Summer NAMM/NASMD Education Sessions

All sessions are a half-hour and take place at the NAMM Event Center (Music City Center) unless otherwise noted.

THURSDAY, JULY 15 NAMM U SESSIONS

kickoff event. Hosted by NAMM President and CEO Joe Lamond, this special session will look forward by looking back at a year we’ll never forget. In a series of one-on-one interviews, Lamond and a group of industry thought leaders will explore the state of business, the future and lessons learned from a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic. They’ll also weigh in on new innovations to emerge in a post-pandemic world. Expect insights and inspiration you won’t hear anywhere else at this not-to-miss opening session.

9–10 A.M. 10:30 A.M.

Opening Session: 2021 State of the Industry Address

Joe Lamond, NAMM President and CEO (Host), and Guests Summer NAMM will feature an all-out innovation fest of new ideas, and it starts with this

The Retail Store of the Future

Chris Walton, Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Omni Talk “Store of the future” is a fun phrase to throw around, but what does it really mean? And, of course, what does this store of the future look like? In a humorous and insightful presentation, Chris Walton, omnichannel retailing expert and former Target Store of the Future executive, will set the record straight. He’ll share why he thinks much of retail’s future is already visible within the world around us and how it’s only a matter of time before the kit of parts comes together to express itself in new and unique ways. And, boy, oh boy, does the future look like a heck of a lot of fun, too!

11 A.M.

Instagram, TikTok, YouTube: What’s Working in Online Marketing Right Now

Tracy Hoeft, Marketing Expert and Founder and President of Amplify 11 Your customers are changing fast, as are the best ways to reach them. Is your marketing keeping up? Find out how to meet customers where they are today in this session with Tracy Hoeft of Amplify 11. Hoeft will share insights on what’s working right now and how you can leverage social media, content creation and other marketing tools to get real results. A can’t-miss presentation for anyone looking to keep their marketing relevant for 2021 and beyond.

11:30 A.M.

New Innovations in Music Lesson Programs

Pete Gamber, Music Lessons Expert, and Melissa Loggins, Music Authority COVID-19 accelerated the future of music lesson programs, as more businesses adopted to hybrid and virtual. In this half-hour idea fest, lessons experts Pete Gamber and Melissa Loggins, co-owner of Music Authority, will explore how they — and other successful lesson operators — innovated during the pandemic. Hear the latest insights for adapting to the next generation of students, and walk away with new ideas to level up your own program.

12 P.M.

CJ Averwater, Amro Music (Moderator); Robert Christie, A & G Central Music; and Jeff Bertrand, Bertrand’s Music How did school music retailers innovate during the pandemic? What changes did they make to stabilize their businesses and drive future growth? Find out at this special session, moderated by CJ Averwater of Amro Music and presented in collaboration with the National Association of School Music Dealers (NASMD). Join Averwater and fellow retail leaders Robert Christie of A & G Central Music and Jeff Bertrand of Bertrand’s Music as they share new innovations, ideas and best practices, and discover what it means to you.

12:30 P.M.

New Innovations in Store Events

DeDe Heid, Heid Music (Moderator); George Quinlan, Quinlan & Fabish; and Jeremy Chapman, The Acoustic Shoppe The pandemic accelerated the next phase of retail events. In the last year, savvy music retailers have found creative, new ways to drive business and keep customers engaged with their brands via livestreaming, video and hybrid events. This has also given businesses an opportunity to connect with local and global audiences alike. What events worked well virtually? What worked in-store? What new ideas will continue long after the pandemic is over? Find out at this powerful panel discussion, led by DeDe Heid of Heid Music, and featuring George Quinlan of Quinlan & Fabish and Jeremy Chapman of The Acoustic Shoppe. Walk away with ideas to improve your own events.

1 P.M.

Lessons Learned for the Next Pandemic

Alan Friedman and Daniel Jobe, Friedman, Kannenberg & Co. Music retail can be tough enough in the best of times. But the daily challenges of generating revenue, managing inventory, monitoring operating expenses, staffing a business, negotiating with vendors, controlling debts and ultimately preserving cash flow often snowball during an unexpected crisis … like a global pandemic. Before the COVID era, there were lessons we needed to learn, and now there are new ones as we put the pandemic in the rearview mirror. Join the industry’s financial soothsayers Alan Friedman, CPA, and Daniel Jobe, EA, for the pearls of wisdom to implement before the next pandemic knocks out your business for good.

How Recording Studios Can Thrive Through Disruption

Sean Giovanni, Producer, Engineer and Owner of The Record Shop The past year has posed an incredible challenge for the recording industry. However, disruption is a well-known hurdle for audio professionals, and these challenges were not unprecedented. In this inspiring session, recording studio owner Sean Giovanni will explore the strategies behind what helped his business grow during the pandemic, and how these shifts will impact the post-COVID-19 landscape.

2 P.M.

Live Sound Post-COVID: Interview With Blackbird’s John McBride

John McBride, Blackbird Studio and Blackbird Academy, Interviewed by Mark Frink Mark Frink will interview Nashville pro audio icon John McBride, founder of Blackbird Studio and Blackbird Academy, on the changes that will occur leading up to concert sound reopening. What will be the new normal in live sound protocols? There’s much to talk about and no better time to get an expert opinion. A can’t-miss session for anyone in audio and live sound.

2:30 P.M.

The Future of Livestreaming

Stephen White, StageIt; Nick Whitehouse, Fireplay; and Peter Sotos, Epic Proportions Tour (Moderator) This panel will bring together Stephen White, CEO of StageIt, and Nick White-

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house, CEO of Fireplay, to explore how to use the emerging set of livestreaming, virtual and digital tools to maximize promotion and audience engagement for the postCOVID touring world. Peter Sotos, owner of Epic Proportions Tour, will moderate.

3 P.M.

Chuck Ainlay on the Future of the Recording Industry

Chuck Ainlay, Producer and Engineer, Interviewed by Dr. Dave Tough Dr. Dave Tough will sit down with Chuck Ainlay to discuss his star-studded engineering and mixing career, as well as his current work with TEC and the Grammy P&E Wing on where the industry is headed. Get insights you won’t hear anyplace else!

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Cross-Cultural Issues and Solutions in the Music Industry

Brian Hardgroove, Public Enemy, Bassist and Producer In this inspiring session, Public Enemy’s Brian Hardgroove will dive into solutions to cross-cultural issues in the music industry. Glass ceilings have long inhibited the full impact of America’s diverse culture from reaching its potential. How do we address and reverse this trend? Find out as Hardgroove leads the discussion.

FRIDAY, JULY 16 GENNEXT SESSION

9:30 A.M.

The NAMM Foundation-College Music Society Music Industry Forum Level 2, 202 ABC

Gather with music business professionals and college music department faculty to explore college to career opportunities, mentoring and job-entry possibilities. Presented by the NAMM Foundation’s GenNext program in collaboration with the College Music Society.

NAMM U SESSIONS

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9–10 A.M.

Opening Session: Best in Show

Frank Alkyer, Publisher of Music Inc. and UpBeat Daily Magazines (Moderator), and Panel What will be your best-sellers in the year ahead? Find out at “Best in Show,” an exciting roundup of the biggest products, services and technologies at 2021 Summer NAMM. Frank Alkyer, publisher of Music Inc. and UpBeat Daily magazines, will moderate a panel of top music retail judges as they reveal their winning picks. They’ll also weigh in on why they chose particular products, sharing sales tips and potential customers for this gear. Whether you’re a retailer or exhibitor, “Best in Show” is a can’t-miss start to Friday morning.

10:30 A.M.

The Next Five Years: The Biggest Trends in Retail

Chris Walton, Founder and Editor-inChief of Omni Talk If there’s one thing Chris Walton and Jeff Bezos have in common, it’s the number of times they’re asked, “What’s going to change in the next decade?” A fair question, but maybe the more important question is, “What’s not going to change in the next decade?” And in this candid and humorous NAMM U session, Walton will reveal his insights on the future of retail and what he thinks those changes will look like. Filter out the noise, and get to the real heart of understanding how retail will evolve in the next five years — and what it means to your business. Walton is an omnichannel retailing expert, former Target Store of the Future executive and the CEO and founder of

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11 A.M.

New Content-Creation Ideas for Music Businesses

Katharine Richardson, Marketing and Artist Relations Executive (Moderator), and Christie and Walter Carter, Carter Vintage Guitars Dig into content-creation ideas to build your brand, grow your sales and improve relationships with customers and artists. This how-to session will be chock-full of best practices for production; strategies for such emerging platforms as Club House and TikTok; and tips for maximizing YouTube, Facebook and Instagram content. Marketing and artist relations executive Katharine Richardson will lead the discussion and be joined by Christie Carter, NAMM board member and co-owner of Carter Vintage Guitars, and Walter Carter, esteemed journalist, historian and coowner of Carter Vintage Guitars.

Customer Experience in a Post-Pandemic World

Causby Challacombe, NAMM’s Director of Membership (Moderator), and Panel What does customer experience look like in a post-COVID world? How did the pandemic change the way forward-thinking music retailers deliver an experience — in-store and online? And what changes are permanent? Find out at this fast-moving panel discussion with retail leaders, moderated by Causby Challacombe, NAMM’s director of membership. Walk away with new insights to meet your customers where they’re at in 2021 and beyond.

12 P.M.

Navigating Business in Times of Unrest Dennis Stafford, Organiksol Marketing

2020 was a difficult year for many music retailers, but the pandemic wasn’t the only factor. Conversations about equality and justice dominated the news, and many retailers wrestled with the potential impact on business continuity. How might you respond to recent events? How is employee morale or performance affected? Will business be impacted? In this session, Dennis Stafford, founder of Organiksol Marketing, will look at the impact and hidden opportunities current events could have on your business, employees and customers during times of unrest.

12:30 P.M.

Gen Z: New Insights on Managing the Next-Generation Workforce

Lindy Campbell, Music on the Hill Generation Z (people born in 1997 or later) is joining the workforce and starting to make its mark on the music industry. And not surprisingly, they’re different from previous generations, including millennials, in terms of their preferences, motivations and unique skills. Join Lindy Campbell of Music on the Hill, and get a roadmap for working with and motivating your youngest team members. Find out how Gen Z stands apart from previous generations, and pick up new management strategies to bring out the best in them.

POLICY SESSION

1 P.M.

Update From the NAMM Sustainability Task Force

Mary Luehrsen, NAMM’s Director of Public Affairs and Government Relations (Moderator) Share and explore sustainability practices across the music industry and how NAMM members are adopting sustainable practices for the health and well-being of employees, consumers and precious natural resources.