There will also be an indoor/outdoor festival featuring live music, delicious food, prizes and lots of fun for the entire family. This year’s expo is bigger than ever, with two days full of dozens of informative workshops and seminars, scores of manufacturer exhibits, musical performances and special surprises. Sweetwater Founder and President Chuck Surack remarked, “We are proud to offer this event every year. It continues to grow, and there’s literally nothing like it elsewhere in the country. There’s certainly nothing this big, with so many great attractions, that is also free and open to the public. That’s why people come to GearFest from throughout the Midwest, and from around the entire country.

To speed up the registration process at the festival, individuals can pre-register online. Visit www.sweetwater.com/feature/gearfest2013/register.php. For more information, call 800.222.4700.

An event as big as GearFest demands an equally big giveaway of free gear. Sweetwater vendors have provided more than $45,000 in gear that will be awarded to lucky GearFest attendees. Hourly prizes will be given away from more than 30 manufacturers. Individuals must attend GearFest and register in person in order to win.

In addition, Sweetwater will be offering sale pricing on many products. GearFest ’13 will also host a multitude of guests from all areas of the music industry for performances and workshops. The entire GearFest ’13 schedule of events is available online at www.sweetwater.com/feature/gearfest2013/workshops.php.

]]> http://www.msretailer.com/msr/sweetwater-presents-gearfest-13/feed/ 0 http://www.msretailer.com/msr/velazquez-named-president-of-adj-elation-and-acclaim-lighting/ http://www.msretailer.com/msr/velazquez-named-president-of-adj-elation-and-acclaim-lighting/#comments Fri, 17 May 2013 16:00:03 +0000 By Dan Ferrisi http://www.msretailer.com/msr/?p=4041

Chuck Davies, Founder and CEO of the ADJ Group, announced that Toby Velazquez has been named President of ADJ, Elation and Acclaim Lighting. Velazquez, who joined the company shortly after it was started in 1985, has served the ADJ Group in a wide variety of capacities and has made critical contributions to its growth from a small business serving the mobile DJ market to an internationally known name in the lighting industry. “Toby has been a key part of our company from its earliest days,” said Davies. “He’s demonstrated extraordinary talent and leadership qualities in every job he’s done, and his passion for excellence is second to none. Based on his abilities and track record, I’m extremely confident that he’s the right person to lead ADJ, Elation and Acclaim Lighting into the future.”

In recent years, Velazquez has shepherded the development of many of ADJ’s most notable products, including its LED fixtures, LED video panels and the industry’s first moving heads to use Philips’ Platinum MSR lamps. He is looking forward to building on these achievements in the future.

“Our company has been built on innovation,” said Velazquez. “We’ve made it our mission to get to know our customers, understand their needs and create new, affordable, user-friendly products that contribute to their success. This will continue to be our guiding philosophy, and we’ll continue to look for new ways to make us even better at implementing it. I welcome this opportunity, and I’m thankful to be surrounded by such a dedicated group of talented co-workers.”

Based in Los Angeles with European headquarters in Kerkrade, The Netherlands, the ADJ Group sells lighting throughout the world under the ADJ, Elation and Acclaim brands.

Exhibits will feature the latest in MI products and services from a broad range of suppliers to the Canadian industry. In addition, both days will offer a wide variety of educational seminars as well as networking events, industry-approved training programs, show specials and live demonstrations.

“We are extremely excited about the 2013 MIAC Show,” commented Dale Kroke, Sr. VP & GM, B&J Music Ltd. (a KMC Music company) and Chairman of the Board of Directors, MIAC. “Our recent membership survey generated a lot of great feedback about what both exhibitors and attendees are looking for in a show, and we are working hard to make this our best yet. Working with our new show management partner, Matrix North Events, and with Norris-Whitney Communications handling seminars, marketing and social events, we are going to be focused and in touch with what members want like never before.”

“I always attend the MIAC show and I find it very worthwhile,” added Jeff Long, VP of Sales and Marketing, Long & McQuade Musical Instruments, and a current member of the MIAC Board of Directors. “There are always some informative seminars and seeing the products is great; however, what I really find valuable is the opportunity to interact with others from our industry. There is no better place to feel the pulse of the Canadian music industry than the MIAC show.”

Family and friends of multiple Grammy Award-winning music producer Phil Ramone came together on May 11 to celebrate and honor his life. Ramone, who died on March 30, was most noted as a record producer, crafting recordings for artists including Billy Joel, Barbra Streisand, Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Natalie Cole, Paul McCartney, Paul Simon, James Taylor and others. But Ramone, a classical violin prodigy who studied at the Juilliard School, was as deeply interested and gifted in the technology of music production. In addition to his 14 Grammy Awards (out of 33 nominations), Ramone was the recipient of a Technical Grammy for his many contributions to the science and art of recording.

The memorial event, titled Phil Ramone, Music Memorial Celebration, was held at the Centennial Memorial Temple, a landmark Art Deco auditorium inside the Salvation Army’s Greater New York Division Headquarters. The choice of venue held a particularly special meaning because, in November 2011, Ramone founded The Salvation Army Phil Ramone Orchestra for Children: the result of his lifelong dream to touch the lives of less-fortunate children in challenged communities by giving them access to music education. The program currently serves children ages seven to 12, and teaches these students how to play instruments through group and full orchestra lessons.

The event read like a “Who’s Who” of the music industry. It drew a stream of luminaries who recalled Ramone’s gifts as a person and music professional, including Tony Bennett, engineer Ed Cherney (Bonnie Raitt, the Rolling Stones), Josh Groban, Dave Grusin, Billy Joel, Quincy Jones, Shelby Lynne, Matthew Morrison, Paul Simon, Kevin Spacey, Noel Paul Stookey, Nikki Yanofsky and Peter Yarrow. In attendance were family members Karen, BJ, Matt and Simon Ramone, who shared the stage and the love everyone felt for Phil Ramone.

An all-star backup band accompanied many of the artists who performed, such as Billy Joel, Tony Bennett, Shelby Lynne, Paul Simon and Josh Groban.

Reloop, a manufacturer of DJ products and accessories that’s based in Germany, recently announced its new exclusive U.S. distribution partnership with American Music & Sound. “In the U.S., Reloop has not yet established desired market positioning since its introduction in the year 2010. To appoint American Music & Sound as sole Reloop distributor in the U.S. is an important step and, as a matter of fact, will create significant added value for retailers and end customers in the U.S.,” remarked Reloop Sales Director Lars Jacobs. Lynn Martin, President of AM&S, added, “The group at Reloop has done a spectacular job of establishing this product line as one of the most exciting and interesting offerings in the marketplace today. At AM&S, we are extremely happy to be able to fill out their strategy in the U.S. market.”

Reloop was founded by a young group of music technology experts and, ever since, has stayed young in terms of R&D. Its development team is backed by numerous DJs, producers and sound engineers, who are inspired with fresh ideas every day.

Reloop wants to make innovations available to the mainstream of the DJ scene, such as the new Reloop Jockey 3 Remix controller and the Terminal Mix 4. Instead of focusing on a small elite of professional musicians, the company addresses the entire market, including newcomers, intermediates and pros.

This summer, as the “Get the Gig” Artist Relations intern, Giddens will support Shure by assisting with the execution of social media campaigns and managing positive relationships with Shure artist endorsers through personal contact and product support. She will also help coordinate Shure-sponsored events, such as artist clinics and trade shows.

“Given my passion for music, I felt like the ‘Get the Gig’ program was designed just for me. This opportunity means everything, and I’ve never been more pumped to go to work,” said Giddens. “This summer is going to be an incredible learning experience—another step toward achieving my future career goals. I can’t wait to understand the music industry more, see what really goes on behind the scenes and learn from the Shure Artist Relations team.”

Wednesday, July 10

The Grand Opening Party, featuring a “Nashville Tribute to Jimi Hendrix” with the Billy Cox Band of Gypsys Experience and guests, as well as a special appearance by Janie Hendrix

Get an insider’s look at Jimi Hendrix’s Nashville connection from his Army buddy and longtime bassist Billy Cox, who will perform with his group, The Band of Gypsys Experience. The show will weave together stories of Jimi’s days in Music City with live performances of some of his famous and not-so-famous songs. Janie Hendrix will also stop by to share recollections about her brother’s time in Nashville. Food and beverage provided.

The event is set for 5:30pm to 7:30pm in the Davidson Ballroom.

Thursday, July 11

Insight: Hard-Earned Wisdom from Industry Icons, moderated by country music legend Vince Gill and Two Old Hippies’ Tom Bedell

For the first time ever, NAMM has assembled a group of the music products industry’s most interesting—and sometimes outspoken—business leaders and invited them to share a message with dealers that’s designed to help further their success. This is hard-earned advice that no dealer will want to miss. Live music, food and beverage provided.

Doors open 6pm; event begins 6:30pm; concert is 7:30pm to 8:30pm in the Davidson Ballroom.

Friday, July 12

The 2013 NAMM Top 100 Dealer Awards, honoring the industry’s most proactive and innovative music retailers

At the third-annual Top 100 Dealer Awards, NAMM pays tribute to the music products industry’s best and brightest, most proactive retailers who think outside the box. In addition to honoring the Top 100, NAMM will also announce the winners in the seven “Best of” categories and the 2013 Dealer of the Year. Food and beverage provided.

Doors open 6pm; event is from 6:30pm to 7:30pm in the Davidson Ballroom.

Nakata most recent served as President of Yamaha Corp. of America since April 2010, overseeing a period of growth for the company despite a difficult financial climate in the U.S. Throughout his tenure with the company, Nakata has been instrumental in all of the evolutions and innovations that have defined the digital/electronics side of Yamaha Musical Instruments. In 1981, Nakata joined Yamaha (former Nippon Gakki Co., Ltd., which officially changed its name to “Yamaha Corp.” in 1987) with responsibility for product planning and product development of electrical musical instruments.

In 2002, Nakata was appointed Assistant General Manager of the PA–DMI Division and, in 2005, he became General Manager of the Division. In 2006, he was named Executive Officer of Yamaha Corp. In 2009, he was promoted to Director & Executive Officer of Yamaha Corp.

The playlists on the site are updated on an ongoing basis by a full-time staff to ensure that all content is relevant and timely. Content is created by DJs for DJs and runs the gamut from the technical and informative—like Chuck Green’s Under The Hood and Brian S. Redd’s How-To Videos—to the newsy, such as video gig logs, interviews with popular DJs and videos tour of clubs, to humorous and offbeat tales from the sometimes crazy world of DJing.

“This is a unique DJ-driven site,” said Dirk Kast, General Manager of ADJ Europe, who spearheaded the effort to create ADJ.tv. “Everything about it was developed with the DJ in mind. We wanted a video site that gathered a rich variety of things of interest to DJs; and we wanted to organize it in such a way that new material was always being uploaded and available to DJs anytime they wanted to view it.”

ADJ.tv encourages contributions from DJs throughout the world. The site even has a feature called “DJ Legends” that invites DJs to tell stories from the front lines about different experiences they’ve had in the course of their work.