Video is critical to marketing your business, but every social media platform calls for a different strategy. You’ll want to know about the ins and outs, do’s and don’ts, and latest updates on video for each platform. In this NAMM U session, Tim Spicer of Spicer’s Music moderates a panel of rock-star marketers who reveal their video success secrets for YouTube, Instagram and Facebook.

We live in an age of disruption. Every week, it seems there’s a new strategy, technology or social media that’s a “must use” or game-changer for your music retail business or brand. But trust, connection, consistency and service will always trump the next app to hit the market. And at The 2019 NAMM Show, marketing rebel and branding and customer-engagement expert Scott Stratten hosted an inspiring NAMM U Breakfast Session to help NAMM members navigate this age of disruption.

The 2019 NAMM Show closed out with "Best in Show," a fast-moving roundup of the biggest products, services and technologies on the exhibit floor. Moderator Frank Alkyer, publisher of Music Inc. and UpBeat Daily magazines, led a panel of music retail gear experts, who scoured the far corners of the show floor to bring you their favorites. Check out the video of the session and "Best in Show" winners here.

Online rentals can bolster your customer service, streamline operations and, not least of all, give business a lift. Robert M. Sides Family Music now does a third of its rentals online, and in this session, Peter Sides, company president, shares his best practices and lessons learned.

In the past decade, Melissa Loggins of Music Authority has seen signups and retention skyrocket in her music lesson program. Here, she shares the five strategies that made this happen. Discover how to grow your own lesson program by implementing these simple but critical concepts. She covers everything from hosting effective student performance opportunities to creating stronger bonds with parents to the importance of the front desk.

In this NAMM U session, Dan Abel, director of marketing for Reverb.com, looks at how to get the most from your YouTube marketing. He highlights five creators who’ve mastered the art of YouTube and what they can show you about growing your own audience. Discover best practices, strategies and secrets of the most effective video marketers.

Your music lesson operation can significantly increase your retail business, and vice versa, but it requires a conscious effort. Here, music lessons authority Pete Gamber offers proven, real-world ideas to grow your retail business with music lessons. Don’t miss this opportunity to take your lesson program and your sales to new heights!

Instrumental Music Center has won several awards for its customer service and sales staff, and in this session, you’ll find out why—and what you can take away from the store’s best practices. Company co-owner Leslie Faltin shares how her staff consistently delivers an outstanding “tailored” experience to every customer, every time. Walk away with ideas you can apply right away to improve the customer experience at your own business.

In this NAMM U sesison, Tim Spicer of Spicer’s Music shares his best tips for hosting events that help drive business. As a NAMM Top 100 retailer and winner of Best Marketing and Promotions in 2017, Spicer offers best practices, his formula for success and valuable lessons learned along the way. 

The future of retail is right now. So who is winning in this new reality and why? That was the focus of “Retail Innovators,” the opening NAMM U Breakfast Session at 2018 Summer NAMM. Hosted by NAMM President and CEO Joe Lamond, the session featured discussions with some of the most forward-thinking music retailers of today. They shared how they’re thriving with innovative, effective and sometimes unconventional business models.