The INSPIRATION Strikes Here

Make plans to arrive early to the show this year. Whether you are looking for music business, pro audio or entertainment tech, we have workshops and sessions that were made just for you! Just let us know which events you plan to attend in the form at the bottom of this page so that we can save your spot.

All events are free to NAMM members, but you must sign up in advance and present your NAMM Show badge to attend.       

• View Tuesday's sessions

• View Wednesday's sessions

11:00 am – 11:45 am 
Special Exhibitor Session: How to Unlock the Full Potential of Influencers
Hilton Anaheim, Avila, Level 4
Tracy Hoeft, Amplify 11

How do you get the most out of influencers in your marketing? Find out at this special session, presented by industry insider Tracy Hoeft of Amplify 11 and Ryan Burke of guitar podcast 60 Cycle Hum. This event is designed specifically for NAMM Show exhibitors looking to take a break in between exhibit setup. Whether you’re a marketing executive, marketer or business owner, you’re invited to attend and get exclusive insights. 

Hoeft works with many of the largest brands, retailers and influencers in the music products industry, and has executed several of the top influencer efforts. Burke hosts a YouTube channel and podcast with more than 144,000 subscribers. Here, they will share specific, actionable tactics for selecting the right content creators, contacting them, working with them, tracking collaboration success and fine-tuning your influencer plan to maximize this vital marketing lever in 2025. 

This event is free to NAMM members, but you must sign up in advance and present your NAMM Show badge to attend.

12 – 1:30 pm 
NAMM Marketing Summit: 2025 Digital Marketing Strategy Update for Music Businesses 
Hilton Anaheim, Palos Verdes, Level 4 
Lynn Maurer, Digital Marketing Group

Digital marketing can be a moving target. Check out this special NAMM U workshop to make sure your strategy is up to date and designed to grow your business and brand. Find out what’s changed for 2025, and get an insider’s look at the new customer journey through key digital channels. Lynn Maurer, marketing expert and senior vice president at Digital Marketing Group, will present this interactive session and Q&A. She’ll focus on paid strategies, including social media, programmatic, streaming placements and Google. Bring your questions and find out how to pivot to get the marketing results you want in the year ahead.

This workshop is open to all NAMM members, but you must register for the event at namm.org.  

1:00–4:00 pm
Retail Financial Summit
Hilton Anaheim, Huntington, Level 4
Alan Friedman and Daniel Jobe, Friedman, Kannenberg & Co. 

Brought back by popular demand, this half-day, audience-driven workshop for music retailers will reveal the vital financial education you’ll want and need to know to thrive in today’s marketplace, while exploring new trends and developments that are certain to impact your business. As a bonus, the event will dive into your most pressing financial questions, feature an extended Q&A and deliver new post-pandemic solutions and insights to help you make the most of 2025 and beyond. 

The Retail Financial Summit will be presented by industry financial experts Alan Friedman and Daniel Jobe of Friedman, Kannenberg & Co. They’ll share powerful tools for driving profitability and cash flow by addressing a wide range of financial topics — all selected by you, the audience. Be it inventory management, succession planning, instrument rental programs, cash flow management, sales tax reporting, controlling expense overhead, disaster planning or any other financial topic impacting music retail, all content will be delivered in an interactive, entertaining manner. Along the way, Friedman and Jobe will reveal best practices and teach you how to avoid the biggest financial pitfalls that plague music retailers.

Retail Financial Summit is open to all NAMM members, but you must register for the event at namm.org. 

1:30–3:00 pm
NAMM Marketing Summit: AI-Powered Marketing and Search Strategies to Elevate Your Business
Hilton Anaheim, Avila, Level 4
Peter Malick, Inbound AV 

Artificial intelligence’s growing sophistication creates challenges and opportunities for manufacturers, retailers and service providers. This interactive workshop will explore the radical shift in SEO and search and how it impacts your visibility and online success. AI also provides sales, prospecting and business growth opportunities. Discover how to use AI to expand your business with opportunities hidden in plain sight. This workshop is open to all NAMM members, but you must register for the event at namm.org. Also, note that we will not have public Wi-Fi in the session room. It’s recommended that session attendees bring an internet-connected device, such as mobile, tablet or a laptop tethered to a hotspot.

2:00–3:30 pm
Harmonizing Futures: How to Advocate for Music Education 
Hilton Anaheim, Palos Verdes, Level 4

Discover how to be an effective advocate for music education. This special workshop will show you how to engage with decision-makers, present compelling arguments for funding and support, and foster collaborations that strengthen visibility of the benefits of music education. Engage in meaningful discussions, share best practices and collaborate on actionable solutions to ensure equity and access to music education. Featuring a panel of esteemed educators, industry leaders and seasoned advocates, this session will help you gain an understanding of music education policy and successful advocacy strategies using innovative approaches. You’ll walk away with essential insights into effectively working with local, state and federal policymakers to champion music education initiatives.

This workshop is open to all NAMM members, but you must register for the event at namm.org. 

NAMM Marketing Summit

Wednesday at The NAMM Show features a special education experience for retailers, brands and anyone looking to elevate their marketing. Join us for workshops and sessions exploring the latest strategies and best practices in harnessing AI, content creation and making the most of social platforms. This event is free to NAMM members, but you must sign up in advance and present your NAMM Show badge to attend.

9:00–10:30 am
NAMM Marketing Summit: AI and Business
Hilton Anaheim, Pacific Ballroom, Level 2
Mark Schaefer, Schaefer Marketing Solutions

The CEO of Microsoft called artificial intelligence the most profound technology in human history. But for many businesses, it’s hard to grasp. Kick off Wednesday morning with this fast-paced, entertaining session. Marketing expert and best-selling author Mark Schaefer will reveal an exciting new look at AI that’s rooted in traditional business reality.

He’ll make sense of the hype and provide actionable ideas that work, even in a fast-changing world. Discover how to stay relevant amid turmoil, push the limits of AI for your company and understand the three different types of AI in your organization. Schaefer will also share practical marketing applications for AI to use right now, walking you through specific technologies and prompts to jumpstart your AI journey. If you’re struggling to make sense of this new world, you’re not alone, and Mark Schaefer will help you create a practical plan for your organization.

10:45 am-12 pm
NAMM Marketing Summit: Win With Video Content Creation
Hilton Anaheim, Pacific Ballroom, Level 2
Tracy Hoeft, Amplify 11

Video content is a vital marketing tool. And if you’re like most music industry professionals, you probably understand the importance of leveraging video but don’t think that you have the time or resources to do it well. This workshop is all about understanding what is working and how you can right-size the effort of creating video content.

In this session, presented by Tracy Hoeft from Amplify 11, you will get an actionable framework to supercharge your video content efforts. Hoeft and his team advise many of the brands, retailers and influencers from our industry on their video strategy. If you want to learn how to get more done with less, you won’t want to miss this session!

1:00–2:30 pm
NAMM Marketing Summit: Instagram Bootcamp
Hilton Anaheim, Pacific Ballroom, Level 2
Jenn Herman, Jenn's Trends, Instagram Global Expert

What are the most important tactics right now to achieve real results on Instagram? Join globally recognized Instagram expert Jenn Herman for a deep-dive workshop on IG marketing strategies for your music retail business or brand. With all the changes in the last few years, what you did in 2020 — even 2022 — probably isn’t working for you anymore. But you can change that by attending this special 90-minute workshop!

Herman will share vital insights on the current Instagram landscape and what drives results. She’ll also look at how to create Reels that capture attention and get better retention, as well as integrating direct messages to get increased reach, engagement and conversions. Plus, she’ll show you how to ensure your account is optimized for search on Instagram and search engines. And not least of all, you’ll discover a content type that almost guarantees double the exposure.

TEC Tracks Studio Summit

Spend Wednesday at The NAMM Show polishing your chops and freshening up your thinking by attending the TEC Tracks Studio Summit. Here, the recording industry’s most critical topics will be discussed by leading lights of audio technology and studio operations. Seating for this special NAMM workshop is limited, so you must register ahead of time and present your NAMM Show badge to attend.

Schedule:

10:00 – 11:10 am
Studio Operations Panel: Succeeding Today and Tomorrow
Hilton Anaheim, Avila, Level 4
Alan Friedman, Friedman, Kannenberg & Co (Moderator), and Panel

A panel of top name studio owners and managers will give their unique perspectives on the landscape of studio recording, what is changing, and how to please the clientele while staying competitive and profitable. The panel:

• Zoe Thrall (The Hideout Recording Studios, Las Vegas, NV)
• Fabrice Dupont (Flux Studios NYC, New York, NY)
• Lee Bench (SteakHouse Studios, N. Hollywood, CA)
• David Bendeth (formerly owned and ran House of Loud, NJ, and head of A&R for RCA Records)
• Paula Salvatore (former vice president of Capitol Studios and Sound City studio manager)
• Rick Beato (Rick’s Music Production Ltd, YouTube Music Educator, Atlanta, GA)

Moderated by Alan Friedman (CPA/Partner, Friedman, Kannenberg & Co.)

11:20 am – 12:30 pm
Innovations in Music Production: Tools and Techniques for Modern Studios
Hilton Anaheim, Avila, Level 4
Deston Bennett

Leading music producers, sound engineers, software developers and studio owners will discuss the latest innovations in music production, from software and hardware advancements to new recording techniques.

12:30 – 1:15 pm
Lunch Break
 

1:15 – 2:30 pm
ProTools, 2025 Updates, Tips and Techniques
Hilton Anaheim, Avila, Level 4
Jose “Chilitos” Valenzuela, Audiograph

Have you kept up with the evolution of Pro Tools? Are there functions and features that you may have missed along the way? Jose “Chilitos” Valenzuela, CEO of Audiograph, will discuss and demonstrate the latest ProTools updates and modifications.

2:35 – 3:15 pm
Best Practices: Session Checklist
Hilton Anaheim, Avila, Level 4
Paula Salvatore, Studio Manager

Paula Salvatore, famed former studio manager of Sound City and Capitol Records Studios, will break down the steps and information that provide the basis for a successful, organized and (ideally) stress-free recording session. From the first phone call (or email) from the prospective client to the delivery of the final master, this mini-workshop will reveal how top studios make the recording session a seamless experience.

3:20 – 3:55 pm
The Future of Recording: Changing Roles and Relationships in the Ecosphere
Hilton Anaheim, Avila, Level 4
Craig Anderton

Craig Anderton discusses his vision of the future of the roles in recording. It used to be pretty cut and dried — this was the producer, this was the artist, this was the mastering engineer and so forth. There was also a traditional differentiation between composers and players. With today’s tools and music recording options, those roles have become blurred, and many people just say they’re “producers.” In this session, Anderton will look at how people’s skill sets will evolve to accommodate the changes brought on by new tools and the implications that will have for both solo artists and collaborations — and ultimately the studios.

4:00 – 6:00 pm
Wendy Parr’s Studio Branding Toolkit and Industry Circle
Hilton Anaheim, Avila, Level 4
Wendy Parr

Part 1: Take control of your studio’s journey; identify with all the weird, wonderful layers that make your operation unique; and see how to bring them to life in your professional community.

Part 2: In a world of “create, succeed, drive, growth,” it can be challenging to slow down and connect on a deeper level with colleagues and friends. The Industry Circle is a guided conversation to give studio owners and operators a valuable opportunity to gain priceless information and make genuine connections.
 

Entertainment Tech Summit: Powering Stages
Richard Cadena, Lighting&Sound America

This education summit is designed to cover many aspects of electrical power distribution and electrical safety, including practical applications and important concepts every live event tech will want to be aware of. All levels of experience can benefit from attending. You can attend all six sessions or just those that are relevant to you. Note: Each hour that an ETCP certified electrician or rigger attends counts towards 1 ETCP recertification credit.

These events are free to NAMM members, but you must sign up in advance and present your NAMM Show badge at entrance.

9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Entertainment Tech Summit: Powering the Stage, Part 1
Hilton Anaheim, Capistrano, Level 4
Richard Cadena, Lighting&Sound America

Electrical Safety: Electrical power distribution comes with hazards, but they can be mitigated with the right precautions. The first precaution is understanding the hazards.

Voltage Drop: Ohm’s law says that when electrical current flows through a conductor, it drops voltage. Consequently, the voltage applied to a load is less than the supply voltage. How does that affect the operation of the equipment?

Power Requirements: Understanding and predicting power requirements is the most important job of a live events technician or electrician. How do the equipment specs help us with our circuiting and power requirements? 
 

1:00 – 4:00 pm
Entertainment Tech Summit: Powering the Stage, Part 2
Hilton Anaheim, Capistrano, Level 4
Richard Cadena, Lighting&Sound America

Grounding and Bonding: Faulty grounding is the most common cause of electrical stage mishaps. What is faulty grounding? What is proper bonding? Why do they matter?

Cabling: Cords and cables are made for specific purposes, and they have limited ability to carry electrical current. Where do you go to find the ampacities of cables, and what factors would influence that?

Codes and Regulations: In North America, electrical codes dictate how we should be distribution power on stage. What are the codes, how do they work, and why should we comply with them?

Dante Training by Audinate

NOTE: Dante training is first come, first served and does not require an RSVP. Please arrive 15 minutes before the start of a training session to ensure you have a seat.

9:00 am-12:00 pm
Dante – Level 1 Training
Hilton Anaheim, Laguna, Level 4

Requirements: This hands-on training requires a PC or Apple computer with a USB C port, or bring your own dongle with network capabilities (No Chromebooks or tablets)

After completing Dante Certification Level 1 (2nd Edition), students can comfortably design, set up and operate a Dante audio/video system on a single network switch. Demonstrations offer attendees a practical feel for Dante's breadth, reach and simplicity.

During Dante Certification Level 1 (2nd Edition), you will discover the basics of using Dante and have the opportunity for hands-on experiments. You’ll learn some simple, practical guidelines for connecting and working with Dante.

Upon completion, attendees will:

• Be able to design, set up and operate a Dante audio/video system on a single network switch.
• Gain an improved understanding of fundamentals in digital audio, digital video and networking.
• Be able to explain the benefits of a complete networked solution, as opposed to point-to-point connections, digital snakes or AVoIP protocols.

NOTE: Dante training is first come, first served and does not require an RSVP. Please arrive 15 minutes before the start of a training session to ensure you have a seat.

1:00-3:30 pm
Dante – Level 2 Training
(Prerequisite – Dante Certification Level 1, Second Edition)
Hilton Anaheim, Laguna, Level 4

After completing Dante Certification Level 2 (2nd Edition), students can confidently design, set up, operate and troubleshoot Dante systems that span multiple network switches. A combination of live and prerecorded demonstrations (due to required scale or elapsed time) will bring these features to life.

Upon completion, attendees will:

• Be able to design, set up, operate and troubleshoot a Dante audio/video system that spans multiple network switches.
• Attain increased confidence in networking and the underlying principles to build truly robust, reliable systems.
• Gain an understanding of networking that should foster informed conversations with IT departments.

NOTE: Dante training is first come, first served and does not require an RSVP. Please arrive 15 minutes before the start of a training session to ensure you have a seat.