NAMM Kicks Off Annual Summer Trade Show in Nashville

NAMM, the International Music Products Association, today opened its 2004 Summer Session trade show, which runs through Sunday, July 25, at the Nashville Convention Center and the adjoining Gaylord Entertainment Center.

With more than 500 exhibiting companies and thousands of retail buyers, the association’s second-largest trade show is expected to attract more than 20,000 attendees from around the world and is open to manufacturers and retailers from the international music products industry and media who cover musical instruments and products.

NAMM will host a free concert for show attendees tonight from 6 to 8, featuring headlining act The Spin Doctors and additional performances by the Grand Prize Winners of this year’s John Lennon Songwriting Contest.

Along with the many exciting exhibits, attendees can participate in the variety of scheduled activities, including 30 free NAMM University educational sessions addressing topics that range from maximizing small store sales to high-impact marketing, the World’s Fastest Drummer Contest, the annual All-Industry Drum Circle and the Gospel Music Pancake Breakfast, among many other concerts and events.

“The music products industry is fundamentally based on personal relationships, which are renewed every time the industry gathers at a NAMM trade show,” said Joe Lamond, president and CEO, NAMM. “Coming into the show, there’s a sense of cautious optimism in the industry about the economy due to strong second quarter sales, which are up since this time last year. With predictions of continued economic growth and an overall increase in spending on all areas of entertainment, we as an industry need to come together here and work to make music a priority of the public.”

The 2005 NAMM Show will take place January 20–23, 2005, in Anaheim, Calif., and the 2005 Summer Session is scheduled for July 22–24, 2005, in Indianapolis, Ind.

For more information, interested parties can log on to www.nammsummersession.com or call 800.767.6266.