BIGGER SHOW ,
BIGGER PROFILE ,
BIGGER OPPORTUNITIES
By Andrew King
We knew well ahead of time that The 2018 NAMM Show was going to be the biggest yet , at least in terms of its overall size and scope . The big question , though , was whether or not the reception from the industry – or , for this year , industries – would match . As it turns out , that was indeed the case .
Running from Jan . 25-28 , the 2018 show was the first to incorporate the new 200,000-sq . ft . expansion to NAMM ’ s longtime home , the Anaheim Convention Center , building substantially on an already massive footprint of exhibition , meeting , and public spaces . The new halls in what ’ s billed as ACC North were primarily dedicated to the recording and pro audio segments , but stretched beyond that thanks to the presence of major exhibitors like Roland , Harman Professional , and Yorkville Sound .
This corresponded with better organization by product category throughout all of the exhibition space , including a notable increase in space dedicated to lighting and production technologies as well .
With the increase in exhibition space and attendees came a new , dedicated NAMM U campus , which spanned five floors at the nearby Hilton Anaheim .
While the NAMM Idea Center stayed anchored in the front atrium of the convention centre ’ s main building , offering show attendees a quick and easy respite from the busy show floor to pack in some valuable info in the usual 30-minute sessions , the rest of the educational programming benefitted from its designated new home .
In addition to show staples like the NAMM U Breakfast Sessions , Retail Boot Camp , and TEC Tracks , the NAMM U Campus featured newer educational initiatives like the inaugural AES @ NAMM Pro Sound Symposium : Live & Studio , Event Technology sessions curated by ESTA , Pro Production
Some Yorkville Sound staff join the band onstage to rock Beastie Boys ’ “ Fight for Your Right ”
24 • CANADIAN MUSIC TRADE 24 • CANADIAN MUSIC TRADE