FEATURE
Class is in Session
We feature many of the new, hot companies that exhibited at NAMM in January.
Gibson
Indictments Likely
Gibson Guitar is expected to face charges due to alleged illegal wood imports.
NRF Talks Jobs,
Jobs and More Jobs
The key to retailers' success for 2011 is, you guessed it, jobs. But a lot more was discussed at the 100th NRF Annual Convention.
It’s a Record!
We give you a huge review of last month’s NAMM show. Were retailers and manufacturers optimistic for the rest of this year?
MSR Exclusive Interview
Zildjian and Vic Firth have teamed up to form a percussion powerhouse. We met with Craigie Zildjian and Vic Firth at NAMM to give you all of the details about the merger.
Music Group's Master Plan
We get an exclusive look at the future of The Music Group, parent of Behringer, Bugera and more. We get an exclusive look at product launches, as well!
Knock it Off With the Knockoffs!
Counterfeit products are killing the MI industry. But one company is fighting back big time. We’ll tell you how badly knockoffs could affect the industry if left unchecked.
Music & Sound Award Nominees
We release the full list of nominees for Music & Sound Awards. See if your favorite product, person or company is nominated.
Taylor-Made For Europe
Taylor Guitars will sell all of its products directly to dealers in Europe beginning on Jan. 1. Find out why the big change was made and where Taylor’s European headquarters will be. We interview Brian Swerdfeger about it first.
We Cover it All!
For the second time, we honor instruments that get zero or little press...
A ‘Super’ Party on Kent Island
Experience PRS loaded up on celebrities, new products and much more. Get the full scoop...
‘Father of RMM’ Passes
Karl Bruhn, a tireless music industry devotee, mentored many and made awareness of health and wellness together a lifelong initiative.
Don’t ‘Skip’ this Story!
Skip’s Music Celebrates 30th Anniversary of its Special Event
I Just Wanna Bang
on the Drums All Day
Your One-Stop Shop For The Holidays!
Heathcare Provision Could
Be a Nightmare
America the Beautiful
Not Doubting Thomas
Mendello Retires, Thomas Named Fender CEO
Music City Mystery

Sharon Hennessey: Loves our industry, you will find out. She'll also tell you why she ultimately decided to join The Music People! And yes, she will definitely fill you in on her goals as a new NAMM board member.
Carla Alger: Being in the music industry is definitely the most exciting opportunity Carla Alger, chief financial officer at Two Old Hippies, has ever had. Find out why.
Dawn Werk:Dawn Werk, Alpha Books’ director of marketing, heads a group that is responsible for 450 non-fiction books. Now that’s a lot! Music is a small, but very important, part of that catalog.
Sonia Vallis: Sonia Vallis might be an only child, but she grew up with a sibling that has now become like another child to her.-
Catherine Polk
Cyndi Fritz
Janet Deering
Kathy How
Sarah Heil
Sue Avant

M&SR: You guys mentioned that profitability is the No. 1 factor you need to get from manufacturers. So what profit margin percentages are you getting from them and what do you need to get to be successful?

Gillum: If a manufacturer gives you 40 percent, I think the dealer is happy. The cost of operating a music retail store runs about 37 percent today. MAP programs at 20 and 25 percent do not satisfy the costs of operation. Forty percent is a wonderful MAP starting price program where the dealer has the opportunity to add service programs to that and accessory programs to that to turn it into a good 50 percent profit margin.

Lovell: I agree. Forty points has a level of excitement that makes you get into a product.

Bankhead: I’d take 35 as the minimum threshold I can work with. I hear forty points on a product I know I can sell without having to make a huge effort, I get giddy.

Lovell: We have to preface that with one thing. That has to be after freight. Freight is going to become a bigger and bigger issue. If you’re making 35 points and paying for freight, you’re not making 35 points. Freight is running at 15 percent many times. It’s crazy.

M&SR: Last question. How about Summer NAMM. Did you like its return to Nashville? Will you return to the show in the future?

Wilcher: I’ll be here every year.

Biernacki: Coming back to Nashville was the best thing they possibly could have done.

Lovell: It should have never left Nashville. I think the manufacturers who didn’t exhibit at the show are going to be sorry. The show floor was packed.

Bankhead: I’ll go wherever they have Summer NAMM. It can be in New York. It can be in Austin. Wherever there’s a Summer show, I’ll be there because of the networking and the [NAMM University] Idea Center. These are things that can improve my business. What I need is more information and more inspiration.

Johnson: I like Nashville because the one time I went to Anaheim, I was overwhelmed. It’s too big. I like it smaller and more personal in Nashville.

Gillum: The one thing we do need is more floor space though.
Wagoner: I want to mention also that the people of Nashville were awesome. I can’t believe the difference of being in this town—which is a pretty big city at this point—and [other locations]. It has a small-town feeling. And this is coming from a small-town guy. The people at the hotel were wonderful. And the people at the convention center were great. It was a really good experience.

Johnson: Nashville is really happy to have us here. I received a call to do an interview with a Tennessee newspaper about NAMM’s return to Nashville. Nashville is so happy to have us there.

Wagoner: Before MSO, what were the chances of a store as small as Maureen’s being interviewed for the Tennessee newspaper?

Bankhead: [Before we conclude], I just wanted to say one thing. I want to bring up the commitment the Music & Sound Retailer has made to covering the independent retailer. In addition, there’s a specific layout and spread [in the Music & Sound Independent Retailer] where I know when I read those pages, it is only going to be about independent retailers. I appreciate the commitment you’ve made to us.

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