The 2017 NAMM Show Offers Enriching Professional Development, Inspirational Sessions Across Industry Segments

At The 2017 NAMM Show, inspiration and innovation, transformative business know-how, and leading strategies and tips for music industry professionals and businesses of all sizes will be offered through more than 120 free educational sessions. The Show’s NAMM U and TEC Tracks sessions have been designed to inspire members from various disciplines within the music products industry — from music product retailers and manufacturers to professionals in pro audio, live sound and lighting. Registrants will have access to learning sessions from the world’s top thought leaders and their peers who will present successful strategies and best practices trending across the industry today.

On Wednesday, January 18, many business-enhancing opportunities begin before the show officially opens, with an all-day intensive training: Retail Boot Camp. Featuring two different tracks, this training includes a schedule of strategies and tools for everyone involved in music retail who aims to strengthen their businesses and business practices through “Sales, Marketing and Websites” or “Financial Management” tracks. Speakers in the first track include pre-eminent thought-leaders “The Retail Doctor,” Bob Phibbs; digital marketing pioneer Larry Bailin; and Ben Blakesley, social media marketing leader at Reebok. In the financial track, experts Alan Friedman and Daniel Jobe of Friedman, Kannenberg & Co. will offer tools and strategies for sound fiscal management.

Beginning Thursday morning, the show will officially open each day with NAMM U Breakfast Sessions. Located on the NAMM campus in the Hilton’s Pacific ballroom, the sessions will feature prominent keynote speakers sharing today’s best business practices, innovative ideas and inspirational strategies designed to transform businesses. Thursday morning kicks off the show with “Breakfast of Champions,” an up-close look at the people changing the music products industry, and led by NAMM President and CEO Joe Lamond. On Friday, the show welcomes back marketing expert Larry Bailin for “2020: Future-Proof Your Business,” a session on how customers are changing, and how to prepare your business for the future. On Saturday, best-selling author and social media legend Guy Kawasaki brings “The Art of Innovation,” a presentation designed to reveal practical, surprising and even counterintuitive ideas to trigger innovation in a music store or products business. Sunday morning will welcome the perennial favorite “Best in Show” session. Led by Frank Alkyer of Music Inc. and UpBeat Daily magazines, a guest panel of music retail experts make their picks for the biggest products and technology breakthroughs found on the NAMM show floor.

Following each morning’s Breakfast Session, The NAMM Idea Center will come alive with more than 45 free presentations and panels that will help NAMM members discover the most creative ideas that are proving successful in music retail right now. Held in the lobby of the Anaheim Convention Center, the Idea Center will play host to a variety of hot topics in retail today, including search engine optimization (SEO), website upgrades, store design breakthroughs, lesson program improvements and online marketing. Members seeking to enhance their business systems can learn from a variety of NAMM Member service providers appearing on The NAMM Retail Tech stage — new for The 2017 NAMM Show and located inside the NAMM Member Center, also in the lobby. The NAMM Retail Tech stage is the hot spot for a series of sessions on retail software, technology platforms and strategies for business modernization, all offered by NAMM service providers.

For sound, studio and stage professionals, TEC Tracks returns with more than 70 robust sessions curated to enhance skills that are crucial now and leading into the next decade. For the first time, TEC Tracks will offer themed days to cater to the different audio and technology communities at the show.

Starting on Thursday, TEC Tracks ushers in the Entertainment Technology (Live Sound and Lighting) day with a special opening session led by live sound engineer Mark Frink and a panel of pre-eminent front-of-house mixing engineers. Also on Thursday, a special “Introduction to Dante” session hosted by Audinate will offer budding audio pros an opportunity to learn more about the networking technology. In addition to the special session, Audinate will host two days of the company’s Dante Training and Certification program.

On Friday, TEC talks Futurism, when A3E (Advanced Audio + Applications Exchange) begins its first-for-NAMM, future-focused two-day program. Under the banner of “Creating Harmony Between Man and Machine,” the series of sessions will explore the boundaries of musical creativity using advanced audio applications and technologies that are transforming the MI market.

On Saturday, TEC Tracks will offer a full day of expertise on Recording day, starting with a special keynote from sonic mastermind, Peter Asher (James Taylor, Linda Ronstadt, Morrissey), who will be interviewed by music industry analyst Bob Leftsetz. Saturday will also play host to Aerosmith producer Jack Douglas as he dissects the band’s “Toys in the Attic” album with award-winning journalist Mr. Bonzai. At the conclusion of the day, Douglas will be inducted into the NAMM TEC Hall of Fame as part of The NAMM TEC Awards. Now in its 32nd year, the annual awards honor a variety of companies and technical innovations behind today’s sound recordings, live performances, films, television and video games, along with musicians who embody the spirit of industry legend Les Paul with The Les Paul Award. The 2017 recipient of the Les Paul Award is Aerosmith co-founder and lead guitarist, Joe Perry.

On Sunday, TEC Tracks will switch its focus to “what’s next” during the Music Business day, which will cover everything from marketing to intellectual property to distribution in a forward-thinking program that will speak to emerging and established music professionals.

Members who are planning to attend The 2017 NAMM Show are encouraged to secure their badges before January 4, 2017 when the free badge deadline expires. Please visit NAMM.org for additional information.

To view the complete schedule of NAMM U and TEC Tracks sessions, please visit https://ww1.namm.org/thenammshow/2017/education