Is debt ever good for music retailers? It can be, according to financial gurus Alan Friedman and Daniel Jobe of Friedman, Kannenberg & Co. At the 2015 NAMM Show, they discussed the appropriate kinds of debt and when debt can create opportunity for a business to grow. Check out this session, and discover what this could mean for your store.

Don’t miss out on your next big seller! Join Frank Alkyer, publisher of Music Inc. and UpBeat Daily magazines, and a panel of music retail gear experts for this fast-moving Breakfast Session. They’ve scoured the far corners of the exhibit floor, and in 60 minutes, they’ll reveal their top picks from the 2016 NAMM Show.

Most companies have tons of creative buzz and big ideas. So why do some get game-changing results while others miss the mark? The answer: Successful companies have a process for turning creativity into action. In this NAMM U session, four-time tech entrepreneur, New York Times best-selling author and jazz guitarist Josh Linkner discusses innovation in a way you’ve never heard before. Unleash your innovation now!

You know who your tough customers are—they knock you down, beat you up and leave without buying. They seek out the cheapest price online, then come to you to haggle. Here, Music Trades Magazine columnist and sales guru Bob Popyk discusses ways you might not have thought of to get them to buy, make them regular customers and save your sanity—all at the same time.

Want practical ideas to improve your YouTube channel and video marketing? Check out this exciting panel discussion from the 2016 NAMM Show with three YouTube and video marketing experts. Get a 360-degree look at how to tell your company’s story using video, how to turn that story into sales on YouTube and how to use analytics to get better results on an ongoing basis.

At 2015 Summer NAMM, Donovan Bankhead of Springfield Music hosted a motivating session on one of the best ways to drive traffic to your store: events. It featured a panel of retailers from the Independent Music Store Owners (iMSO) group. Each iMSO member discussed his most successful store event to inspire fellow music retailers to get creative and plan events at their stores.

In 90 seconds, Myrna Sislen of Middle C Music shares her big idea: Generate interest in new products by creating "unboxing" promotional videos. She films these offbeat videos of new products being unpacked, then posts the videos to YouTube, her website and company e-blasts.

Corporate sponsorships can be a powerful way to boost a music store's revenue. Here, Will Mason of Mason Music looks at the world of opportunities available to music retailers and offers six steps for effectively partnering with corporate and local sponsors. Doing a little homework can go a long way in securing these partners.

At 2015 Summer NAMM, Will Thompson of Habitual Social revealed how music retailers can use Instagram to acquire new fans and customers. He delved into Instagram rules and best practices, tips for building an engageed following, and using contests and promotions. Find out how you can use Instagram to better engage current and potential customers.

There’s nothing more important to you than family. However, your family owned business supports your family, so when it comes to protecting both of them, you need to consider your moves carefully. Music industry veteran Jeff Ponte weighs in on the first steps to take when thinking about succession.