Guitar sales remain strong, up about 1% in spite of the economy. Our surveys show that 82% of people who dont play an instrument wish they did. The way music fits into our society, there's just a steady consumer demand.
Joe Lamond--NAMM President
Staged by the Carlsbad-based International Music Products Assn., the event (and the trade group itself) still goes by its old acronym, NAMM, for National Assn. of Music Merchants. Though the NAMM show encompasses all facets of the retail music business and segments such as school bands, it's perhaps best known as a sprawling backstage for working musicians and wannabes.
The Times talked with NAMM President Joe Lamond, a former pro rock drummer, about the event's appeal and the challenges facing the music industry.
How are music sales being affected by the recession? We are certainly being impacted. But as a whole, our industry didn't have a big upswing [during the boom] and we don't expect to see a big downswing. The way music fits into our society, there's just a steady consumer demand.
There are parts of our industry that are very much affected, [such as] piano sales, since they can be tied to the stock market or home sales.
Why is that? If someone moves into a new home, they decorate. For a lot of people, having a piano in their home is a statement. But while most of the country is seeing a decline, we will probably see a spike in piano sales in the Washington area with the new Obama administration. A whole group of people will be moving into Washington. It's good for business.
NAMM is making a big push for more music education in public schools. How do you sell that at a time when school districts are slashing budgets and laying off teachers?
I think part of the answer is funding research that links music education with success in other subjects. In a 21st century workforce, where we are looking for people who can innovate and who can work in teams, we think these things are critical. Music teaches you to be creative.
