NAMM Policy Priorities

Public Policy for NAMM Members

NAMM serves its members by tracking, engaging and educating on matters of public policy, based on three priorities: Business Compliance, Music Education Advocacy and Workforce Development. We represent the interests of the music products industry through virtual and in-person advocacy campaigns, such as the NAMM Music Education D.C. Fly-In. Members are invited to participate in trade, sustainability and music education advocacy working groups, as well as in educational webinars and advocacy efforts. Contact us for more information.

Featured Article

Election 2026: What a New Congress Means for the Music Products Industry

Updated Nov. 4, 2026 at 4:30 pm PT. Results are unofficial, and some races remain uncalled. Voters delivered a decisive shift in power Tuesday. As of Wednesday morning, Democrats had won control of both the House, 228-139, and the Senate, 54-44, with a number of races still undecided in both chambers, including Senate contests in Alaska and Mississippi. The Associated Press called the Senate for Democrats late Tuesday and the House early Wednesday. The new majorities take over in January. Because President Donald Trump remains in office and neither party holds a veto-proof majority, most legislation will still need his signature. Leadership: Continuity for Democrats, shake-ups for Republicans Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., is expected to become House speaker, and Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., Senate majority leader.House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., told staff Wednesday he will not run for minority leader, setting up a likely race between Rep. Steve Scalise, R-La., and Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio. House Republicans are scheduled to hold leadership elections Nov. 10.Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., is expected to seek the Republican leader post again, according to re

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Read NAMM's Most Recent Articles on Issues that Impact Your Business

Tariffs Explained

September 21, 2026 Trade Policy Update: New Russia Sanctions Law Raises Stakes for Music Industry Supply Chains NAMM's September 18 tariff webinar brought members up to speed on two major developments: continued progress refunding IEEPA tariffs, and a newly passed law that could dramatically raise tariff exposure for instruments and parts sourced from China and other countries tied to Russian energy trade. WATCH SEPTEMBER 18 WEBINAR IEEPA Refunds: Progress, With Gaps Panelists reported that of an estimated 53 million IEEPA entries eligible for refund, roughly 27.2 million (51%) ha

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New Tariffs, New Legal Ground

On July 24, 2026 — the very day a sweeping new set of Section 301 forced-labor tariffs took effect — NAMM convened its recurring expert panel to walk members through what changed overnight, what it means for the music products industry and what actions can be taken. As always, the discussion was for educational purposes only. Joining the conversation were: Chris Cushing, Managing Partner, Washington, D.C. office of Nelson Mullins (NAMM's outside trade counsel of 20 years) Cullen Hendrix, Senior Fellow, Peterson Institute for International Economics Dan Anthony, President, T

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NAMM Files Two Formal Comments With U.S. Trade Representative Seeking Tariff Rel…

July 6, 2026 The National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM), the leading nonprofit trade association for the global music products industry, this week filed two formal written comments with the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), continuing the association’s sustained advocacy for tariff relief on behalf of music makers, music retailers, American instrument manufacturers and school music programs nationwide. The filings, submitted in response to Federal Register notices published by USTR, address two separate federal trade proceedings and build on the deta

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group of people meeting with congressman Thompson of PA

NAMM Joins NAfME Hill Day to Advance Federal Funding for Music Education

Photo: NAfME and NAMM delegation met with Congressman Glenn 'GT' Thompson (center), senior member of the House Education & Labor Committee June 26, 2026 On June 24, 2026, NAMM Associate Director of Public Policy Claire Kreger-Boaz joined more than 300 music educators, partners and college students in Washington, D.C., for the National Association for Music Education's (NAfME) annual Hill Day — one month after NAMM’s Advocacy D.C. Fly-In. The back-to-back collaboration between the music products industry and music educators creates some of the most visible days of advocacy on C

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20 Years of Showing Up: NAMM Brings the Music Products Industry to Capitol Hill

May 22, 2026 For five days in May, the music products industry made Washington, D.C., its home — and Capitol Hill its stage. This year’s NAMM Advocacy D.C. Fly-In marked the 20th anniversary of the event, as 100 member delegates and partners from 74 companies representing all 50 states came to Capitol Hill with two goals: ask Congress to protect federal funding for music education and request tariff exemptions for musical instruments, along with the components and raw materials used to make them. What unfolded was a demonstration of what organized, passionate, industry-wide advoca

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NAMM Joins Stand Up 4 Arts Education Advocacy Day at the California State Capito…

April 29, 2026 On April 29, NAMM joined music educators, students and arts advocates from across California for the annual Stand Up 4 Arts Education (SU4AE) Advocacy Day at the State Capitol’s West Steps — and the NAMM team brought some of the music industry’s most passionate voices with them. NAMM Associate Director of Public Policy Claire Kreger-Boaz represented the association alongside a delegation of NAMM members who came to Sacramento ready to advocate: Natalie Morrison and Jeff Queen of Yamaha, Scott Mandeville of Tim’s Music, and Justin Emord, professional bass player and

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