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

The Next Decade

We’d be crazy to predict what the next decade has in store. What we can say is we’re entering a new decade with many people without jobs. And that’s not to mention how many millions have jobs but are underemployed. Receiving a job offer today is akin to winning the lottery. That’s the bad news.

What’s good? There is hope. Hope that we’ve weeded out the Madoff types. Hope that banks won’t repeat their ridiculous lending mistakes.

We also have a little more than hope. Most MI manufacturers are at least cautiously optimistic 2010 will be better. Some theorize it’s difficult to be worse than 2008 and 2009 for starters. We have seen the stock market rise marginally, a signal the economy will begin recovering. Another good, tangible sign: Corporate earnings are improving. Regarding companies with music ties, Apple had a fantastic earnings report recently. Avid Technology’s numbers were much better and it sees improvement ahead.

Retailers have also seen improvement. Several of you have seen things looking better at your stores. But that should be said with one major caveat. Many of you have told us selling high-priced items can be excruciating at times. (See this month’s Music & Sound Independent Retailer for an example). Lower-priced items have continued to sell. The good news there is many lower-priced products offer higher margins than some high-priced counterparts do. Young looked into his crystal ball and made the following predictions: “The Internet will be more of a factor every day for consumers to find anything they need. Are we in the mix and keeping up with customer demand? We have to talk with consumers to find out how they think, how they want their information, and how they buy. The recession will be ending, production will stabilize, and those retailers and manufacturers left standing will be stronger than when we went into this.”

The independent dealer movement could be the most important story of the 2010 decade. Uniting of independent dealers could be the key to their success during the next 10 years. Competition against chain box stores and Internet retailers was a huge story in this decade and is sure to continue. What can independent dealers do differently? How can you compete with Internet resellers constantly trying to undercut you on price?

Technology is the biggest wildcard MI has. We have no idea what the new craze will be. What will be the next iPod? What will be the next Guitar Hero or Rock Band? Whatever the answer is, it will have a humungous effect on our industry going forward.

Perhaps the biggest story in the next decade, or at least for the foreseeable future, will be the several lawsuits the industry is currently fighting. Will we see the end of Minimum Advertised Prices?

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