Can Summer NAMM Survive Much Longer?

Attendance at last week's 2009 Summer NAMM Show was down by 26%, compared to last year's event. Exhibitor numbers were also down at the Nashville Convention Center during this turbulent economic year, with 383 companies displaying and demonstrating products.

To add to the trade show's troubles, several vendors, including Apple and Native Instruments, made major introductions that compete with NAMM Show announcements.

NAMM is putting its best face on the situation.

“While the economic crisis certainly made this year’s Summer NAMM uncertain in many people’s minds, we forged ahead and provided a good venue for our Members to do business and prepare for the important fall and holiday selling seasons.”  said Joe Lamond, president and CEO, NAMM. 

It's too soon to know if the huge attendance drop is because of the current economic situation, or if it's because of companies and buyers moving their attention to the Internet. NAMM will have to reverse the decline, though, if it hopes for the summer show to be around much longer.

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James Lewin
Twitter @podcasting_news

I think that the music industry can cope very well with Musikmesse and WNAMM as their main stages for promotion.

24-Jul-09 08:59 AM

It remains to be seen if bigger companies will go back. But, if they play their cards right NAMM could make SNAMM an intimate show where the smaller companies don't get overshadowed and thrown in the basement, like they do at the WNAMM show.

24-Jul-09 10:56 AM

everything goes in cycles.... DONT PANIC ..... or pehaps on big show in springtime.....but things straighten themselves out usually... the economy is bad... but big corps just keep raising prices and the stuff sells right Korg Roland and Yamaha.. they couldnt care less about econony.. they just keep putting stuff out more and more expensive

24-Jul-09 11:55 AM

For those who had the courage to attend, I think you will find outstanding results. Anyone I came across was there to do business and it was business they did. No distractions from excessive amounts of visitor and recycled badges. Messe and WNAMM are great place to posture and flare your ufeathers but for the smaller businesses, I firmly believe that nothing beats the atmosphere of the Nashville show. I am proud of NAMM for staying course and understanding that there is a lot more to this industry than just the big names.

24-Jul-09 12:05 PM

Sadly, its not just the business aspect of this kind of show that keeps it going, it's also the press and product buzz surrounding the exhibitors.

We really enjoy going to Nashville for the NAMM show and would have gone this year, but for the expense - and the knowledge that it was going to be missing some of the big manufacturers.

So from a news point of view, it would have been more of a luxury and and a jolly (and a very enjoyable one at that). But one that in this climate is harder to justify than previous years.

Obviously, we're not alone as 26% is a big drop. However, I suspect that part of that was due to the fact that they moved the show to Indianapolis and then Austin and finally back. That break will give many people an excuse to review their show attendance policy - and it looks like it did...

27-Jul-09 06:38 AM

I think the bulk of the exhibition reduction was due to economic reasons and not that companies are focusing on the internet. You need the direct interaction with your resellers which of course is what the shows provide. I help companies in our industry with social media marketing and many are struggling with just figuring out what it is as well as doing their current jobs in reduced work force environments. I'd really like to see more companies create real social media marketing strategies. We would all benefit.

Michael Newman www.michaelnewmanconsulting.com

01-Aug-09 02:27 PM

i think that fairs like NAMM or Musikmesse are a marketing device of the past and a waste of resources and more and more big names will start to drop out and spend their budgets elsewhere.

04-Aug-09 03:16 PM

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