Music Retail - Backstage Circle

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Music Retail

A collection of 53 posts

Musician in a white dress shirt playing acoustic guitar

What to Wear to a Gig, a Session and a Music Industry Meeting

The right outfit depends on where you're going. Here's a practical guide to dressing for club gigs, private events, festivals, studio sessions, crew calls and music industry meetings.

Gibson Pickup Shop

Gibson Pickup Shop

The Gibson Pickup Shop has introduced the 1957-1960 P.A.F. Reissue Sets, a new collection of historically accurate humbucker™ pickups designed to reproduce the dimensions, materials, appearance, and distinctive tonal characteristics of original Gibson Patent Applied For pickups. The collection includes four pickup sets, each with a unique

"I Know the Industry"

"I Know the Industry"

On what that actually means, and how much of it you can teach One of the first things long-tenured, successful reps will tell me is how well they know the industry they work in. They’re proud of their professional tenure, and they should be. By itself, tenure doesn’

The Handshake

On what a handshake says that an email just can’t I was speaking with a VP of Sales for an industrial manufacturer. His team is humming, revenue is strong, and he’s got a calm about him normally reserved for people who are decidedly not VPs of Sales for

PRS Guitars - the Tekton

PRS Guitars - the Tekton

the Tekton PRS Guitars has announced a major step forward in its innovative product design: the Tekton family of four bolt-on guitars designed for the most technical of modern players. Named for the Ancient Greek term meaning artisan or craftsman, the Tekton (hardtail bridge), Tekton T (PRS two-point

NAMM Foundation

NAMM Foundation

The NAMM Foundation has opened applications for the 2027 Best Communities for Music Education (BCME) Award, marking the program’s 28th consecutive year of recognizing school districts and individual schools across the nation that prioritize music education as an essential part of a well-rounded education. BCME shines a national

JUPITER-08 and n/vision Roland Boutique Instruments

JUPITER-08 and n/vision Roland Boutique Instruments

Roland announces two new additions to its long-running lineup of Roland Boutique instruments for on-the-go creation, performance, and music production. The JUPITER-08 is a special release that celebrates 45 years of the Roland JUPITER-8, one of the most coveted analog synthesizers of all time. n/

Spector Basses

Spector is supporting Breast Cancer Awareness Month with a one-of-one Custom Shop bass created to benefit breast cancer research. Built by the Spector Custom Shop, this unique instrument brings together the brand's signature craftsmanship and detail to raise awareness and financial support for a cause impacting

Roland Celebrates Grand Opening of U.S. Flagship Store

Roland Celebrates Grand Opening of U.S. Flagship Store

Roland Corporation, a global leader in electronic musical instruments and music technology, celebrated the grand opening of Roland Store New York City, the company’s first standalone retail location in the United States. The invitation-only opening celebration at 414 West 14th Street brought together artists, industry leaders, media, business

Archon Amps

Archon 1x12 cabinet PRS Guitars announced both the Archon and Archon Classic range of amplifiers and cabinets are now available in extremely limited editions of Black Paisley. The number of pieces range from 75 to 200 worldwide, depending on the model. Specific products included: * Archon 50 Combo * Archon Classic 50

Cort Guitars

Cort Guitars officially unveils the KX500 Baritone, a specialized addition to the coveted KX Series. Engineered specifically for players who use low tunings, the instrument addresses the familiar challenges of string tension and note definition associated with dropped registers. By combining a long-scale architecture with premium electronics and hardware,

Aguilar DB 700 Hybrid Bass Amplifier

Aguilar DB 700 Hybrid Bass Amplifier

Aguilar announces the release of the DB 700 hybrid bass amplifier. Designed to meet the demands of modern touring bassists, the DB 700 delivers the legendary, high-voltage tube-driven tone of the flagship DB 751 in a highly portable, travel-friendly format. By answering the core design question, "

ZENOLOGY GX for iPad

ZENOLOGY GX for iPad

Roland has announced a major update for ZENOLOGY GX for iPad, its free synthesizer powered by the ZEN-CORE Synthesis System. AUv3 support allows the instrument to run directly inside compatible iPad DAWs and hosts, including Logic Pro for iPad and Roland Zenbeats. The AUv3 plug-in includes the complete

NAMM Wins Trade Show Executive Gold Award

NAMM Wins Trade Show Executive Gold Award

(L-R) Cindy Sample, John Mlynczak, Lisha Baer The NAMM Show continues to receive accolades and awards as its winning streak extends with another year of honors and awards at the Trade Show Executive (TSE) Gold Awards. From breakthrough growth to digital innovation to the next generation of industry leadership,

PRS Guitars Silver Sky Defender

PRS Guitars Silver Sky Defender

Portofino Red PRS Guitars announces the Silver Sky Defender Color Collection, a series of eight limited-edition guitars designed in collaboration between PRS Signature Artist John Mayer and the British 4x4 brand. The lineup includes four classic Land Rover Defender colorways on the US-made Silver Sky and four contemporary

NAMM NeXT LATAM

NAMM NeXT LATAM

The National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) will bring together senior music industry leaders from across Latin America for the NAMM NeXT LATAM Leadership Gathering, taking place on November 12, 2026 in São Paulo. This event is stragically positioned on the eve of Conecta+ Música & Mercado, a major gathering

Vox Amplification

Vox Amplification

Vox Amplification announces the release of the AC MINI, a compact and affordable 10-watt guitar amplifier designed to bring the feel, look, and tone of the iconic AC Series into smaller playing environments. Developed by the same engineering team behind the acclaimed Vox AC Hand-Wired Series, the AC

Spector Icon Neck-Through Basses

Spector Icon Neck-Through Basses

Spector Basses announces launch of the NS Icon Neck-Through series, the latest evolution of the Icon platform designed to bring the brand’s most celebrated construction method to a wider audience. Following the successful Summer 2025 introduction of the NS Icon Bolt-On series, these new models incorporate the

NAMM 2027 News

NAMM (The National Association of Music Merchants), the world’s largest not-for-profit music trade organization, today announced that registration ( is now open for The 2027 NAMM Show, taking place January 26–30, 2027, at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, Calif. For five days, the global music industry

People Helping People

People Helping People

Nobody gets anywhere without the help of so many other people along the way. Most of our successes and failures are not totally (or even at all?) our fault. The real ones recognize this, and they look out for others so they can hopefully help to pay that kind of

Mitchell Acoustic Guitar Collection

Mitchell Acoustic Guitar Collection

Mitchell D25012CE Premium 12-String Acoustic Electric in black finish Guitar Center has announced the Mitchell Acoustic Guitar Collection, a new eight model lineup that represents the largest design update in the brand's history and arrives during Mitchell's 40th anniversary year. The collection will be available

Consistency In Sales

Consistency In Sales

Consistency in sales is highly underrated. There’s so much to be said about the ability to show up every day and do the mundane things that don’t feel like they’re leading anywhere, until… they do. This kind of behavior shows everybody that you can be counted on.

Past NAMM CEO Larry 'Link'Linkin Passes

Past NAMM CEO Larry 'Link'Linkin Passes

Larry R. “Link” Linkin — 87 years old and still one "slick dude" to the end — passed away peacefully on Aug. 26, 2026, at his home at Westminster Village in Scottsdale, Ariz. Link was born May 29, 1939, in Burlington, Iowa, where he began his passion for the clarinet

Paul Reed Smith to be Inducted
into the Guitar Center Rockwalk

Paul Reed Smith to be Inducted into the Guitar Center Rockwalk

PRS Guitars and Guitar Centerthave announced that the national retailer is inducting Paul Reed Smith into the Hollywood , the handprint-and-signature tribute outside Guitar Center’s flagship Hollywood store on Sunset Boulevard. This pedestrian path and industry-recognized music landmark is dedicated to honoring the musicians and industry pioneers

Roland Americas Appointments

Roland Americas Appointments

Brian Crowley and Russell Williams Roland Americas announces two strategic sales leadership appointments in North America. Brian Crowley joined the company as Senior Vice President of Sales, U.S., earlier this summer, and Russell Williams has been promoted to Senior Vice President of Sales, Canada. With extensive experience leading high-