NAMM Announces Fourth Annual Wanna Play? Award Recipients

 NAMM, the trade association of the international music products industry, presented Wanna Play? awards today to six companies that use music products in their television ads, helping to inspire people to make music.

The recipients of the 2009 Wanna Play? Awards are:

• California Milk Processor Board for its Battle for Milkquarious ad campaign
• Kaiser Permanente for its Kabuki/Thrive TV ad
• Blackberry for its Rock Band/Love What You Do TV ad
• Pantene for its Violin/Chrysalis TV ad
• General Electric for its Duet/Imagination at Work TV ad
• Herbal Essences Totally Twisted for its Rocker/Twisted TV ad

The Wanna Play? Awards are an extension of NAMM's Wanna Play? campaign, a public awareness initiative designed to inspire people of all ages to become active music makers, from taking lessons to purchasing their first instrument or software. NAMM recognizes major companies that have encouraged people to pursue—or perhaps revisit—their passion for playing an instrument through their promotion of products or initiatives.

The Battle for Milkquarious advertisement, for example, features a rock star character playing a tricked-out electric guitar while promoting the perks of drinking milk.

Pantene’s ad features a deaf girl who finds inspiration in life by learning how to play the violin.

“Promoting music making is easier when we get help from so many great companies outside of our industry who inspire people to play through their advertisements,” said Scott Robertson, director of marketing and communications at NAMM. “NAMM is happy to honor this year’s Wanna Play? Award recipients.”