February 2024
NAMM celebrated the return to its ‘home’ timeslot with a typically action packed four day show at Anaheim Convention Centre, 25th-28th January 2024. Attendance was up, exhibitors were up, and noticeably there are more Australians returning to the NAMM Show.
The AMA interacts with NAMM in many different ways, some of them around the show. In particular:
- We participate in the International Coalition of music products organisations, which meets the day before the show. This brings together associations such as MIA and Plasa (UK), ANAFIMA (Brazil), EMIA (Europe), Disma Musica (Italy), CSFI (France), AMA, NAMM, and others.
- We help organise Australian intervieweees for NAMM’s Oral History Interviews
- We co-host the Australian Reception, a simple but popular social event where Australian delegates can take a break from meetings and the show floor to catch up with each other.
- We help to ensure that important people from the Australian industry that have left us in the past year are recognised as part of the Tribute event.
- We meet with members, colleagues, key people from NAMM, and friends from likeminded international organisations.
The show was worthwhile on all of these fronts and more. We shared ideas with NAMM, MIA, The Guitar Show (UK), Make Music Day colleagues from around the world, initiated a new project partnership, had two Australians interviewed by the Oral History program, updated our international colleagues about the AMA and our ambitious work program, and spent some time with key people from NAMM to discuss our ongoing collaboration.
The Australian Reception was a success, with about 55 people joining us, some for the first time and others that regularly attend the NAMM Show and this reception.
There were several Australian companies exhibiting on the floor, including Cole Clark and Ormsby Guitars, both of whom were always busy on my walks through Hall D, where I spent some time soaking up inspiration and ideas for Melbourne Guitar Show.
The next NAMM Show will be held from 23rd-25th January, 2025
– Alex Masso
Elena de Lange (NAMM), Alex Masso (AMA), Daniel Neves (ANAFIMA)
On the show floor: Alex Masso (AMA) with Mr Ogawa (Casio Japan) & Michael Shade (Shriro Australia), talking about the new Celviano digital pianos
Dal Del Fiorentino (NAMM Historian) with Louisa Buchanan (National Music) before an Oral History Interview
Cameron Leitch (CEO, Soundbay & President, AMA) with John Mlynczak (President & CEO, NAMM) at the Australian Reception)
International Coalition, January 2024
Australian Reception
Top to bottom, left to right: Bernie Capicchiano (Musico / Bernie’s Music Land), Kerry Panara (Shriro), Craig Maria (Dale Cleves Music Group), Chris Steller (Sound & Music), Michael Jago (Link Audio, AMA board), Elena de Lange (NAMM), Bill Gill (Taylor Guitars), Mat Stevens (Turramurra Music), Greg Sher (Go-Tones), Michael Jago (Link Audio), James Piper & Shane Bailey (NAS), Katherine Ly (Dale Cleves Music Group), Phaenelagh (Nel) Burnett (Lenard Audio), Matt Walsham (Roland Australia)
