News Releases

The NAMM Foundation today announced that its 2009 Request for Grant Proposals initiative will open by close of business, September 16, 2008, at www.nammfoundation.org. The Foundation seeks to fund proposals for projects that further the music products industry’s mission of creating more active music makers of all ages and expanding access to music making.

Americans for the Arts Action Fund, in conjunction with NAMM, the National Association of Music Merchants, announced today it will host two events at the national political conventions designed to encourage support for and awareness of the importance of arts and arts education. Both events are part of ArtsVote2008, a national initiative created by the Americans for the Arts Action Fund to promote the arts during the presidential election.

The Center for Education Policy Analysis at the School of Public Affairs, University of Colorado Denver, today announced the award of a grant from the NAMM Foundation to conduct research on the economics and benefits of music education in Jefferson County public schools, Colorado’s largest school district. The proposed research will investigate the following: 1. What are the total resources used in music education in the district, and how do these resources vary by school?

NAMM, the trade association of the international music products industry, today announced that 2009 Summer NAMM will take place July 17–19 in Nashville, Tenn. NAMM also said the dates of the second industry gathering will move back to June 18–20 in 2010 and will remain in late June for the foreseeable future, making sure not to overlap with InfoComm, another industry event.

NAMM, the trade association of the international music products industry, announced today that Umpei Kurokawa, a student at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pa., and Samantha Breske, a student at Millikin University in Joliet, Ill., are the recipients of the 2008 William R. Gard Memorial Scholarship. The scholarship, established in the name of former NAMM Executive Vice President William R. Gard, invests in the education of promising students interested in contributing their talents to the music products industry. The scholarship is renewable for up to three years.

NAMM recently presented its “Music for Life” award to Bob McGrath of Sesame Workshop’s Sesame Street for introducing the wonders of music to hundreds of thousands of children and adults over his 38-year career on the show. The accolade was given to McGrath at a breakfast session held during the 2008 Summer NAMM show.

NAMM, the trade association of the international music products industry, today announced that it has conducted the 1,000th interview of an industry laureate as part of the organization’s Oral History Program. Dennis Houlihan, president of Roland U.S. and past chairman of NAMM, was the 1,000th interviewee. A long-time supporter of the Oral History Program, Houlihan spoke on camera about the many elements of his lengthy career in the retail segment, including his positions as a demonstration artist for organ companies, a sales manager and as a leading music product manufacturer.

NAMM, the trade association of the international music products industry, kicked off its third and final day of 2008 Summer NAMM with more business meetings, product demonstrations, NAMM University sessions and networking.

NAMM, the trade association of the international music products industry, today announced final registration and exhibitor numbers for 2008 Summer NAMM. At show close, NAMM reported a 36 percent increase in registration from last year’s event in Austin, with 17,473 total registrants for the three-day event, including a 45 percent increase in international registrants.

NAMM, the trade association of the international music products industry, today announced that plans are underway to create a float for the 2009 Tournament of Roses Parade that represents a “musical extravaganza.” Overflowing with live music and depictions of how much fun playing music can be for everyone, the NAMM float will be a special feature for the overall parade theme of “Hats Off to Entertainment.”