The world’s biggest music gear show has been postponed. Originally scheduled for January 20–23, the NAMM Show in Anaheim, California is moving to summer from January 2022 to June 3-5 2022, citing the “health and safety” of its members. The US is in the midst of a fourth wave of infection, some California hospital intensive care units are over their capacity, the state has put restrictions in place for conventions and global travel planning continues to be difficult.
The industry has not stopped evolving and innovating during the pandemic, and The NAMM Show is evolving, as well,” says Joe Lamond, NAMM President and CEO. “As the health and safety of our members remains top of mind, and after carefully listening to companies here in the U.S. and around the world, the new dates will help members maximise their opportunity and accelerate what has arguably been a transformative time both in new products and in how they come to market.
The organization will definitely be hoping for that as it emerges from a difficult period that saw the 2021 Winter NAMM show cancelled and few significant product launches at the Summer event in Nashville in the wake of Covid travel restrictions. The show allows the industry to meet, brands to reveal products for the year ahead and for the vital retail arm of the musical instrument industry to plan ahead. Organizers say that the change was met with support from the industry.
Taylor guitars were one of the big names to welcome the news. “At Taylor Guitars, we applaud innovative ideas as we all attempt to navigate these unusual times,” said Barbara Wight, CFO. “Since its days in the ballroom of the Disneyland Hotel, The NAMM Show has always been an invaluable platform for us to launch new products and deepen our connections with our treasured retailers, suppliers and fans. We see this change to June as a smart opportunity to try something new, and we’re looking forward to being back together with our industry family.”
Yamaha and Shure also threw their support behind the 2022 show.
“Global travel restrictions continue to be unpredictable and challenging for our industry. Rescheduling the NAMM Show to June is absolutely the right call,” says David Via, Zoom North America Vice President of Marketing.
“We fully support NAMM’s decision to move the 2022 NAMM Show to June,” says Larry Morton, CEO of Hal Leonard. “Not only does this make sense from a public safety standpoint, but the June timing gives the entire music products industry an opportunity to put the pandemic behind us.”
It remains to be seen what this means for the Summer NAMM show but it looks like it will be absorbed into the Anaheim event for 2022.
In addition and following on from 2021’s Believe In Music week, Friday, January 21 2021 will see NAMM host a one-day global livestreamed Believe In Music event to “unify and support the people who bring music to the world”.
More info at NAMM
