laTeST - Music & Sound Retailer

editorial
More NAMM Thoughts
Brian Berk
Editor
I know I am late with more NAMM comments. Yes, it is
April already, but I just had to talk about Paul Specht last
month.
So much happened at NAMM in January that I didn’t
even get to present all of my thoughts in February. Here
goes….
I want to begin with the Guitar Accessories and Manufacturers
Association meeting. There was an interesting
discussion from a Microsoft executive about how companies
can advertise on video games and, since game operating
systems, such as its Xbox, of course, are connected to
the Internet, the ad can rotate to something else at a given
time. The demonstration also claimed that many gamers
remember the ads after they see them on a video game,
even if they are focusing on steering a car, for example.
Will it make kids go out and buy those products? Who
knows? Because I saw a Snickers ad on a video game,
does that mean I suddenly will crave a Snickers bar?
That’s an important question to answer.
Now, onto a bad thing that has nothing to do with the
show. Somebody has to explain to me why I couldn’t
check out the NFL playoffs for a few minutes at many
of the hotel bars. All of them were closed during the
first game. Are you kidding me? Closed during the NFL
playoffs? That includes a sport bar, folks. I finally watched
a little at the Sheraton. Its bar was also closed, but at least
there was a television with the game on. Unbelievable.
Now, back to the good. The Percussion Marketing
Council (PMC) desperately needed a celebrity to push its
agenda along. Now it has one. Brad Smith of the Red Hot
Chili Peppers is a fantastic choice. He gives the PMC a
great shot in the arm.
Finally, I know I do this every year, but it has to be
done. I want to thank all of you who came by to see me.
Some of you said “hello” or waved to me on the show
floor. That’s great to see. Your feedback about the magazine
was fantastic. You are the reason we have a magazine.
We are here to serve you. I always remember that. I
would not have a job without you.
I also want to give a special shout out to several people
in the industry I got to see off of the show floor. I hope
I didn’t leave any names out. If I did, I sincerely apologize.
If only you could have cloned me! I would have
seen many more people. Anyway, here’s the list: Ron
Manus and Rich Lackowski of Alfred Publishing; Tish
Ciravolo of Daisy Rock; Vicki Peterson of The Bangles;
Scott Davies, his wife and daughters of American DJ;
Joe Fucini; Dave Chiapetta and Michael Krumholz of
ToneGear; Josh Vittek; Leslie Buttenow of Korg; Dave
Dunwoodie of Graph Tech; Neil Altneu and the crew at
D&M Professional; the staff at Behringer; and retailers
Gordy Wilcher, Chris Lovell, Chris Basile, Harry Gillum
and Rebecca Apodaca.
April 15, 2010
Volume 27, No. 4
BRIAN berK
bberk@testa.com
Editor
Dan Ferrisi
dferrisi@testa.com
Assistant Editor
George Hines
Skip maggiora
Editorial Advisors
Rebecca Apodaca
gene fresco
jeffrey kyle, jr.
JANICE PUPELIS
Graphic Designer/Artist
STEVE THORAKOS
Production Manager
circulation
circulation@testa.com
Phil Taylor
Web Designer
Michelle Loeb
TRIpP underwood
Dan Vedda
Contributors
Robert l. Iraggi
riraggi@testa.com
Advertising Director
DOUGLAS YELIN
dyelin@testa.com
Art/Production Assistant
RObin hazan
rhazan@testa.com
Operations Manager
VINCENT P. TESTA
President/Publisher
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April 2010