Jon Batiste, Jack White, Sheila E and More Star Power at The 2025 NAMM Show
What’s special about The NAMM Show is the variety of people who attend. Music industry professionals from all walks gather for the annual unveiling of music product innovations each January. Exploring the Anaheim Convention Center show floor, you can run into a bassist, a DJ, a saxophone player, a music store owner or a luthier. You can also run into a few stars. The NAMM Show is a magnet for musical powerhouses, chart-topping icons and inspirational influencers. Here’s a roundup of artists we saw at 2025’s show.
Jon Batiste Lights Up the Yamaha Stage
Seven-time GRAMMY-winning pianist, singer and composer Jon Batiste attended The NAMM Show for the first time this January! Thanks to NAMM member, Yamaha, Batiste gave a thrilling performance on Friday night to a sea of attendees, entertaining and inspiring with his fusion of jazz, pop and R&B. He even took his band walking through the crowd and got everyone singing “My Favorite Things.”
Batiste joined NAMM President and CEO John Mlynczak at Thursday’s Industry Insights event to share stories about his early days as a budding musician and then as a first-time professional pianist in NYC. He said that it was a "coming of age" moment leaving home in New Orleans at 17 and beginning his career performing at supper clubs in The Big Apple. He shared about some of the curveballs he faced, one being pneumonia landing him in the hospital. But he honored that time with these words:
"Everything was good. The good was good, the bad was good. That's how I ended up being the person that I am today so I wouldn't change any of it."
Being his first time at The NAMM Show, Batiste flashed a big smile when he talked about hearing unexpected songs come together in the piano hall.
“Somebody was playing a Schumann thing and somebody’s playing Charlie Brown at the same time. I find that to be my dream. I love that.”
Jack White Receives Innovation Award at NAMM TEC Awards
The “Seven Nation Army” singer, songwriter, producer, Third Man Records label owner and vinyl pressing plant trailblazer Jack White was honored with the Innovation Award at Thursday night’s NAMM TEC Awards. He didn’t leave the audience hanging and rocked the room with a live performance.
Read more about Jack White’s backstory or see all the 2025 TEC Awards finalists in categories ranging from amplification hardware to musical instrument software.
Skunk Baxter Cracks Jokes as NAMM TEC Awards Host
Jack White stole the show, but let’s not fail to mention the humor and depth of music industry knowledge Jeffrey “Skunk” Baxter brought as host for the NAMM TEC Awards, now in its 40th year. It wasn’t Skunk’s first time at the TEC Awards, though — here’s a flashback to his 2016 performance of “Rikki Don't Lose That Number” for our audience of pro audio and sound technology makers.
Sheila E Gifted the Sheila E DW Icon Snare Drum
At the Roland booth, percussionist, songwriter, singer, producer and musical innovator Sheila E was honored with the DW Lifetime Achievement Award. “It’s been a lifetime of amazing music, meeting people, telling stories through music and being able to share the gift of music all over the world,” she said.
As a big surprise to all, DW presented Sheila E with a gift in commemoration of the Queen of Percussion — the Sheila E DW Icon Snare Drum. Limited to 250 drums worldwide, the drum is set apart by its detailed decorative butterfly artwork (handcrafted with inlaid wood, not paint) and Sheila’s iconic backwards signature.
Jacob Collier Converts Audience Into Choir
With a lineup of dazzling musical performances at the Grand Rally for Music Education, you’d think you hit your highest note for the day, but then out comes Jacob Collier to play the piano and direct NAMM Show goers into a symphony of voices. If you weren’t there or just want to relive it, you can watch it here.
Mia Asano Electrifies NAMM Show Goers With Prowess on Violin
Whether it was on the Industry Insights stage or Bands at NAMM ADJ Arena Plaza Stage, electric violinist and TikTok-YouTube sensation Mia Asano delivered stunning instrumental numbers. Read more about her journey as a musician and content creator, plus what she has to say about the gear she loves.
JayLeonardJ Spotlights NAMM Members at NAMM Dealer Awards
Guitarist, performer, songwriter, producer and YouTube personality JayLeonardJ hosted the NAMM Dealer Awards, held annually to celebrate the accomplishments of music stores in bringing musical instruments and equipment to customers worldwide. His band, Trilojay, delivered a great performance for this special group of NAMM members.
Patrice Rushen Demos the V-Stage at Global Media Day
At Global Media Day, where music brands make exciting product announcements, reveals and demos, Patrice Rushen graced the stage along with her band to show the sonic expression that’s possible on Roland’s V-STAGE gigging keyboard.
Peter Frampton Honored With Martin Guitar
Also at Global Media Day, CEO of Martin Guitar, Thomas Ripsam, sat with Peter Frampton for a chat about Frampton’s use of Martin Guitars over his career and congratulated him on being inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. To celebrate the achievement, Ripsam gifted Frampton an SC-28 U.S.-made acoustic-electric guitar. Frampton said his career wasn’t about gaining awards but all about being “a fanatic about playing guitar.” On his induction into RRHOF, he said, “Being up there amongst all my heroes is humbling, to say the least.”
Rosanne Cash Receives American Eagle Award
Elected to the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, singer-songwriter and music education advocate Rosanne Cash received the American Eagle Award at The NAMM Show. Presented by the National Music Council, the annual award honors individuals who have made long-term contributions to American musical culture and heritage.
Reggie Guillaume a.k.a. guitaro5000 Connects With Fans
His YouTube fans easily spot him in a crowd. Reggie Guillaume, also known as guitaro5000 on the tube, started singing and playing guitar in the New York City subway to make a living. He unlocked something special when he began asking people to sing with him. Today, he has over 1.5 million subscribers and, more significantly, has inspired people on the street to take a chance and express themselves through song. At The NAMM Show, Guillaume and his creative director/producer Daniel Naranjo explored products, live music and education sessions, all while connecting with fans who just couldn’t help but approach him to say how awesome he is.
Victor Wooten Offers Words of Motivation to Music Students
At the GenNext Plenary session, Grammy-winning artist and founding member of Béla Fleck and the Flecktones Victor Wooten captivated college students with his stories and words of wisdom. “If you’re going to college … do not waste the opportunity,” he said. “Opportunity is waiting for you, but most of you are waiting for opportunity. It’s there!”
He told the young NAMM Show attendees that they are the future of the music business, and at that moment, they could be sitting alongside the next great producer, so connect with your peers. One student asked, “How do you best facilitate creativity?” Wooten answered, “I do my best to keep the channel open. I expect creativity.”
Watch Victor Wooten's performance at the Grand Rally for Music Education.
Who Did You See at The NAMM Show?
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