After 9 months of planning, calling, budgeting, promoting we held our collective breath as it all came together. Solid attendances at the Saturday professional development sessions, orderly set up, no panic, no lost pallets, laid back cocktails by the pool, and a few drinks in the after-party lounge with some music and then bang! Sunday hit – queues at registration, great retailer roll up as the suppliers unveiled their compact but innovative use of exhibition stand space. Over 500 industry bods in one place for the first trade show in 3 years. 300 retailers circulating through a modest 30 odd supplier stands – but were they busy! Hal Leonard’s Richard Snape said “we’ve never been that busy at a trade show, ever!” Hot Half Hour sessions explored the internet issues, social media, selling online, weekend warriors, and much more. The dinner sat over 250 people who saw some outstanding performances from students to pros, they saw Glenn Dodson recognised for all his hard work for the industry over almost forty years, and they kicked on at the after-party. Monday, though not as frantic as Sunday was steady and put the icing on the exhibitor’s cake. Our keynote speaker, Chip Averwater shared anecdotes and history with Bernie Capicchiano for over 100 at breakfast, while Heath Michael of the ARA talked election issues for retailers. Facebook post from The Bass Place – “great show!”
AMAC is back, and it’s good to have it back. We’ll do our best to build the quality of this event, while providing value for money for all who take advantage of it.
See everyone at Jupiters on the Gold Coast August 9-11, 2014

The Resource Corporation’s Tony Burn has been elected as president of the AMA for the 2013-14 Year. Let us tell you a little about him.
Tony starting playing the organ at around 12 years old and within a couple of years was playing in public. During his last year at school he worked part time at the local music shop and when he left school he started there full time.
Over the following 8 years he progressed from sales assistant to managing their Guildford store.
He then went on to open the Roland Keyboard department in Harrods department store. It was here that he met a girl from Melbourne.
He travelled as a Roland rep for the south of England and Wales for a couple of years and then returned to retail before following that girl back to Melbourne.
Since then Tony has worked in retail at Brashs, Bernie’s Music Land, Music Junction Blackburn as well as playing keyboards in various bands. Then the Resource Corporation were looking for a rep and more or less hired him until they found someone good.
They’re still waiting.
Currently Tony enjoys the title of National Sales Manager although he still doesn’t know what that means.
For the last 2 years he has also been treasurer for the AMA and was just getting the hang of the calculator when they made him President.
What could go wrong?

Our new committee members are Warrick Baker, representing Kawai Australia and Paul Noble, representing Shriro (Casio). Welcome to them.  Returning members are Richard Snape, Hal Leonard, (vice president), Craig Johnston, Keyboard Corner-KC’s (treasurer), Dom Disisto, Holden Hill Music, Brendan Callinan, Roland Corporation, Tony Burn (The Resource Corporation), Michael Jongebloed (Fine Music), Anna Bagnato, (Yamaha Music)

After an absence of 10 years, punctuated by a 3-year stint as Director of Market Development at NAMM, and 7 years as marketing manager at Allans Music & Allans Billy Hyde, the AMA has once again appointed Rob to develop the AMA services into the future. Rob’s return is marked by the staging of the AMAC Convention back at Jupiters for the first time in 10 years. The event was universally hailed as a success by suppliers and retailers alike and gives the association a positive platform from which to re-establish itself on a sure footing and launch new initiatives. The association will continue its advocacy work with active support of the AWAG and ACETA campaign to seek justice for our users of wireless mics and devices. We will continue to work with the Fair Imports Alliance, and lobby for a drop in the GST free threshold on imports, we will develop our online presence to be more effective for subscribing members, and we will reinvigorate our publications and communications, and member benefits. “it’s been a hard few years for the AMA – we’ve kept the doors open, through the efforts of a dedicated few, and we’re looking forward to delivering exciting new member initiatives to promote music making – it’s good to have Rob back” said AMA President, Tony Burn.