Kids Talk Radio

2012 NAMM Show on Kids Talk Radio

110th NAMM Show Reaches New Record Numbers

Kids Talk Radio was at NAMM to cover John Mayer and Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys

By Bob Barboza, Kids Talk Radio

Anaheim, Calif, January 22, 2012—The National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) today announced the final registration and exhibitor numbers for the 2012 NAMM Show, the largest and longest-running musical instruments and products trade show in the United States.

At show close, NAMM reported 95,709 registered attendees, a six percent increase from last year and representing a new record for the 110-year-old show. International registration also experienced a 15 percent increase from last year to 11,981. The association previously reported strong exhibitor numbers, with 1,441 exhibitors at this year’s show, including 236 new exhibitors.

 "Once again the NAMM Show served as the crossroads for musical instrument and live sound products manufacturers, retailers and their guests from all over the world,” said NAMM President and CEO Joe Lamond. "We are extremely grateful to all of the NAMM Members, music educators, artists, partners and media who made this 110th NAMM Show a resounding success for the industry and a great start to 2012."

The annual trade show is the place where music products retailers meet face-to-face with manufacturers to make their biggest purchases and gain product knowledge for their stores in the year ahead. Throughout the four days of business deals, educational sessions and live music performances, the mood of the show was energetic and positive.

"We had a wonderful show, said Robert Grays, Los Angeles Talent Group.  "Lots of famous musicians walking up and down all of the isles.  I would say that this has been one of most successful NAMM Shows for my talent organization"

NAMM has a lot to offer. "Make It Count,” this year’s NAMM Show focused on innovation in the form of apps and technology products designed to make playing music more accessible and easier than ever for consumers.

App Pavilion exhibitor.  "Our app generated a ton of interest from guys in Poland, Spain and the UK this year.  I think we really got more hands-on this year.  The idea of running an amplifier on an iPhone or iPad is better understood and people now want to know how our app compares with the rest of the market."

“The interview with Brian Wilson from the Beach Boys was a highlight of the event.  I had been a Boys fan since I was a kid.” Said Singer, Luther Aurger.

You can find all of our interviews and audio and video podcasts.  We even included a photo essay to give you an inside look at the 2012 NAMM Show.

About NAMM
The National Association of Music Merchants, commonly called NAMM in reference to the organization's popular NAMM trade shows, is the not-for-profit association that unifies, leads and strengthens the $17 billion global musical instruments and products industry. NAMM's activities and programs are designed to promote music making to people of all ages. NAMM is comprised of more than 9,000 Member companies. For more information about NAMM, interested parties can visit www.namm.org or call 800-767-NAMM (6266).

Alejandro Neciosup Acuña aka Alex Acuña (born December 12, 1944) is a Peruvian drummer and percussionist, in the Afro-Cuban jazz style.

Born in Pativilca, Peru, Acuña played in local bands from the age of ten, and moved to Lima as a teenager. At the age of eighteen he joined the band of Perez Prado, and in 1967 he moved to Puerto Rico. In 1974 Acuña moved to Las Vegas, working with artists such as Elvis Presley and Diana Ross, and the following year he joined the jazz-fusion group Weather Report, appearing on the albums Black Market and Heavy Weather. Acuña left Weather Report in 1978, and became a session musician in California, recording and playing live with (amongst many others) Paul McCartney, Joni Mitchell, Ella Fitzgerald, Jim Walker, Chick Corea, Whitney Houston, Plácido Domingo, Phil Keaggy, Sergeant Petter, Sam Phillips, former Weather Report bandmates Wayne Shorter and Joe Zawinul, Herbie Hancock, Carlos Santana, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Beck, Roberta Flack, U2, and Al Jarreau. He can be found on recordings by musicians as culturally diverse as Javier Malosetti, Lee Ritenour, Peter Gabriel, Johnny Clegg, Robbie Robertson, Jackson Browne and Flavio Sala.

In the 1980s Acuña also recorded and toured with the Christian jazz band Koinonia, which featured session musicians Abraham Laboriel, Justo Almario, Hadley Hockensmith, Harlan Rogers, and Bill Maxwell. He played on Willy DeVille's Crow Jane Alley album and 1987 together with the TCB Band of Elvis Presley in the Roy Orbison TV-Special "A Black and White Night". He played percussion on Blondie's number one "The Tide Is High".