NAMM University Courses at 2008 Music China Show Reach New Attendance Record

NAMM, the trade association of the international music products industry, today announced that attendance at its NAMM University courses held during a record 2008 Music China Show demonstrated a 53 percent increase over last year, with 950 people attending the nine courses.

The most popular NAMM U session, a panel discussion entitled “The Impact of Weakening Economies on the Global MI Market” included Cheng Jiantong, president, Roland China; KHS’s former president Wu Hsieh; Werner Hussmann, marketing director, Steinway and chairman of Steinway Shanghai; Huang Weilin, chairman, Pearl River; Jon Gold, Fender’s vice president of global sales; and Joe Lamond, president and CEO, NAMM.

“With more than 180 years of experience in the MI industry on the stage, no wonder I was nervous moderating this panel of experts,” said Betty Heywood, NAMM’s director of international affairs. “We are very grateful to the panelists for dedicating their time, and sharing their experience with the many attendees who came from all over China and many countries around the world. “

Working closely with the organizers of the show: the China Music Instrument Association, Messe Frankfurt, and Intex, NAMM, as International Cooperation Partner, has produced NAMM University courses at the Music China trade show for the past three years.

“The proceeds from the show help to finance the courses, which provides a NAMM-like ‘circle of benefits’ model to the Chinese market,” continued Heywood. “We are very happy that the organizers are funding professional development courses with the goal of growing the market for everyone.”

About NAMM

NAMM is the not-for-profit association that unifies, leads and strengthens the $17 billion global musical instruments and products industry. NAMM’s activities and programs are designed to promote music making to people of all ages. NAMM is comprised of approximately 9,000 Member companies. For more information about NAMM, interested parties can visit www.namm.org or call 800-767-NAMM (6266).

About Music China

Music China and its sister show ProLight + Sound Shanghai are the Asia-Pacific’s region leading shows for the music instrument, pro-audio and entertainment lighting industries. Now in its 7th edition, the shows gathered over 1400 exhibitors and 57000 trade and public visitors to Shanghai.