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For information and advice on relief and support for businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic,
see our feature “Pushing Forward Through the Pandemic” on page 20
Summer NAMM 2020 Cancelled
Due to COVID-19
On April 7 th , NAMM members and show
exhibitors received confirmation that the
2020 Summer NAMM show had been can-
celled because of COVID-19. The annual
mid-year MI gathering was slated to be held
from July 9-11 at the Music City Center in
Nashville, TN.
Just a week prior, NAMM said it still
had hope that the pandemic situation would
stabilize by July and the show would go on.
“We sincerely recognize the importance
of this annual mid-year gathering for our
industry; however, the current circumstanc-
es make it impossible to hold the show or
to undertake the many months of careful
planning and preparation that are required
to create a secure and organized event,”
NAMM President Joe Lamond and NAMM
Chair C.F. Martin said in a joint email to
association members and exhibitors. “As
difficult as these days are, we gain strength
and inspiration from the generations of
NAMM members who came before us, over-
10 CANADIAN MUSIC TRADE
coming every obstacle in their way. And in
that spirit, we can just imagine the heartfelt
celebrations that will occur when we are all
together again in Anaheim next January. In
the meantime, please stay safe and connect-
ed to each other; with perseverance, vision,
and passion, we will succeed.”
NAMM has confirmed that exhibitors
will receive a full refund by May 1 st of any
payments made to the association for the
show. Attendees who booked their hotel
through Summer NAMM’s official hotel
provider, EventSphere, can cancel their reser-
vation without incurring a cancellation fee
or losing their deposit.
Summer NAMM usually hosts the
annual NAMM Top 100 Dealer Awards.
Because of the cancellation, the awards will
instead be held at The 2021 NAMM Show
in Anaheim, CA. “The deadline to submit
applications has been extended to Oct. 2,
2020, to give our members time to focus on
their businesses during this critical period,
yet still participate in the award program
should they choose to do so. We will an-
NAMM COVID-19 Webinars &
Resources Available
To help its retail members make it
through these exceptionally tough times,
NAMM has set up a new site at Namm.
com/covid-19. There, MI retailers can
find a series of archived webinars de-
signed to provide actionable advice and
tips on how they can adapt to keep their
businesses going, even while their physi-
cal stores must be closed. There are tuto-
rials for giving private and group music
lessons, a session with retail expert Bob
Phibbs on “Music Retail in the Time of
COVID-19,” marketing expert Marcus
Sheridan providing tips on “Sales &
Marketing in the Time of COVID-19,”
and more. NAMM will continue to
add new videos to help retailers identify
strategies and opportunities during these
tough economic times.
nounce the new date of the Top 100 Dealer
Awards in the coming months,” NAMM
says.
NAMM is now turning its attention
to The 2021 NAMM Show, which will be
held from Jan. 21-24. “We anticipate that
January will provide the perfect time for
the industry to convene, refocus, reengage,
and reimagine across the crossroads to take
advantage of the new business opportunities
that will arise,” the association says. “When
we meet again, know that we will be work-
ing with partners including the Anaheim
Convention Center and the Music City
Center to implement additional precautions
and protocols and ensure the health and
safety of all in attendance. We will be follow-
ing all guidelines set forth by the CDC and
state and local health authorities.”
Summer NAMM will return from July
15-17, 2021. NAMM members can access a
show cancellation FAQ at www.namm.org/
summer/2020/articles/summer-namm-faq.
For more information, go to
www.namm.org.