The National Association of Music Merchants is set to hold its winter conference January 19-22 in Anaheim, Calif. As always, the show will feature demos and new product introductions for musicians, live and studio audio pros and enthusiasts. At last year’s show, for example, more than 1,700 exhibitors showcased 6,000-plus brands.
In addition to instruments and products, winter NAMM also showcases the organization’s efforts in education and advocacy. Two days before the tradeshow begins, on January 17, a group of NAMM members can join in a day of service, providing music instruction at a local Anaheim elementary school. This special NAMM programming is funded by donations, which are matched by the NAMM foundation up to $10,000, to provide school-aged children with daily access to music education.
And the show itself features dozens of educational opportunities for attendees through presentations and workshops, and NAMM will recognize the contributions of the music education community. The show’s ten-year-old Music Education Days programming, for example, offers informational sessions, networking opportunities, and band and orchestra instrument demos that are open to all teachers and administrators.
NAMM goers are also treated to one-of-a-kind concerts, and this year more than 150 artists will perform within the convention hall and surrounding hotels and venues. Artists scheduled to appear include Josh Logan from Season 5 of NBC’s The Voice; Laura Dickinson from The Disney Channel show Phineas and Ferb; the Mark Wood Rock Orchestra Camp, featuring touring drummer Elijah Wood; and Elektric Voodoo, led by Grace Potter & The Nocturnals’ Scott Tournet.
Visit NAMM.org, to find essential information for exhibitors and attendees, including registration details, a complete calendar of events, hotel booking links, and regular news updates.
