A GRAND REUNION AT THE 2022 NAMM SHOW WHAT WAS SEEN & SAID AT THE FIRST BIG SHOW IN TWO-AND-A-HALF YEARS
STREETLIGHT CADENCE
BY MICHAEL RAINE
I
did not realize just how much I ’ d missed The NAMM Show . After having nearly every work-related conversation over Zoom , phone , or email for two-and-a-half years , I ’ d forgotten just how important real in-person events are for building and fostering relationships , and also for preserving your passion for music and this industry . And so , because of the context , I may have appreciated this year ’ s NAMM Show more than any other . And yes ( as you ’ ve probably seen or heard even if you weren ’ t there ), it was a significantly smaller event than years past , but it certainly did not shortchange anybody on value . If anything , particularly for small and medium-sized companies , it may have provided more value .
I ’ ve written many times in CMT that The NAMM Show can be overwhelming ; that it ’ s a fool ’ s errand to try to experience it all . There are simply too many companies launching too many products , too many experts sharing too much advice , and too many concerts showcasing too much talent . And while that remained true this year , it wasn ’ t quite so , well , overwhelming . The 2022 NAMM Show in Anaheim was reduced from its usual four days to three ( June 3-5 ), and when compared to 2020 ’ s record-setting event , it was about half the size . You noticed more free space in the Anaheim Convention Centre , with about 1,000 exhibiting companies representing roughly 3,500 brands ( compared 2,000 exhibitors with 7,000 brands in 2020 ). And according to NAMM ’ s official numbers , this year had 46,627 registered attendees representing 111 countries and territories ( whereas 2020 experienced 115,000 registered attendees from 132 countries ).
In terms of the stuff organizers could
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