Today’s Namm Show can trace its roots back to 1901, when 52 members of the National Piano Manufacturers Association of America formed the National Association of Piano Dealers of America. Renamed itself National Association of Music Merchants (Namm) in 1919, the organisation’s annual show became the NAMM Convention and set the course we recognise today.
The rise in popularity of jazz and marching bands that prompted the piano manufacturers – the mainstay of the association – to begin producing other instruments as well as pianos signalled the first stage of Namm’s evolution. Moving forward to 1976, Namm’s previously itinerant annual convention became the Namm International Music Expo, reflecting the association’s evolution from a national retail association into an international body whose members included commercial companies, distributors, affiliates and manufacturers.
Germany’s annual Musikmesse, which offered a European counterpart to Namm, did not arrive on the scene until 1980 and features a hall dedicated to pianos, as well as showcasing instruments ranging from brass to modular synthesisers, Latterly, both events have moved to more closely embrace pro audio, with Namm dedicating the ACC North Halls at its regular home in the Anaheim Convention Center to the professional side of sound.
As world’s largest non-profit music trade organisation, Namm intends its 2024 Convention to attract ‘tens of thousands of visitors from around the world, ready to do business with pro audio’s leading brands while an unmissable schedule of education, networking and business opportunities unfolds across the show campus’.
The brands joining their peers in ACC North for 2024 include d&b audiotechnik, DiGiCo, Adamson Systems Engineering, EAW, Meyer Sound, Solid State Logic, Audinate, Blackmagic Design, Genelec, Avid, QSC, Sennheiser, Alcons Audio, RCF, Electro-Voice, DPA Microphones, Waves, Shure, Sony, Mackie, PMC, Allen & Heath, FBT and Midas.
‘The professional audio community is an essential ingredient of what makes The Namm Show so special, and we are beyond excited to welcome everybody to Anaheim in January,’ says John Mlynczak, who was appointed Namm President and CEO earlier in the year. ‘The strength of the two ACC North halls really drives home how hard the pro audio community has worked to turn the challenges of recent years into a triumph for the whole industry. In January, we’re going to commend that with a phenomenal Namm Show.’
Outside the exhibit hall, Namm members can book into official Dante training by Audinate with sessions taking place on 25-27 January. Four special Pro Production seminars will occupy Room 204A on 26 January. ESTA will present seminars and training opportunities on lighting technology, electrical, rigging and safety across all four days of the show, while the Event Safety Alliance will offer sessions for production professionals. Meanwhile, TEC Tracks sessions will feature four busy days of sessions in recording, live sound and music business.
‘Of course, no Namm Show would be complete without an unforgettable fringe festival of awards ceremonies, star-studded performances and pool parties,’ the organiser boasts. ‘The 2024 Parnelli Awards will honour live production legends Buford Jones, Carol Dodds and Jim Brammer on 26 January, while the TEC Awards will recognise the best in new technology on 27 January’.
All pro audio professionals are invited poolside at the Anaheim Marriot for the 2024 Pro Audio Pool Party on 25 January at 7pm.
More: www.namm.org
