China for tours of the factories where Jupiter's parent company, KHS, manufactures all Jupiter brand instruments. The weeklong excursion rewarded Jupiter Partnership...

Expanding engineering staff to offer OEM guitar and bass cabinets: Eminence.(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)
September 1, 2007... EMINENCE SPEAKER LLC has announced plans to supply OEM customers with turnkey guitar and bass amplifiers, PA cabinets, and systems design. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Eminence President Rob Gault said, "This is the next step in the...

U.K. contingent tours manufacturing plant: Vic Firth Inc.(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)
September 1, 2007... VIC FIRTH INC. RECENTLY hosted its U.K. distribution partner, Arbiter, along with the top 24 U.K. dealers and Andy Barrett of MI Pro at the Vic Firth manufacturing plant in Newport, Maine. Andrew Landesberg, Darran Bramley, and Nick Moulin...

Ethan Farmer joins EMG artist roster.(FLASH)
September 1, 2007... EMG's newest endorser is Ethan Farmer, who currently plays for Christina Aguilera and has also played with Janet Jackson, Brandy, Hootie & The Blowfish, and others. Farmer uses the EMG J Sets in all his Fender basses. "I've been searching...

Drum maker to distribute Pearl flutes: Pearl Corporation.(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)
September 1, 2007... PEARL CORPORATION, widely known for its quality drums and percussion products, is now the exclusive distributor of Pearl flutes in the United States. Pearl Flutes manufactures superior handmade flutes as well as a fine selection of...

American way marketing: new room to grow: expanded Elkhart, Indiana, facility houses JA Musik U.S. distribution and provides superior dealer service.(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)
September 1, 2007... FOR YEARS, SCHOOL BAND retailers have praised American Way Marketing's customer service without fully appreciating the size of the underlying effort. That changed on July 14 when roughly 60 music retailers and guests from as far away as Las...

Kanstul Scholarship: winner named.(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)
September 1, 2007... THOMAS KNAPP has been selected as the winner of the first ever George Roberts / Kanstul Bass Trombone Scholarship, sponsored by Kanstul Musical Instruments and presented by the International Trombone Association. Knapp, a student at Texas...

Top U.K. dealers tour facility: Sabian.(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)
September 1, 2007... SABIAN LTD. RECENTLY played host to the U.K.'s top Sabian dealers. Accompanied by key management personnel from Arbiter, the London-based distributor for Sabian, the visiting group consisted of dealers who met or exceeded their Sabian...

New pianos complete Ballet Austin renovation: Wyman Piano Company.(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)
September 1, 2007... AFTER NINE MONTHS of construction, Ballet Austin's Butler Dance Education Center opened in May 2007 with Wyman pianos as part of the renovation. The renovation includes a 287-seat theater and seven new studios with fully sprung dance floors. At...

Family business award honors 124-year run: The Gretsch Company.(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)
September 1, 2007... THE GRETSCH COMPANY, one of the world's best-known drum and guitar manufacturers, received the Cox Family Enterprise Center's 2007 Georgia Family Business of the Year Award at a reception at the Cobb Galleria Center in Atlanta on May 23. Based...

Nioshi Jackson performs on Nashville Star tour: Mapex.(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)
September 1, 2007... RECENTLY SIGNED MAPEX endorsee Nioshi Jackson is performing this summer on the Nashville Star tour with show winner Angela Hacker and the three runners up, Zac Hacker, David St. Romain, and Joshua Stevens. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The...

Bechstein establishes New York showroom: Bechstein Piano.(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)
September 1, 2007... C. BECHSTEIN has established a showroom in the heart of Manhattan. Located on West 58th Street, Bechstein Piano Centre is just a block from Carnegie Hall and a few blocks from Lincoln Center, the Big Apple's two most prestigious venues. ...

Anti-counterfeiting technologies: Grayson USA.(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)
September 1, 2007... WITH GUITAR MANUFACTURERS under attack from counterfeiting and piracy, Grayson DNA provides the world's first covert anti-counterfeiting security and authentication technologies for embedding Forensic DNA Genetic Markers directly into musical...

Publicly traded industry firms.(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)
September 1, 2007... PUBLICLY TRADED INDUSTRY FIRMS PRICE AS OF P/E AUG. 3, 2007 RATIO Apple Computer Inc. $135.97 $38.12 Avid...

Convention marks 50th anniversary: Piano Technicians Guild.(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)
September 1, 2007... MORE THEN 800 people were in attendance as the Piano Technicians Guild celebrated a golden anniversary June 20-24. "This was truly a special 50th celebration," said Dale Probst, president of the PTG. "It was an opportunity for us to celebrate...

Lowrey proves home organ market is underserved: nearly 1,000 enthusiasts and profit-minded retailers travel to Chicago for three-day Home Organ Holiday.(FOREFRONT: NEWS * ANALYSIS * INFORMED OPINION)
September 1, 2007... IT SOUNDS SO LOGICAL. Aging Americans comprise the fastest-growing demographic and hold the keys to the majority of the nation's wealth. So why not build businesses around products and services that appeal to them? In the music industry, most...

Kennelly keys acquires American Music of Seattle: Kennelly will provide administrative and financial support, with policies and personnel.(RETAILER UPDATE: NEWS FROM THE RETAIL FRONT LINES)
September 1, 2007... SEATTLE-AREA RETAILERS Kennelly Keys Music and American Music Seattle-area retailers were on parallel tracks until Kennelly Keys acquired American at the end of June. Founded in 1960, Kennelly Keys' eight other locations are full-line...

Expanded Guitar Center private label program rattles key industry suppliers.(RETAILER UPDATE: NEWS FROM THE RETAIL FRONT LINES)
September 1, 2007... MANY OF THE INDUSTRY'S leading suppliers expressed concern as news of Guitar Center's stepped-up private label program has leaked out. The industry's leading retailer and its direct-response Musician's Friend subsidiary have long been...

Antipodean Manufacturer leads the way with eco-friendly Reeds.(Reed Talk)
September 1, 2007... Reeds Australia (RA) has been marketed in all major countries of the world for some twenty years. Originally a 'boutique brand' its range of Vintage, Vintage XL and Studio Plus Reeds, Mouthpieces and Mouthpiece Cushions has expanded...

Top Sherman Clay sales producers celebrate 45th "President's Club" in Hawaii.(RETAILER UPDATE: NEWS FROM THE RETAIL FRONT LINES)
September 1, 2007... SHERMAN CLAY'S PRESIDENT'S Club gathered on the Kohala Coast of the Big Island of Hawaii this year to celebrate the 45th anniversary of President's Club events. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "The Kohala Coast was the only place to celebrate...

Milwaukee bands rock out at Groove Garage: Cascio Interstate Music.(RETAILER UPDATE: NEWS FROM THE RETAIL FRONT LINES)
September 1, 2007... SUMMERFEST HAS COME and gone in Milwaukee, but Cascio Interstate Music's Groove Garage at the AMP will be remembered as one of the highlights of the event. The Groove Garage, first envisioned by Cascio Interstate CEO Michael Houser, provided...

Drum clinic features expert tips and giveaways: Bill's Music.(RETAILER UPDATE: NEWS FROM THE RETAIL FRONT LINES)
September 1, 2007... BILL'S MUSIC, Inc., in Baltimore, Maryland, recently drummed up excitement at its Drums, Percussion & Cymbals Clinic. Customers were educated on subjects including hand-percussion instruments such as congas, bongos, and djembes. The advantages...

Teaching for profit ... is an education department a loss-leading traffic builder, or can it contribute to the bottom line.(RETAIL Q&A)(Interview)
September 1, 2007... ONE OF THE WAYS MANY independent music retailers distinguish themselves from the big chains is to run lesson programs at their stores. The common wisdom is that lessons promote good will, stimulate customers' ongoing interest in playing an...

Thoughts on NAMM in Austin: maybe there weren't that many people there, and maybe some were disappointed. But it was a great learning experience for those who went, and a lot of fun as well.(BOB POPYK ON SELLING)
September 1, 2007... I'm not sure what the attendees' take and the manufacturers' assessment of the Austin show is going to be overall, but it was certainly an interesting venue and had a lot of positive aspects in spite of lower attendance. Walking down the aisles...

Strike up the band: a quick check list of ways to increase your market share during the critical back-to-school season.(CREATIVE RETAILING)
September 1, 2007... August and September are typically months of celebration for parents and retailers as children are being prepared to head back to school. For most music retailers, this is a busy time for buying and/or renting band and orchestra instruments....

Down, but definitely not out! There were fewer exhibits in Austin and dealer turnout was well off the pace, but despite the show's smaller size, most of those who attended were glad they did. Next year, NAMM takes the Summer Session back to Nashville.(NAMM IN AUSTIN)
September 1, 2007... By any measure, NAMM's Summer Show in Austin represented the continuation of a four-year downward trend. NAMM dispensed with any attempt to "spin" the results and candidly reported that exhibitor participation was off 20% from last year's event...

NAMM in Austin: exhibitors speak out.(NAMM IN AUSTIN)
September 1, 2007... Consensus is a rare commodity in the music products industry. However, one thing most people seemed to agree on is that attendance at the Austin Summer Session was down significantly from last year's event. Despite the reduced scale of the...

NAMM Town Hall: outlining retail best practices.(NAMM IN AUSTIN)
September 1, 2007... AT LAST YEAR'S SHOW in Austin, NAMM held the first "Town Hall" meeting, giving retailers an opportunity to air grievances and pose questions to a panel of industry suppliers. Although entertaining at times and consistently spirited, the session...

Independent book sellers & retailers brothers in arms with common interests?(NAMM IN AUSTIN)
September 1, 2007... "IT CAN BE PRETTY LONELY out there," declared Oren Teicher, chief operating officer of the American Booksellers Association. The occasion was an address at a meeting of IMRA, the Independent Music Retailers Association, immediately prior to the...

Martin's new Travis Tritt Limited Edition.(NAMM IN AUSTIN)
September 1, 2007... SEVERAL SUMMER NAMM exhibitors suggested that the Austin show was short on "sizzle," with almost none of the big celebrity sightings common to the winter event in Anaheim. In a notable exception, country music star Travis Tritt appeared at the...

Mapex recognizes, rewards Five-Star dealers.(NAMM IN AUSTIN)
September 1, 2007... MAPEX HOSTED A Summer NAMM breakfast meeting for its Five Star Drum Shops dealers. The event was held to thank dealers for their support throughout the year. Five-Star retailers frequently cite Mapex for its exceptional attention and...

Saga and Shubb host gypsy jazz concert.(NAMM IN AUSTIN)
September 1, 2007... IN WHAT HAS BECOME AN eagerly anticipated NAMM Show tradition, the John Jorgenson Quintet provided a memorable night of hot gypsy jazz. Sponsored by Saga Musical Instruments and Shubb Capos, the show may have served as a warm-up for the band's...

PMC outlines expanded agenda.(NAMM IN AUSTIN)
September 1, 2007... THE PERCUSSION MARKETING Council held a meeting to discuss the organization's activities since its last major gathering at the Winter NAMM show in January, as well as future goals and initiatives. Although the meeting was open to PMC's entire...

Rock House Method: music instruction for 21st century students: combining fast-paced instructional DVDs with wide-ranging web-based lesson support and a vast, nurturing social network, The Rock House Method is uniquely tailored for today's music students.(ROCK HOUSE METHOD: Integrated Education)
September 1, 2007... SINCE THE ROCK HOUSE Method's educational DVDs and books were introduced in 2002, retailers have been playing catch-up with the rapidly growing community of Rock House's developing musicians. Over time they've learned from their customers that...

Why have piano sales turned down? Problems associated with rising interest rates and a bursting home bubble help explain some of the industry's current difficulties. But are there larger social trends at work?(THE PIANO MARKET 2007)(Cover story)
September 1, 2007... It has been a bruising eighteen months for the piano business. Unit sales dropped 19% in 2006, and have shown little or new improvement in the new year. The most obvious explanation for the disheartening sales trend is the current turmoil in...

Treat each customer like they were your last: attentive service allows Cooper Music to sell more pianos to fewer customers.(THE PIANO MARKET 2007)
September 1, 2007... YOU'VE GOT TO TREAT EACH customer like the last one you'll ever see, or like the rich uncle you're going to inherit a million dollars from, says Blake Cooper of Cooper Music in Atlanta. Cooper's sales are up a little over last year while many...

A shift towards high-end buyers: Case Brothers Tom Case sees the future in catering to those customers willing to spend for the best. The low end market "has pretty much gone by the wayside.(THE PIANO MARKET 2007)
September 1, 2007... WILL THERE ALWAYS BE ROOM at the top for high-end pianos in an otherwise-slow market? So far, sales are holding up for Case Brothers of Spartanburg, South Carolina, a Steinway dealer. "We've been doing pretty well for the last two or three...

Riding out the perfect storm: the housing bust and tapped out consumer credit lines test management skills at Meridian Musiuc.(THE PIANO MARKET 2007)
September 1, 2007... OVER A YEAR-LONG PERIOD in 2003 and 2004, a "perfect storm" descended on the U.S. economy. Tapped-out equity lines, rising mortgage rates and property taxes, softening wages, and declining home values sapped consumers of the discretionary...

Is a cultural pendulum moving: Joe Onfrio's Denver Store continues solidly in the black, but he wonders "are kids not looking to get involved with music?".(THE PIANO MARKET 2007)
September 1, 2007... HAS A CULTURAL PENDULUM swung to a point where fewer young people and their families value piano lessons? Joe Onofrio of Onofrio Piano in Denver, Colorado, wonders. His numbers are "a little down, but I'm still profitable, which is what it's...

Playing by a new set of rules: Frank Sicari of Frank & Camille's observes that the customer profile has changed to a higher income individual who can ride out higher gas prices.(THE PIANO MARKET 2007)
September 1, 2007... TODAY'S PIANO MARKET is playing by a different set of rules than those dealers have come to know, says Frank Sicari, co-owner of Frank and Camille's Piano in New York City. Sales at Frank and Camille's are down about 10%, "which is probably a...

Yamaha's China strategy: massive investment in new production capacity in Hangzhou and Xiaoshan is part of a corporate drive to retain competitive edge and gain a foothold in the fast-growing Chinese music market.(THE PIANO MARKET 2007)(Industry overview)(Company overview)
September 1, 2007... ROWS OF COVERED PARKING stalls flanking Yamaha's sparkling new guitar and piano factory in Hangzhou, China, shelter employee motorbikes from the daily downpours during the summer monsoon season. It's a small amenity by Western standards, but...

Steigerman's premium piano fills productive new niche: not just another bargain-priced Chinese piano, Steigerman's newest line offers higher quality, value, and profit potential.(THE PIANO MARKET 2007)
September 1, 2007... Piano retailers have been swimming against a tide of an exhausted real estate market, tighter credit, and rising interest rates. Sales declines of entry-level instruments have been particularly dramatic since the category's boom leading up to...

WebOnlyPiano--the only third-party software provider: tapping the abundant talent of L.A.'s music scene, WebOnlyPiano creates high-quality software for the growing base of digital player pianos.(THE PIANO MARKET 2007)
September 1, 2007... ED VODICKA AND A SMALL circle of founding partners were looking to start a traditional record label until market research sent them in a new direction. Drawn from Los Angeles's recording, entertainment, and piano industries, the group saw an...

QRS unveils power retailing.(THE PIANO MARKET 2007)
September 1, 2007... THE IDEA BEHIND the QRS Power Center was to let customers envision the products in their own living rooms. Walk in the door and they'll see a couch, some squashy armchairs, a plasma TV, and a grand piano equipped with the latest in QRS player...

Reinprecht to head marketing & products: AKG.(PEOPLE: MOVERS AND SHAKERS)
September 1, 2007... Alfred Reinprecht has been appointed to the position of AKG vice president for marketing and product management. In his new role, the longtime marketing and management expert is responsible for the global marketing strategy of the brand. ...

Behringer taps Mackie veterans Koliha and garside.(PEOPLE: MOVERS AND SHAKERS)
September 1, 2007... BEHRINGER HAS APPOINTED Ron Koliha as its new director of marketing, media and communications, and Scott Garside as its corporate communications manager for North America, Asia, and the Middle East. Koliha comes to Behringer after ten years...

Alfano to direct internet strategy: Steinway.(PEOPLE: MOVERS AND SHAKERS)
September 1, 2007... HENRY ALFANO has been named director of internet strategy for Steinway. Alfano will take the lead in developing a reliable and affective system for creating sales prospects via the internet. Before coming aboard, he was principal of Henry V....

Dankberg to direct marketing, artist relations: U.S. Music Corp.(PEOPLE: MOVERS AND SHAKERS)
September 1, 2007... U.S. MUSIC CORP. has appointed Jody Dankberg to be its new director of marketing and artist relations. "Jody comes to U.S. Music Corp. with great experience in the music industry and we are excited to be able to have him leading both...

Andrew Herygers named design manager: Sabian.(PEOPLE: MOVERS AND SHAKERS)
September 1, 2007... SABIAN LTD. has appointed Andrew Herygers design manager. Heryger, s will oversee operations of Sabian s graphic production department. "With his extensive experience in all stages of the creative design and production process, we feel...

Gowern, West, Strayer strengthen sales team: Pearl Corporation.(PEOPLE: MOVERS AND SHAKERS)
September 1, 2007... PEARL CORPORATION has announced three new appointments. Rudy Gowern joins Pearl as marching percussion marketing manager, while Terry West has been promoted to chief operations officer and Andy Strayer has been promoted to vice president of...

Hailun taps Swenson for technical support post.(PEOPLE: MOVERS AND SHAKERS)
September 1, 2007... JOSEPH (JOE) SWENSON has joined Hailun Distribution LLC as national technical manager. A Nebraska native, Swenson attended the University of Nebraska as a brass performance major. In 1982 he began working as a private technician and...

Alesis rack-mountable mixer with iPod playback.(PRODUCTS: THE LATEST AND GREATEST IN NEW PRODUCTS INTRODUCTIONS)
September 1, 2007... ALESIS, A LEADING manufacturer of professional audio equipment and studio electronics, has introduced the iMultiMix 9R, a professional mixer and audio player that features an integrated iPod dock and video output. The iMultiMix 9R is designed...

Affordably priced Roland digital piano.(PRODUCTS: THE LATEST AND GREATEST IN NEW PRODUCTS INTRODUCTIONS)
September 1, 2007... AFFORDABLY PRICED and uncompromisingly crafted, the new RP-101 offers a natural, realistic grand piano sound under the control of a PHA alpha II keyboard, with varied touch resistance between the upper and lower ranges just like an acoustic...

G-Track USB condenser mic introduced: Samson.(PRODUCTS: THE LATEST AND GREATEST IN NEW PRODUCTS INTRODUCTIONS)
September 1, 2007... THE SAMSON G-TRACK (GM1U) is a new USB condenser mic with an audio interface designed to appeal to songwriters on every level. The unique audio interface allows simultaneous input of vocals along with guitars, bass, or keyboard, while also...

Redesigned student trombone introduced: Antigua Winds.(PRODUCTS: THE LATEST AND GREATEST IN NEW PRODUCTS INTRODUCTIONS)
September 1, 2007... AFTER CONSULTATING with educators and high-level performers, Antigua Winds has redesigned its student trombone and introduced the new A789-LQ. Designed specifically with the development of the beginning trombone player in mind, the A789-LQ has...

Limited-Edition Carmine Appice Ride: Sabian.(PRODUCTS: THE LATEST AND GREATEST IN NEW PRODUCTS INTRODUCTIONS)
September 1, 2007... TO HONOR ONE OF rock drumming's true pioneers, Sabian has introduced the 22" Limited Edition Carmine Appice Vintage Ride cymbal. Developed by the SABIAN Vault Team in collaboration its legendary namesake, this medium-heavy, low-profile model...

40th anniversary replica model introduced: Jean Larrivee Guitars.(PRODUCTS: THE LATEST AND GREATEST IN NEW PRODUCTS INTRODUCTIONS)
September 1, 2007... JEAN LARRIVEE GUITARS has introduced the JCL model, a replica of its first steel-string guitars from the 1970s, as part of the company's 40th anniversary celebrations. The instrument's features have been meticulously re-created to produce a...

New XL strings offer vintage warmth: D'Addario.(PRODUCTS: THE LATEST AND GREATEST IN NEW PRODUCTS INTRODUCTIONS)
September 1, 2007... D'ADDARIO IS INJECTING new spirit and vigor into the popular XL electric string line. A new and specially-formulated alloy sets a standard for shimmering bright tones without harshness, while a favorite metal returns, tweaked for today's music...

Aim expands "Party Time" line.(PRODUCTS: THE LATEST AND GREATEST IN NEW PRODUCTS INTRODUCTIONS)(Chronology)
September 1, 2007... AIM GIFTS has expanded its "Party Time" line with several new music gifts and accessories. These items include 10" plates, lunch napkins, 9 oz. cups, and beverage napkins. All items are made of paper with a sheet music design. Combined with...

Fusion 550 bass head now shipping: Gallien-Krueger.(PRODUCTS: THE LATEST AND GREATEST IN NEW PRODUCTS INTRODUCTIONS)
September 1, 2007... GALLIEN-KRUEGER IS NOW shipping the Fusion 550 bass head, the first GK product to incorporate tubes into its design. The Fusion 550 features a uniquely designed six-stage tube preamp paired with a 500-watt version of the high-current,...

PianoVideo HD hits market: PianoDisc.(PRODUCTS: THE LATEST AND GREATEST IN NEW PRODUCTS INTRODUCTIONS)
September 1, 2007... PIANODISC'S NEW PianoVideo HD is the first high-definition interactive video created specifically for the modern player piano system. Combining MIDI, audio, and video, the technology allows PianoDisc system owners to view a high-definition...

Ace Grafix Series brings new look to practice pads.(PRODUCTS: THE LATEST AND GREATEST IN NEW PRODUCTS INTRODUCTIONS)
September 1, 2007... THE NEW GRAFIX SERIES professional practice pads by Kaces are designed to make practice an artistic experience. With a set of new artist-commissioned designs fused directly with the rubber, plain black practice pads are now a thing of the past....

Giannini Craviola proud legacy continues: Etros Music.(PRODUCTS: THE LATEST AND GREATEST IN NEW PRODUCTS INTRODUCTIONS)
September 1, 2007... WITH ITS UNUSUAL shape and unique sound, the Giannini Craviola has inspired generations of guitarists and music lovers. It all started with a simple idea, said acclaimed guitarist Paulinho Nogueira, who invented the Craviola in 1969. A designer...

Six new ukuleles introduced: Oscar Schmidt/U.S. Music.(PRODUCTS: THE LATEST AND GREATEST IN NEW PRODUCTS INTRODUCTIONS)
September 1, 2007... OSCAR SCHMIDT BY WASHBURN, a U.S. Music Corp. company, has introduced six new ukuleles. The OU250BELL is a reissue of a vintage Washburn "bell" shape ukulele popular in the 1920s. It features a solid Trembesi top, back, and sides with...

New guitar and neck-thru bass: U.S. Masters Guitar.(PRODUCTS: THE LATEST AND GREATEST IN NEW PRODUCTS INTRODUCTIONS)
September 1, 2007... U.S. MASTERS Guitar Works has introduced three exciting new instruments. The LGUSA Limited Edition guitar employs U.S. Masters' patented Compression-Set Captive Neck Joint and neck structure. It also features a new 24-fret version of the...

Get'm Get'm "GG" guitar strap line.(PRODUCTS: THE LATEST AND GREATEST IN NEW PRODUCTS INTRODUCTIONS)
September 1, 2007... THE NEW "GG" LINE of guitar straps from Get'm Get'm Wear is a chic, high-fashion-inspired line featuring the brand's unique "GG" initials in an elegant, sexy design in brown and silver on black. The "Delux GG" styles feature studs with leather...

Tune Tech TT-1000 introduced: SHS International.(PRODUCTS: THE LATEST AND GREATEST IN NEW PRODUCTS INTRODUCTIONS)
September 1, 2007... SHS INTERNATIONAL, the main U.S. source for Intelli vibration tuners, is now offering the Tune Tech TT-1000 clamp-on instrument tuner. The new tuners are available in black and silver with bar-coded packaging and feature a multicolored LED that...

WideLine-8 line array system introduced: QSC.(PRODUCTS: THE LATEST AND GREATEST IN NEW PRODUCTS INTRODUCTIONS)
September 1, 2007... DESIGNED TO MEET THE needs of both concert and fixed sound applications, the new WideLine-8 line array system from QSC packs full-size line array performance into remarkably small enclosures. The WideLine-8 series, including the full-range...

Jeanne McCormick.
September 1, 2007... JEANNE MCCORMICK, wife of Jordan Kitt's CEO, Bill McCormick, died on June 18. A founding member of the Jordan Kitt's family, she was a friend to many throughout the music industry, including Dennis Houlihan, president of Roland, who presented...

Surging piano.(100 YEARS AGO)
September 1, 2007... There are 625 establishments engaged in the manufacture of musical instruments in 1905, employing 35,220 wage earners, having aggregate capital of $72.2 million, and whose products are valued at $69.5 million. In 1905 the number of upright...

Don't let band directors sell.(75 YEARS AGO)
September 1, 2007... "Retail music store business will amount to something when we get music teachers and the bandmaster out of the instrument selling business," declares W.K. Baxter of Peoria, Illinois. "If it weren't for the music teachers selling instruments, I...

NAMM sponsors TV series.(50 YEARS AGO)
September 1, 2007... Recreational Piano, original[y a live television series sponsored by piano dealers in Houston, Texas, has been converted into a film that NAMM is distributing to television stations across the country. The great virtue of the series is the...