Organizations - Backstage Circle

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Organizations

News from industry organizations and trade shows, including NAMM, InfoComm, NAB, EXPO-SCÈNE, CITT/USITT and ECMA.

Audience watching a panel discussion

TEC Tracks Live Sound Summit

The NAMM Show 2027 will host the first ever TEC Tracks Live Sound Summit. Taking place on Wednesday January 27, the half-day summit will see highly respected FOH engineers and crew discuss the opportunities and issues facing live sound engineers. This new educational opportunity adds to the long list

Crowd mingling at a brightly lit event

EXPO-SCÈNE 2027

EXPO-SCÈNE returns to Montréal on April 7–8, 2027, bringing together the people, technologies and ideas shaping the future of live entertainment. Produced by the Canadian Institute for Theatre Technology (CITT/ICTS), this annual gathering is Canada’s only trade show dedicated to stage, audiovisual and event technologies, welcoming

A teacher and student playing flutes in a classroom

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

(L-R) Cindy Sample, John Mlynczak, Lisha Baer

NAMM Wins Trade Show Executive Gold Award

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, these latest honors reflect the momentum behind The

São Paulo skyline at night

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 strategically positioned on the eve of Conecta+ Música & Mercado, a major gathering

Behind the Scenes Wellness Lounge at LDI 2026

The Behind the Scenes Wellness Lounge, presented by LDI, returns to the show floor in 2026 (Booth #510) with an exciting lineup of educational sessions, practical resources, and one-on-one support designed specifically for entertainment industry professionals. A favorite destination for attendees seeking tools and resources to thrive both

Behind the Scenes

This fall, Behind the Scenes is bringing practical mental health and bystander intervention skills to entertainment professionals with a series of training opportunities. Supporting the people around us doesn't have to wait for a crisis. These trainings give entertainment professionals practical skills they can use every day — to

Anaheim Convention Center at dusk with NAMM Show signage

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

Crowds on a trade show floor

NAB New York 2026

NAB Show New York, the East Coast's top event for media, entertainment and brand storytelling, returns October 21-22, 2026, at the Javits Center in Manhattan. The show floor runs October 21-22, with conference programming beginning a day earlier on October 20. Billed as the East Coast

Attendees visiting exhibitor booths

CITT/ICTS’ 2026 Rendez-vous Wrap Up

CITT/ICTS’ 2026 Rendez-vous held August 12 to 14 in Ottawa, Ontario, brought together emerging and established professionals from across Canada’s live performance and events industry for a vibrant gathering focused on professional development, knowledge sharing, networking, and collaboration. The annual conference and trade show, which moves to

Black and white portrait of Larry Linkin

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

John Mlynczak, NAMM President and CEO, standing in a council chamber

NAMM President/CEO Issues Statement on Duties Addition of Brass-Wind Instruments

John Mlynczak, President and CEO of NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants) has issued the following statement on the Section 232 Duties Addition of Brass-wind Instruments. The Bureau of Industry and Security's (BIS) notice proposing the inclusion brass-wind musical instruments and their parts and accessories within

Band performing on a stage with The NAMM Show backdrop

Bands at NAMM Submissions Now Open

It wouldn't be The NAMM Show without live music showcasing the products we all want to see and hear — seven stages, thousands of top brands and tens of thousands of engaged music and industry professionals! Bands at NAMM is your chance to be part of one of the

Anaheim Convention Center at night with NAMM Show signage

NAMM Show 2027

NAMM (The National Association of Music Merchants), the world’s largest nonprofit music trade organization, announced The 2027 NAMM Show will be held in Anaheim, Calif., January 26-30, 2027, with the main exhibition floors open to attendees from January 28-30. The world’s largest music products trade show

Attendees at a trade show with stage lighting

Rendez-vous 2026 Update

CITT/ICTS is gearing up for Rendez-vous 2026, inviting live entertainment and performing arts production professionals to Ottawa, Ontario, this summer. The 36th edition of CITT/ICTS’ annual conference will take place from August 12–14, 2026, at uOttawa’s Faculty of Arts, Department of Theatre’ LabO spaces and

Crowds on the InfoComm América Latina show floor

InfoComm América Latina 2026

The technology that creates immersive experiences in museums, sports venues, concerts, corporate meeting rooms, classrooms, and places of worship will be showcased at InfoComm América Latina 2026, the region’s premier audiovisual integration event. Organized by AVIXA (Audiovisual and Integrated Experience Association), the event will be held from October 21

Crowds on the InfoComm show floor

InfoComm Wrapup

InfoComm 2026, held June 13-19 in Las Vegas, Nevada, brought together the global pro AV industry for a week of innovation, education, networking, and business development. The show welcomed 28,132 verified attendees from 94 countries, with international attendance representing 20% of attendees, and end users representing 37%. Total

Group photo of attendees at NAMM NeXT Europe

NAMM Next Europe Update

NAMM (The National Association of Music Merchants), the world’s largest nonprofit music trade organization, concluded NAMM NeXT Europe 2026, its executive leadership summit focused on advancing strategic collaboration, innovation and long-term growth across the global music products industry. Held June 10-11 at the Renaissance Amsterdam Hotel in

Backstage Insider thumbnail: An interview with Robyn Stewart from Women in Music Canada

Backstage Insider Podcast

An interview with Robyn Stewart from Women in Music Canada

The conversation with Robyn Stewart from Women in Music Canada explores the progress and ongoing challenges faced by women in the music industry, highlighting the persistent disparities in representation, particularly in radio. Despite some strides being made, issues of discrimination and harassment continue to plague the industry, indicating that more

Backstage Insider thumbnail: Interview With John Mlynczak from NAMM

Backstage Insider Podcast

Interview With John Mlynczak from NAMM

An interview with John Mlynczak from NAMM. He discusses his musical history, his position at NAMM and plans for NAMM's future.

Man in a suit holding a trumpet in front of a wall of instruments

Getting The Most From The NAMM Show

An online info session with John Mlynczak, Prsident and CEO of the National Association of Music Mercahnts (NAMM) John discusses the NAMM Show 2025 in January and offers advice to both exhibitors and attendees on how to get the most from the show Show information at http://www.namm.org

Webinar title slide: Fireside Chat with Jacquie Lazar

Fireside Chat with Jacquie Lazar from CITT/ICTS

CITT/ICTS is the Canadian Institute for Theatre Technology which is a not-for-profit national association that actively promotes the professional development of its members and works for the betterment of the Canadian live performance community. CITT/ICTS has members from the live entertainment community across Canada and runs

NAMM Appointment

NAMM (The National Association of Music Merchants), the largest global not-for-profit music trade organization, announced the appointment of Katherine Palmer as the new executive director of the Museum of Making Music (MoMM), effective summer 2026. The announcement comes as MoMM executive director Carolyn Grant concludes her storied NAMM

Large group of NAMM members posing in a building lobby

NAMM Advocacy

The National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) has concluded a series of high-impact advocacy efforts in Washington, D.C., advancing the association’s commitment to protecting the U.S. music products industry and expanding access to music education for more than 54 million students nationwide. On Friday, May 8th,

Presenter speaking to attendees in a studio space

Rendez-vous 2026

Delegate registration is now open for the 36th edition of CITT/ICTS’s annual conference and trade show, taking place from August 12–14, 2026, in scenic Ottawa, Ontario, at uOttawa’s Faculty of Arts, Department of Theatre’ LabO building. Held in a different Canadian city each year, Rendez-vous