Music Trades back issues from December 2006:
Did outsiders & arrogance bring down Brook Mays?(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
Dec 01, 2006; ... I really enjoyed reading your Brook Mays article, and I have a little different perspective. I was the Brook Mays vice-president of marketing for the four years when Ron Raup left and Jim Tenet came on board, so my department was in the thick of the heaviest transition period. ...
Getting labor for free.(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
Dec 01, 2006; ... I enjoyed your article "How To Get 500,000 Hours of Labor For Free!" in your August 2006 issue. I'm a purchasing agent for a retail company, and it really struck a chord with me. I have drafted a letter to some of my "problem" suppliers, and I would like to include a copy of ...
Retail technology helps crooks.(Industry Briefings)
Dec 01, 2006 ... Bar-coding, gift cards, and the internet have been a boon for retailers both large and small over the past decade. New reports now indicate that these new technologies have helped criminals as well. Retail crime rose to $37 billion 2005, up from $31 billion in 2001, due to savvy ...
Falling gas prices boost consumer confidence ...(Industry Briefings)
Dec 01, 2006 ... Consumer confidence in the U.S. rose to the highest in 15 months in October as tumbling gasoline prices left more money in Americans' pockets according to the University of Michigan analysis of consumer sentiment. The poll concludes that a drop in gasoline prices, to the lowest this year, ...
... But housing slump slows economy.(Industry Briefings)
Dec 01, 2006 ... Economic growth slowed to a crawl in the third quarter, advancing at a pace of just 1.6 percent, the worst in more than three years. The latest snapshot of the economy, released by the Commerce Department, showed that the slumping housing market figured prominently in the economy's ...
Harmonica's "Johnny Appleseed" says the harp is healthful.(Industry Briefings)
Dec 01, 2006 ... The Wall Street Journal reports that Terry Rand, a financial consultant in Naples, Florida, has created the Society for the Preservation and Advancement of the Harmonica. An avid player since he was a kid, the 71-year-old Rand gives out several hundred harmonicas a year. His motives are ...
The guitar for air guitarists.(Industry Briefings)
Dec 01, 2006 ... RedOctane, the video game maker, has introduced a new wireless "guitar" controller that will allow aspiring "air guitarist" gamers to add a semblance of realism when they log on to their "Guitar Hero" video game. Offered in a glossy white finish, the wireless guitar-shaped controller is ...
Instrument-borne bacteria ... Is it really a threat?(EDITORIAL)
Dec 01, 2006; ... Is participating in a school band a rewarding, character-building exercise or a high-risk activity that should be approached with caution? We always subscribed to the former point of view, but a newly formed company, MaestroMD, is touting the latter. For those who haven't already heard, ...
Reorganized fender marketing dept. coordinates for greater global impact.(Industry FOREFRONT)
Dec 01, 2006 ... IN THE RECENT PAST Fender Musical Instruments has filled out its stable of brands with the acquisition of the Gretsch, Jackson, Charvel, Tacoma, SWR, and Guild guitar and amp lines and expanded the reach of its distribution network, opening sales and marketing offices throughout Europe ....
Yamaha shifts guitar production from Taiwan to China.(FLASH)
Dec 01, 2006 ... THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS of Yamaha Corporation decided at its September 20 meeting to dissolve Kaohsiung Yamaha Co., Ltd., of Kaohsiung, Taiwan, a subsidiary that manufactures guitars in Taiwan. Production at the subsidiary will be suspended at the end of January 2007, and, following the ...
Slash appears for First Act in VW ads.(Industry FOREFRONT)
Dec 01, 2006 ... Caption: SLASH HAS BEEN ALL OVER THE AIRWAVES in VW commercials, playing a First Act guitar. The German carmaker is including a First Act guitar with a select models, and has take to describing its cars as "amplifiers on wheels." ...
Yamaha sponsors Monterey Jazz Fest for 34th consecutive Year.(Industry FOREFRONT)
Dec 01, 2006 ... YAMAHA CONTINUED ITS longstanding support of The Monterey Jazz Festival, in Monterey, California, by providing a selection of pianos and drum kits for five festival stages. The event, which celebrated its 49th year, is the second-longest-running jazz festival in history. It was Yamaha's ...
Boston Brass joins artist roster.(Jupiter Band Instruments)
Dec 01, 2006 ... THE BOSTON BRASS has signed on as artist and educational ambassadors for Jupiter Band Instruments. The announcement was made at a surprise appearance by the Boston Brass at the Jupiter annual sales meeting. "I was absolutely amazed to hear that the Boston Brass was joining our ...
EMG pickups sponsors playstation's hot selling guitar hero.(INDUSTRY FOREFRONT)
Dec 01, 2006 ... EMG IS AN official sponsor of the second release of Playstation's award-winning Guitar Hero video game, Guitar Hero II. Tracks played during the game feature the talents of EMG endorser Marcus Henderson using EMG-81 and ...
PRS guitars aids cancer research with charity golf event.(FLASH)
Dec 01, 2006 ... PAUL REED SMITH Guitars and the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center held the seventh annual Charity Golf Tournament October 22-23 at Caves Valley and Hayfields Country Club in Baltimore, Maryland. This year's tournament had many new offerings including an expanded concert and golf events at ...
Premium "Pianoforte" line offers Handcrafted quality at competitive price.(Wyman Piano)
Dec 01, 2006 ... WYMAN PIANO COMPANY previewed the Wyman Pianoforte, its new premium grand piano line, to select music dealers at the recent Music China Show held October 18-21 in Shanghai. The company announced it will formally display this new line, featuring the stunning new 6'3" Wyman Pianoforte Model ...
M&M merchandisers celebrates 30 years of delivering value.(Industry FOREFRONT)
Dec 01, 2006 ... M&M MERCHANDISERS was founded in 1976 as a value-added distributor by Marty Stenzler, the current president, and his father. The company's goal is the same today as it was then: to provide the best service, selection, and prices to its customers. Over the last 30 years M&M has ...
Bissonette headlines Mapex clinic at Vintage Drum Show.
Dec 01, 2006 ... MAPEX DRUMS CO-SPONSORED the tenth annual Hollywood Custom & Vintage Drum (HCVD) Show in Pasadena in October. Mapex artist Gregg Bissonette was a featured clinician at the celebration and put on an entertaining and educational clinic that left everyone wanting more. "Gregg is ...
New three-day format at AES draws praise from exhibitors.(Industry FOREFRONT)
Dec 01, 2006 ... THE 121st CONVENTION of the Audio Engineering Society (AES) October 5-8 at the Moscone Center in San Francisco was one of the most successful in recent memory, with 17,445 attendees and 420 exhibitors. Attendance was up 8% over the previous San Francisco convention. Convention ...
Online "buy now" links consumers and dealers.(D'Addario)
Dec 01, 2006 ... D'ADDARIO'S "BUY NOW" program on the websites of all its brands lets consumers have two different online purchasing options whereby brick-and-mortar stores and "etailers" will easily benefit from the sale with little or no effort. Consumers surfing any of the D'Addario brand ...
Guitar QC moved to new Kentucky facility.(Hanser Music Group)
Dec 01, 2006 ... HANSER MUSIC GROUP'S modern new facility in Hebron, Kentucky, will now serve as the national distribution center for all of the company's guitar brands, which include B.C. Rich, Michael Kelly, OLP, and Traben. Accordingly, the company has closed its warehouse in Pennsauken, New Jersey ....
TCH named distributor for continental U.S.(Eminence Speaker)
Dec 01, 2006 ... EMINENCE SPEAKER HAS added Trans Continental Hardware (TCH) as a preferred distributor for branded Eminence product sales in the continental United States. Chris Rose, Eminence distribution and marketing manager, said, "Eminence and TCH both cater to the needs of OEM enclosure ...
Weril opens new U.S. office.(INDUSTRY FOREFRONT)
Dec 01, 2006 ... WERIL MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, the Brazilian company whose instruments are sold in over 60 countries, has opened a new office in the United States, with Sergio Rocha as sales manager and Juliano Diniz as marketing manager. The two men had been involved in Weril's worldwide business but will ...
Strong September lifts Kaman Music 3rd qtr. results.(Industry FOREFRONT)
Dec 01, 2006 ... KAMAN MUSIC CORP. reported third quarter operating income of $3.8 million for 2006, compared to $3.4 million in the third quarter of 2005. Net sales for the period were $55.5 million, including $14.1 million from the August 2005 acquisition of Musicorp, compared to $51.0 million in the ...
Paul Stanley rejoins Washburn artist roster.(FLASH)
Dec 01, 2006 ... WASHBURN GUITARS HAS rejoined forces with Paul Stanley of KISS. Stanley and Washburn will be working together to design an extensive line of signature guitars and accessories. The Paul Stanley collection will include everything from entry-level to U.S.A.-built solid-body and acoustic ...
Conn-Selmer strike causes loss at Steinway.(Steinway)
Dec 01, 2006 ... A PROTRACTED LABOR STRIKE at Steinway's Conn-Selmer factory in Elkhart, Indiana adversely affected the company's third quarter results. Revenues decreased 5% for the quarter, to $91 million, due to the loss of an estimated $6.8 million in band instrument sales caused by a labor strike. The ...
Sam Ash Music opens in Atlanta: anticipates two to five new store openings per year.(RETAILER UPDATE)
Dec 01, 2006 ... A NEWLY OPENED 22,000-square-foot location represents Sam Ash Music's first foray into Atlanta, the eighth largest market area in the U.S. Located on the Cobb Parkway, the new store is adjacent to the thriving Cumberland Mall and less than a quarter mile away from Atlanta's soon-to-open ...
Yamaha honors top sales performances.(Creative Salesmanship)
Dec 01, 2006 ... YAMAHA'S PIANO DIVISION recently honored Judy Hanley of Piano Distributors in Melbourne, Florida, and Terri Sunderland of Lentine's Music in Akron, Ohio, with awards for their exemplary involvement with the Clavinova Connection recreational music making program. The awards were presented ...
Los Angeles Mayor honors West L.A. Music.(RETAILER UPDATE)
Dec 01, 2006 ... WEST L.A. MUSIC was recently honored by Los Angeles Mayor Antonio R. Villaraigosa for contributions to the City of Los Angeles Community Development Department. West L.A. Music, in cooperation with the Mayor's office and the Los Angeles Youth Opportunity Movement, designed and ...
Guitar Center net drops 21% in challenging retail climate.
Dec 01, 2006 ... A SOFT RETAIL CLIMATE coupled with higher-than-planned promotional costs adversely affected earnings at Guitar Center for the third quarter ended September 30, 2006. Sales for the period advanced 12.3% to $472.8 million, versus $421.1 million a year ago. Net income for the period was $11.3 ...
2nd Annual Physicians Talent Showcase.(Steinway Piano Gallery)
Dec 01, 2006 ... MORE THAN 300 people attended the Second Annual Physicians Talent Showcase held October 17 at the Sugden Theatre in Naples, Florida. The 11 performing physicians included classical and jazz pianists, a surfer guitarist, a ballroom dancer, a Country & Western singer, a female rock vocalist, ...
Stop improving and the competition will catch up! Big or small, you have to keep moving forward to survive. Rather than attempting to go toe-to-toe with larger rivals, try ignoring them and focusing on your unique strengths.(BOB POPYK ON SELLING)
Dec 01, 2006; ... I saw a report the other evening on CNN on how to outsmart your retail competition, particularly those stores whose main marketing concept is price. The report said that price isn't everything. Other things enter the equation, such as selection and service. It specifically mentioned ...
Figuring out China: the Music China trade show continues to draw foreigners in record numbers, but everyone is finding that getting traction in the local market is a struggle.(REPORT FROM CHINA)
Dec 01, 2006 ... Five years ago the Shanghai Music Fair opened for business with the promise of giving manufacturers around the world an opportunity to tap into the music market in the world's most populous country. For many foreign manufacturers the prospect of selling products to a market of 1.3 billion ...
Making sense of China's emerging retail music scene: from slick to primitive, Shanghai's music retailers run the full gamut.(REPORT FROM CHINA)
Dec 01, 2006 ... Shanghai is not your typical Chinese city. In fact, it's one of the country's largest, with a population of 15 million, it has more skyscrapers than any other city in the world, and it is also home to some of the most expensive shopping districts in the world. The city has so many wealthy ...
How to make January a huge sales month: with some advance planning you can avoid the "post holiday" sales slump and turn the weeks immediately following Christmas into a business bonanza!(CREATIVE RETAILING)
Dec 01, 2006; ... Ah, the holidays, It's almost magical. Customers lining up to purchase those one-of-a-kind gifts of music for that special someone. If you listen closely, you can almost hear holiday bells ringing in time with the ring of the cash register. It's truly a wonderful time of year for most ...
Measuring the world market: what are the factors that prompt some countries to spend more than others on music and audio gear? Is it economics, demographics, or social factors? Data in the following pages offers tantalizing clues.(Global MARKETS)
Dec 01, 2006 ... Global spending on the broad family of products that we refer to as the music products industry rose 4.3% to $17.8 billion in 2005, compared with $17.1 billion the previous year. Although $17 billion is not an insignificant number, in the scheme of a world with six billion inhabitants, it ...
How the industry's biggest players stack up: ranking the world's 225 largest music products companies by sales volume provides a unique snapshot of the global industry and how it is changing.(225 Largest Music & Audio Firms)(Industry overview)
Dec 01, 2006 ... The diversity of the world's music products business is on graphic display in the ranking of the world's top 225 companies that appears on the following pages. Hailing from 27 different countries these enterprises have little in common aside from the tact that they have something to do ...
225 largest music & audio firms.
Dec 01, 2006 ... <Pre> 225 Largest Music & Audio Firms RANKESTIMATED2005 EMPLOYEE 0504COMPANY REVENUES COUNT 1 1 YAMAHA CORPORATION...
Where to find them: a top 225 directory.(225 Largest Music & Audio Firms)(Directory)(Company overview)
Dec 01, 2006 ... Adam Hall GmbH www.adamhall.com Manufacturer and distributor of hardware for flightcases and loudspeaker speaker enclosures, cable systems, and audio tools. Distributor for Eminence speakers, SKB cases, Fane Acoustics, Palmer, Amphenol connectors, Racklight, and ...
Investing in the "right methods": celebrating its 50th anniversary, Pearl River piano opens a showcase wood processing plant that sets high standards for quality and efficiency and signals the Chinese company's ambitions for world leadership.(Global MARKETS)(Company overview)
Dec 01, 2006 ... It's easy to make a case that the piano business is not a fast-paced industry. After all, the instruments built today have more than a passing resemblance to the first piano crafted 300 years ago by Bartolomeo Cristofori in Florence, Italy. However, the thought of this market as one that ...
Bill Mendello assumes chairman post at Fender.(PEOPLE)
Dec 01, 2006 ... WILLIAM "BILL" MENDELLO has been appointed the new chairman of Fender Musical Instruments Corporation, succeeding the late Bill Schultz. The appointment by the Board of Directors was unanimous. Mendello will now hold the concurrent roles of chairman and chief executive officer. Mendello ...
Industry vets expand sales management team.(Loud Technologies)
Dec 01, 2006 ... LOUD TECHNOLOGIES HAS appointed three industry veterans to key domestic sales positions. Alex Nelson joins the company as vice-president, key accounts; Dan Gallagher joins as vice-president, national accounts; and Scott Schumer joins as vice-president, independent dealers. Nelson will head ...
Potosky, Kellom named vice-presidents.(Crown International)
Dec 01, 2006 ... AT CROWN INTERNATIONAL Scott Potosky has been promoted to vice-president of engineering, and Marc Kellom has been promoted to vice-president of marketing. Mark Graham, Crown president, announced the promotions and commented, "Both Scott and Marc have impressive track records ...
Scott Lombardo named national sales manager.(Fishman Transducers)
Dec 01, 2006 ... SCOTT LOMBARDO HAS joined Fishman Transducers as national sales manager. His responsibilities include retail sales and support efforts with the company's strategic dealer partners across the United States. Lombardo has spent over 20 years in the music ...
Catherine Polk to head marketing.(Musicorp)
Dec 01, 2006 ... Catherine Polk has been promoted to director of marketing at Musicorp. She will now lead the company's Marketing Department, a creative team that internally develops catalogs, advertising, websites, promotions, trade shows, and special events as well as conducts all ...
Diana Cecchini named sr. director of finance.(Korg)
Dec 01, 2006 ... Diana Cecchini has been promoted to senior director of finance at Korg USA. She has been with Korg for the past 16 years--most recently as corporate controller--directing all aspects of accounting and financial reporting for the company ...
Knox heads Pro Stage sales effort.(PEOPLE)
Dec 01, 2006 ... James Knox has been appointed to the newly created position of national sales director at Pro Stage Gear, LLC, in Nashville. He will direct U.S. sales for the full line of Pro Stage Gear and PedalTrain branded products. Knox was most recently with Fender as product manager for the FMI ...
M-Audio shipping guitar box production system.(PRODUCT NEWS)
Dec 01, 2006 ... M-Audio is now shipping of its new GuitarBox and GuitarBox Pro complete music production systems for guitarists. Both systems combine two award-winning products--the M-Audio Black Box and Pro Tools M-Powered software. Both also feature a suite of seven Bomb Factory plug-ins, 33 ...
Alesis twin CD backup & copy system.(PRODUCT NEWS)
Dec 01, 2006 ... The CD twin LE from Alesis is a stand-alone audio and data CD duplicator that gives home users the same ability as recording studios and musicians: the ability to affordably back up, store, and copy content from all popular CD formats at the push of a button. Alesis's latest ...
MB series bass amps.(Marshall Amplification)
Dec 01, 2006 ... Marshall amplification has launched its MB Series Bass Amplifiers. Consisting of two models, the MB15 and MB30, the new series is ideal for rehearsal, recording, jamming, or small gigs. These compact, rugged amps capture the essence of the Marshall sound at highly affordable price points. ...
New marching drums unveiled at PASIC.(Peace Musical)
Dec 01, 2006 ... Peace musical company unveiled lacquer-finish marching drums at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC) in Austin, Texas, in November. Joining Peace's wrapped marching drums, the new lacquered varieties, named the Parade series, have maple/mahogany/maple sandwich ...
PianoDisc offers two new player piano music formats.(PRODUCT NEWS)
Dec 01, 2006 ... PianoDisc has introduced two new music formats for its player piano systems. Called Original Artist PianoSync and PianoDisc Creator, they provide a live piano accompaniment to the most popular audio CDs of major recording artists. Original Artist PianoSync is an exclusive ...
The Simpsons line expanded.(St. Louis Music Accessories)
Dec 01, 2006 ... St. Louis Music accessories, a division of Loud Technologies, has added to its exclusive line of The Simpsons Musical Accessories. This line of products is produced by Grover Allman, Australian manufacturer and the worldwide distributor of all music-related Simpsons products. St. Louis ...
New "Spark" cables look like spark plugs.(Core One Creative)
Dec 01, 2006 ... Core One Creative has unveiled a new design in its Bullet cable line, inspired by the southern California car culture: the "Spark" cable, with a retail price of $139 (MAP $54.99). The Spark cable's precision-machined chrome straight nickel/gold plated connectors are fashioned to ...
Nylon-stringed Viridis guitar.(DeMars)
Dec 01, 2006 ... DeMars guitars will introduce the nylon-stringed classical version of its groundbreaking Viridis guitar at the 2007 NAMM Winter Show in Anaheim (booth 1506). Dan DeMars, head of the company, explained, "At last year's NAMM launch of the steel-stringed Viridis Guitar several ...
New Kaplan gold-plated E string for violin.(D'Addario)
Dec 01, 2006 ... D'Addario's new Kaplan gold-plated E string for violin is available in loop or ball end. The new string is made to exceptionally rigid manufacturing tolerances. The company starts with a high carbon steel string and applies superior quality gold plating. The string is available in standard ...
Ergonomic Burrell headstock aids intonation.(PRODUCT NEWS)
Dec 01, 2006 ... A cure for common wrist tuning strain is found in the new headstock arrangement of Burrell guitars. Players no longer have to reach under for the G, B, and E strings, and 12-string tuning is a snap. Two rows of three bass-side tuners that are generously spaced 1-1/2" apart ...
Spider amp series expanded.(Line 6)
Dec 01, 2006 ... Line 6 has expanded its popular Spider amplifier series with the Spider III line, offering perfectly dialed-in sounds with 200 incredible artist presets created by over two dozen of today's hottest bands and guitarists. Along with artist tones, another 200 presets are based on the greatest ...
Kempton speakers and power amps.(FBT)
Dec 01, 2006 ... FBT Electronica of Recanati, Italy, and its U.S. subsidiary, FBT USA, have introduced a new pro audio line, the Kempton Pro Audio speakers and power amplifiers. The new line was designed and engineered by FBT in Italy and is backed by the company's 40+ years of pro audio product ...
Lightweight F-Bass introduced.(Morgan Monroe)
Dec 01, 2006 ... THE F-BASS FROM Morgan Monroe has a warm, woody, double-bass-like amplified tone sure to appeal to the most hardcore traditionalist. Its an lightweight construction, classic hollow body, easy-to-play fast neck give bass players a unique sound, feel and look. Features: ...
Buzz Kill dampening system, Safe 'N' Sound earplugs.(Vater Percussion)
Dec 01, 2006 ... VATER PERCUSSION HAS introduced two new products: the Buzz Kill dampening system and Safe 'N' Sound earplugs. The Vater Buzz Kill is an easy-to-use dampening system designed to control unwanted over-ring and tone from drums and cymbals. Each Buzz Kill disc can be easily cut to ...
Portable Traveler II Symphonic music stand.(Hamilton Stands)
Dec 01, 2006 ... HAMILTON STANDS HAS unveiled the new Traveler II, a value-priced portable Symphonic music stand and carrying bag combination. Comprising the company's KB990BL World Product music stand and an improved KB14 carrying bag, the new Traveler II ed retail price of just $57.99. ...
GT20 20-watt amplifier system.(Guytron)
Dec 01, 2006 ... GUYTRON HAS UNVEILED the GT20 amplifier system. "This is not your grandfather's 20-watter," said a Guy Hedrick, Guytron's founder and chief designer. "This is a totally new approach. The GT20 is a feature-rich guitar amplifier based on our GT100's proven, popular, and patented pre-amp ...
Andino by Rossi student clarinet.(Gemstone)
Dec 01, 2006 ... GEMSTONE MUSICAL instruments has introduced its first offering from the Andino Clarinet Division. This instrument is the result of a collaboration between Luis Rossi, an internationally known clarinet virtuoso and maker of handcrafted clarinets, and Chris French, the director of the Andino ...
MDR-7509HD pro headphones boast wide frequency response.(Sony)
Dec 01, 2006 ... SONY'S RECENTLY INTRODUCED MDR-7509HD professional headphones have been developed to meet the closed-type monitoring needs of audio professionals working with higher resolution digital audio recording and playback gear. They are also designed to accommodate the extraordinarily wide ...