Latest news with #NAMM
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Area school named one of the Best Communities for Music Education
Beavercreek City Schools has been named one of the Best Communities for Music Education by the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) Foundation. The celebrated designation highlights the school's commitment to music education and is supported by Beavercreek City Schools student involvement at all grade levels, according to a press release from the school. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] The school says they have 6,000 students participating in music from Kindergarten to 12th grade. Around 4,000 of those students are 5th grade or younger, around 2,000 are in middle and high school. TRENDING STORIES: Founding member of popular Dayton band feared dead in California plane crash 18-year-old killed in shooting in Dayton neighborhood identified Patients still feeling impacts after Kettering Health cyberattack; ways to protect your information 'It's a huge honor for Beavercreek City Schools to be named one of the Best Communities for Music Education. This recognition reflects the dedication of our music staff and students, the unwavering support from our families and administration, and the collaborative spirit of our entire community. I'm so proud to be part of a district that truly values the power of music education.' Beavercreek High School Associate Director of Bands Heather Marsh-Myers said. The middle and high school students participate in band, choir, show choir, ensembles, marching band, jazz band, pep band and color guard, according to Beavercreek City Schools. The Best Communities for Music Education award honors schools that are committed to ensuring music education as part of a well-rounded academic experience. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Reuters
09-04-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Fear of tariffs plays out even among US guitar makers: Ross Kerber
April 9 (Reuters) - Sometimes the smaller industries can shed the best light on bigger trends. I think that is the case with the U.S. musical instruments sector, which fears the sweeping tariffs announced by U.S. President Donald Trump last week, the head of a trade group told me. Make sense of the latest ESG trends affecting companies and governments with the Reuters Sustainable Switch newsletter. Sign up here. Companies that make gear like guitars, microphones and drums had already struggled to adjust to tariffs Trump imposed on China during his first administration, often by shifting production to other Asian nations like Vietnam, said John Mlynczak, CEO of the National Association of Music Merchants. Under Trump's new plans, U.S. imports from Vietnam will face a 46% tariff rate, as of Tuesday, a barrier that Mlynczak said would ruin supply chains for many of his members. "This is a highly specialized industry. It's not like you could send CNC drawings to a different factory tomorrow," he said, using an industry term for technical drawings. "Our companies can't move production right away, so they will have no choice but to absorb the costs. And we're not a high margin industry," he said. Mlynczak's concerns about tariffs echoed those of other trade groups like the National Retail Federation, opens new tab. NAMM has asked for exemptions, opens new tab, noting how China and Vietnam now respectively account for 43% and 26% of U.S. industry imports. Many other industries have shifted production to Vietnam, giving the country a growing trade surplus with the U.S. Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh said on Monday that his country will buy more American products and asked for a delay in the tariffs' imposition. NAMM tracks U.S. sales of everything from fretted instruments to recording products to printed sheet music. In all categories, sales totaled $8.3 billion in 2023, a drop in the bucket compared to bigger industries like agriculture or autos. Industry sales also were down 4% from the prior year, as Americans put down their instruments and left COVID-era hideouts to spend more money on things like concerts and travel. But the music industry story still matters since the U.S. market for musical gear is the largest, accounting for 43% of global sales. NAMM's membership includes retailers like Guitar Center and manufacturers like guitar makers Fender and Gibson. Representatives for the three did not respond to requests for comment on Tuesday. Trump argues the tariffs should help domestic U.S. manufacturers and has cited " a lack of reciprocity, opens new tab in our bilateral trade relationships" that make it harder for U.S. manufacturers to sell in other markets. The National Association of Manufacturers has criticized Trump's plan, opens new tab, saying it will raise costs. Mlynczak took a similar view. Members of his smaller trade group will lose sales if the tariffs lead to recession, he said. Some American companies also make their entry-level products in Asia, exposing them to tariffs also. Plus, higher costs for inputs could prove a problem, he said. "If U.S. makers are paying more for raw materials, they're paying more to compete," Mlynczak said.
Yahoo
28-01-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
NAMM 2025: Shure takes to the stage with new instrument, headset and vocal mics
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. NAMM 2025: There's a whole raft of new products on the way from Shure, with the venerable studio brand pushing out the boat in multiple sonic directions. First off the blocks are Shure's new line of Nexadyne dynamic instrument microphones. There are three new mics in the range, each featuring Shure's patented Revonic Technology, and each tailored for a specific purpose. While typical instrument microphones use a single transducer, Shure's Nexadynes feature two precisely calibrated transducers working together to achieve perfect performance. The result is a sound with natural, authentic clarity that similarly keeps out unwanted noise. Their combination of acoustic signal processing and exceptional polar pattern linearity delivers a stronger and clearer output with less need for EQ corrections later, Shure claims. The Nexadyne 2 Dynamic Kick Drum Microphone features a contoured EQ, built-in acoustic protection from stage rumble, and improved high-frequency extension and attack. Designed for perfect placement, its swivel joint is separated from its XLR output to avoid strain on all-important connections. Nexadyne 5 Dynamic Guitar Amp Microphone features a tiny, full-range dynamic cartridge design for easy placement, either hanging from your amp or secured with the mic clip (supplied) and stand. Finally. the Nexadyne 6 Tom/Snare Microphone is designed to minimise bleed while delivering stronger focus and flexibility. With a clear high-frequency response, extremely flat mid-range and full low-end it also boasts a unique fixed angle design and a new, smaller drum mount (the A6D, which comes supplied) to reduce movement once the performance starts. The Nexadyne 6 is also available in the three-pack. All three new mics feature a compact design and a discreet, black finish for unobtrusive deployment and come complete with a storage bag and brass mount adapters. 'Nexadyne Instrument mics bring Shure's revolutionary Revonic technology to more audio professionals and performers,' said Nick Wood, Senior Director, Global Marketing and Product Management, at Shure. 'Nexadyne is about capturing the essence of a performance. Now the same breakthrough dual transducer design that powers our Nexadyne Vocal Microphones is available in three new supercardioid models perfect for backline and instrument applications.' The new Nexadynes will be available from February starting at £215 including VAT. Joining the new Nexadynes at NAMM comes a new wireless mic solution from Shure. Building on its popular SLX-D wireless units, the new SLXD4Q+ offers the same quality and reliability, with four channels on board for four simultaneous wireless inputs into a single unit. And maximising its potential, Shure's new unit is available in both a standard (SLXD4Q+) and Dante-enabled (SLXD4QDAN+) version. There's new and improved 138MHz tuning range capability for the first time, the ability to sum the audio into a single output, XLR, 1/4-inch, and Dante output options, and it all fits in a single, compact rack space. Plus, two units can be cascaded to create an eight-channel SLX-D set up if required. And through Shure's ongoing partnership with Yamaha, Shure's latest wireless product will once again be controllable from compatible Yamaha digital mixers. "SLX-D Quad Receivers bring everything to the table that users expect from SLX-D: flawless 24-bit audio, streamlined, network-ready setup, and rock-solid RF," said Shure's Nick Wood. 'Now these features are available in a space-saving, four-channel receiver with wide tuning bands that cover the available UHF frequency range. This means a single SLX-D Quad receiver can be deployed throughout an entire country and sync with any band of existing SLX-D transmitters.' The SLXD4Q+ is available now for £2,289 with the Dante-enabled SLXD4QDAN+ in coming in at £2,949. The SM39 is Shure's latest hands-free mic set-up, allowing complete freedom while always ensuring that vocals and on-stage performance are both delivered entirely unhindered to your audience. It features a lightweight, low-profile design, a comfortable, secure fit for extended wear, and is all set to integrate seamlessly with Shure's Axient Digital mic systems and all Shure Wireless Systems. The SM39 is available now from £379 RRP inc VAT. Finally, there's a new addition at the top of the Shure live mic tree. The new KSM11 Wired Cardioid Condenser Vocal Microphone is a new, wired version of the company's famous, top quality wireless vocal mic, offering the extra security that only a solid, physical XLR connection can deliver. Shure's famous KSM11 capsule delivers a sound that requires substantially less processing and EQ to produce stage-ready sound. The new KSM11 wired version (with XLR) comes in at £749 RRP inc VAT and is available now.
Yahoo
27-01-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Harley Benton teams-up with YouTuber on a budget-friendly, versatile signature model – the Guitar MAX Fusion
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. NAMM 2025: Budget champion Harley Benton has introduced a brand-new signature model – the Guitar MAX Fusion Signature – in collaboration with heavy metal guitarist and YouTuber Maxxxwell Carlisle. The Guitar MAX Fusion Signature features a bolt-on neck design with a 25.5' scale length, a Nyatoh body with wooden binding and an ultra-flame maple veneer, and a Floyd Rose 100 tremolo with a locking nut, which, according to Harley Benton, 'keeps the tuning in check' even with 'the most vicious whammy bar use.' Other specs include a roasted flame maple neck with a classic reverse headstock and fingerboard. The neck boasts a modern 'C' profile, while the fingerboard has a flat 12' radius and is loaded with 24 stainless steel medium jumbo frets. Rounding off the Guitar MAX Fusion Signature's specs are Tesla Plasma-X1 and Tesla Plasma-RS2 pickups in the bridge and neck positions, respectively – delivery 'screaming leads to funky rhythms, and everything in between.' A mini-toggle switch allows players to toggle between humbucker and a coil-split single-coil-style voice for added tonal versatility. To top it off, the guitar comes in a 'striking' Emerald Green finish that is sure to turn heads. The popular YouTuber had previously addressed concerns about his signature model and debunked myths surrounding the brand, which is owned by German-based retailer Thomann. He clarified that his signature guitar is not made in China but in Indonesia, a popular manufacturing hub for many leading guitar brands – including the recently launched $599 Fender Standard Series. 'My signature guitar and the Fusion series, and certainly all of the guitars that have roasted necks and things like that – those are all Indonesian-made.' He also addressed the confusion surrounding the Harley Benton brand, clarifying that the name was chosen simply because it sounded good – and was not modeled after a particular founder. Despite this, it is clearly cementing its position in the budget-friendly guitar market, most recently announcing an all-new twin humbucker S-style electric guitar inspired by Tom DeLonge's signature Strat, launched in 2023. The Guitar MAX Fusion Signature is available in Emerald Flame, Purple Flame and Holographic finish options, priced at $435. For more information, visit Harley Benton.
Yahoo
26-01-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Roland makes a cheeky bid for performance keyboard supremacy with the new V-Stage 76 and 88
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. NAMM 2025: Roland has released plenty of stage pianos in the past, but the new V-Stage looks like something a little different. Indeed, it feels like Roland is parking its considerable tanks directly on Nord's lawn with this one, right down to those red wooden end cheeks. It'll take more than that to displace the likes of the Nord Stage and Yamaha CP88/73 from their headline slots, though, so what does the V-Stage have on its rider? Quite a lot, it turns out, starting with four independent sound engines. Powered by Roland's V-Piano technology, the Acoustic Piano section kicks things off. There are two concert grands, an upright and a felt piano, all of which promise the usual combination of tonal authenticity, playability and nuance. The Electric Piano engine, meanwhile, is apparently new for the V-Stage, and based on the latest iteration of Roland's SuperNatural technology. There are reed, digital and Clav instruments, while hands-on effects include tremolo, an amp sim, MFX processing and the intriguing Sound Lift Knob, which is designed to help you cut through in a dense mix. Over in Organ land, Roland's Virtual Tone Wheel technology powers a three-layer console organ, two transistor models and a pipe organ, with drawbars and percussion controls giving you that classic feel. And of course, you also have overdrive, vibrato/chorus and rotary speaker emulations to work with, along with a brake control and adjustable mic positioning. Image 1 of 2 Image 2 of 2 Things get potentially even more interesting in the Synthesizer section, where the tried and tested Zen-Core engine powers 400-plus built-in tones. You can use two parts simultaneously, while hands-on controls include attack, release, filter and more. And sure enough, V-Stage is also compatible with the Roland Cloud, so you can add more patches and sounds as you wish. We're led to believe that Modal Expansion emulations of the Jupiter-8, Juno-106 and other Roland classics come free with the V-Stage, so you've got some good stuff to play with right out of the gate. Perhaps the biggest test of the V-Stage's viability, though, will be how intuitive it is. Performers need fast and easy access to their most-used features, and Roland thinks it's giving them this via a well-designed front panel, an LCD screen and clearly labelled controls. There's a substantial library of effects, a Master section with EQ and compression, and 512 Scene memories so that players can save complete keyboard setups for later recall. Scenes can also be chained together for fast access while on stage. Connectivity options, meanwhile, include XLR mic and stereo line inputs, and USB-C, which enables both audio and MIDI interfacing. You can choose between 76- and 88-note models: the former has a semi-weighted waterfall keyboard that will suit organ players in particular, while the latter is weighted with a hammer-action, making it ideal for pianists. The V-Stage 76 costs $3,500/£3,027/€3,499, while the V-Stage 88 is yours for $4,000/£3,459/€3,999. Both should be available right about now, and you can find out more on the Roland website. Image 1 of 2 Image 2 of 2
