The NAMM Show is an annual trade show in the United States organized by the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM), which describes it as "the industry's largest stage, uniting the global music, sound and entertainment technology communities". It is typically held in January at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California.
Overview
One of the world's largest trade shows for music products, NAMM restricts entrance to owners, suppliers, distributors, journalists, employees, endorsed artists, and guests of NAMM member companies. Vendors display products, allowing dealers and distributors to see what's new, negotiate deals, and plan their purchasing for the next six to 12 months. The event attracts famous musicians, many of whom are endorsed by exhibitors and come to promote their own signature models and equipment.
A smaller convention, NAMM Summer Session, typically takes place in June or July in Nashville, Tennessee.
History
NAPDA Convention (1902–1919)
In 1901, 52 members of the National Piano Manufacturers Association of America formed the National Association of Piano Dealers of America (NAPDA). They held the first annual NAPDA Convention in Baltimore in May of the following year.
In 1998, 1999 and 2000, the NAMM International Music Market was held in Los Angeles while the Anaheim Convention Center was renovated.
The NAMM Show (2003–present)
In 2003, NAMM renamed its January event in Anaheim the NAMM Show. The same year, the Audio Engineering Society joined the NAMM Show via "AES at NAMM" and hosted the Parnelli Awards at the convention. In January 2020, the NAMM Show saw record attendance with more than 115,000 attendees and over 7,000 brands represented.
In June 2022, the NAMM Show returned to Anaheim as an in-person 3-day event. To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the MIDI standard, lifetime achievement awards were presented to, or posthumously awarded to Don Buchla, Ikutaro Kakehashi, Tsutomu Katoh, Roger Linn, Bob Moog, Tom Oberheim, Alan R. Pearlman, Dave Rossum, and Dave Smith.
From January 25 to 28, 2024, the NAMM Show resumed its familiar January occurrence for the first time since 2020, with over 1,600 booths representing more than 3,500 brands and over 62,000 attendees.
See also
- TEC Awards: awarded during the NAMM Show
- She Rocks Awards: awarded during the NAMM Show
- Parnelli Awards: awarded during the NAMM Show
- NAMM Oral History Program