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MMR Industry Record

2015 Music Products Industry Archive — Retail

Search and browse MMR’s music products industry reporting timeline, connecting companies, people, products, NAMM coverage and market developments across the digital archive.

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Guitar Village becomes Gibson first Euro custom shop

Gibson Custom has linked with Guitar Village in Surrey, which has become its first Made 2 Measure custom facility in Europe.

Top MMR Stories (Online) of 2015

With the calendar year nearly at a close, we decided to review which stories posted online to mmrmagazine.com received the most hits in the past 12 months.

BEST OF 2015: Part Four

The final part of our round-up of the year sees further international growth for British brands, growth of a new online outlet for music products and a new audio distribution…

BEST OF 2015: Part three

The third part of our round-up of the year sees much change in the exhibition space and a couple of rare British success stories...

BEST OF 2015: Part two

Our bumper review of the year's news continues with another mix of good and bad news, new additions and departures...

BEST OF 2015: Part one

Yes, it's that time of the year when we take a look back at the headlines of the previous 12 months, the most vital of which was, of course, the launch…

Barnes and Mullins adds to trade site

Barnes and Mullins has added a back order facility to its trade website enabling retailers to build and save orders throughout the day.

Smith Joins Plugivery.com

Plugivery.com has appointed Ashley Smith as the creative development and product specialist for all their distributed and partnered software brands that include Applied Acoustics Systems, BBE Sound Software, Flux, GRM…

New JTS wireless system

FBT UK has announced the launch of the new JTS IN-164 Diversity, wireless system, available in both Channel 38 (UK licensed) and Channel 70 (UK licence free) versions.

NAMM highlights boutique pedal market growth

Demand for customised, unique sound is driving fretted products and effects sales to a seven-year high, while fuelling a new wave of boutique pedal builders, according to NAMM. 

Fred W. Gretsch Celebrates 50 Years in Music with In-Store Event

Fred W. Gretsch invites the public to celebrate his 50th anniversary in the music business with a free in-store event at Ken Stanton Music. 

POLL: How was 2015 for your store?

As the year draws to a close, time to get a sense of how retailers fared over the last 12 months with a very simple question - how was it…

Friedstadt Joins Chauvet as Director of Business Development & Marketing

Chauvet announces the appointment of Jaime Friedstadt as director of business development & marketing for Hispanic Markets for the company’s Chauvet Professional and Iluminarc divisions.

Sweetwater’s Surack Purchases Mynett Music

Chuck Surack, founder and president of Sweetwater has purchased Mynett Music Company, which will become a part of the Sweetwater family of companies.

New UK chief for Fender

Following Graeme Mathieson's step to European chief, Fender GBI has promoted Jim O’Connor to the position of general manager.

International expansion eyed by "Musicians' eBay", Reverb

Reverb.com – the marketplace for musicians to buy and sell musical instruments and gear – has secured another $25 million of funding through equity investor, Summit Partners.

Bad Cat Partners with Panthera Organization

Bad Cat Amplifiers announced a partnership with Panthera, the global wild cat conservation organization, to connect Bad Cat’s passionate customers with the protection of big cats around the world.

32nd Annual Fifty Dealer/Fifty State Review & Forecast

ALABAMA Art’s Music Shop Montgomery

34th Annual America’s Top Music Chains

[Disclaimer]:As the dealers represented in this report are privately held, the data being presented in “America’s Top Chains” was supplied by the companies, themselves. In other instances, MMR made estimates based on…

Three Tips to Survive the Hourglass Economy

If you can imagine the shape of an hourglass, it may help you understand the reality of our current economy as well as the economic trends experienced by most of…

23rd Annual Dealers’ Choice Awards

The 2015 Dealers’ Choice Awards saw a comprehensive overhaul of the entire nomination and voting process.

The Mystique of the Sale Price

Three years ago, department store J.C. Penney infamously implemented an experiment in retail pricing that has since become a staple of business texts.

‘In Their Own Words’

While contemplating how best to summarize the world of MI retail over the past twelve months, it occurred to me that I’ve only recently spoken and emailed with a handful…

'Tis the Season - Get Creative With Your Displays!

Jim Hill of Senseney Music recently got in touch to share a holiday-themed example of that industry-leading store's inventiveness.

New music dealer for Poole

A new music store has opened in Poole, Dorset, boasting retail space and a live music venue.

Analyst report highlights 'risky' Gibson tactics

MI companies are trying various approaches to boost growth in the mature US market, says a Moody's Investors Service report, with Gibson's tactics highlighted as the most risky.

German trade bodies plan day of action

A number of German musical bodies are uniting to create a day of action next year to encourage music making. 

Guitar Club looking to branch out

Vintage guitar lending library Guitar Club, is looking to extend its reach beyond London by creating a nation-wide network of dealers and vintage guitar owners and enthusiasts.

British Drum Co. finds sales chief

UK Drum start-up The British Drum Company, has appointed former Peavey exec Dave Hunt as its worldwide sales representative.

23rd Annual Dealers’ Choice Awards

The 2015 Dealers’ Choice Awards saw a comprehensive overhaul of the entire nomination and voting process. Safeguards are now in place to ensure against “ballot stuffing” (multiple votes from the…

POLL: Are you having a Black Friday today?

It's Black Friday, an American sales and marketing import designed to promote unlicensed fights among people wearing sportswear and brandishing TVs over their heads. It seems to be becoming 'a thing'.…

Mini May returns for Christmas

House Music and Brian May Guitars have released a brand new, upgraded version of the popular Mini May travel guitar.

New Harman rack amps available

Harman has released new versions of its XLS DriveCore 2 Series rack amplifiers.

Acoustic Centre adds Avante baritones

Dealer and exclusive distributor The Acoustic Centre in London has added to its line-up with the Avante Baritone electro acoustic by US luthier Joe Veillette.

NAMM Young Professionals NAMM Show Event Features Robin Walenta

The NAMM Young Professionals NAMM Show event will feature West Music’s Robin Walenta, discussion time, and a networking reception.

SABIAN Adds to U.S. Sales Force

Having transitioned to a direct-to-retail sales model in 2015, SABIAN has just enlisted a solid team of industry veterans to bolster their U.S. sales effort.

Music & Arts Expands Presence in the Tri-State Area

Music & Arts has expanded its presence in the New York metro area with the addition of two new locations in Riverhead, NY and Toms River, NJ (formerly Frankie’s Music).

Guitar Center Donates Instruments for Live Charity Auction

Guitar Center donated 12 collectable guitars autographed by Goo Goo Dolls, Kevin Bacon, Dierks Bentley, Blink 182, Tommy Chong, Billy Ray Cyrus, Ray Davies (The Kinks), Snoop Dogg, Willie Nelson,…

PRS adds baritone models

PRS Guitars has announced the release of two new baritone guitars – the SE 277 Semi-Hollow Soapbar and the SE 277 – to its more affordable guitar model options.

Rampone & Cazzani Sax Showroom

Baltimore’s “Little Italy” is a great place for pasta, but for a different taste of Italy, discerning sax players should head to the Baltimore suburbs and experience the largest assortment…