Summer NAMM: Nashville Homecoming

…attendance and spirits up as the show re-establishes itself in “Music City U.S.A.”

“This is where the show’s supposed to be,” was perhaps the most frequent commentary on the return of Summer NAMM to Nashville after a three-year detour which saw the show set up camp in Indianapolis and Austin with… mixed results. While the factors which had initially served as a catalyst for the departure from “Music City U.S.A.” seemed reasonable at the time (primarily, insufficient convention center floor-space and facilities), after a dozen years of hosting consistently solid midsummer shows, Nashville had become, for many, the unquestioned “home” of the Summer Session.

Happy to be Back
“We consider the show a huge success,” notes James Kearney of EMG, Inc. “Everyone was so glad to be back in Nashville. Whether it was a sign of a coming turnaround in the economy or simply returning to Nashville, all in attendance seemed happy to be there.” Douglas Hanson of Roland U.S. shared that enthusiasm: “Despite the challenging economic environment leading up to the show, we were pleased to see healthier attendance. We’re happy to be back in Nashville, and looking forward to the continuing success of the Summer NAMM Show.”

The numbers seem to bear out these sentiments, with NAMM reporting a 36 percent overall increase in registration from last year’s show (17,473, total), including a 45 percent hike in international registrants. Exhibitor numbers were also up, with a total of 483 companies establishing a presence on the show floor.

Weathering Rough Times
Daily Breakfast Sessions and professional development sessions held at the Idea Center provided a wealth of resources and ideas to help retailers thrive even amidst a troubled economy. “We came together to celebrate the importance of local community music stores in this country, and the feedback tells us that many dealers found the business and education they were looking for,” says Joe Lamond, president and CEO, NAMM. “NAMM is grateful for the opportunity to provide the venue for both manufacturers and retailers who are ready to do business for a successful fall and holiday sales season.”

The 2009 NAMM Winter Show will take place January 15–18, 2009 in Anaheim, Calif. For more information about 2008 Summer NAMM, or the upcoming convention, interested parties can log on to www.namm.org.