Safety Tips for Fellow Retailers P SA: Having high-def cameras was key for us following our store’s theft in February [reported in Music Inc.’s April 2026 issue]. We have had, and will have, some of the guitars on locked holders, though at one of the other stores, the suspects simply ripped the hook out of the wall. The other helpful thing was having a great network of support: from our Martin rep who sent [our story] out to all of his stores as a warn- ing and to be on the lookout, to other store owners — from indies to Guitar Centers — that reached out, posted the story and called with similar occurrences. Larry Noto Owner Music Land Bel Air, Maryland A Bright Future Lies Ahead I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Music Inc. magazine for the profile of Hanser Music Group in your February/March 2026 issue. I also appreciate your commitment to highlighting the various people, products, compa- nies, issues, challenges, triumphs, changes, wins and losses that impact the music instrument industry — elements, both big and small, that shape the MI community we’re all a part of. A special “thank you” to edito- rial assistant Kimberly Kapela for doing an excellent job of explain- ing the changes and challenges we at Hanser Music Group have been working to overcome since 2020. She effectively conveyed our optimism about the future, particularly our plans for Kustom Amplifiers, Powerwerks P.A., and HMG’s world-class OEM electron- ics manufacturing, all of which are poised for growth in 2026 and beyond. We hope the rest of the MI in- dustry shares this positive outlook.
A ‘Save Our Guitar Shops’ Update S ave Our Guitar Shops started in May 2025 after the closure of GAK in my hometown of Brigh- ton, U.K. After seeing that happen, I started looking into [guitar store closures] and realized it wasn’t just Brighton. There was a pattern of shops closing everywhere around the world. That was the moment it clicked that no shop is too big to disappear. Nearly a year on, what started in Brighton has spread much further. We’ve seen support come in from across the U.K., the U.S. and as far as Melbourne, Australia, with hun- dreds of players taking the pledge and shops sharing their stories. But at the same time, the reality hasn’t changed. In the past year alone, U.S. stores have closed, while many more shops are quietly scaling back or disappearing without much at- tention. It’s not one big collapse. It’s a slow drift, and that’s what makes it easy to ignore. The focus now is building real momentum in the U.S. The guitar shop scene there has shaped music culture globally, but it’s under the same pressure. We’re actively fea- turing shops on the campaign and sharing their stories, with more media coverage coming. If you run or work in a guitar shop, email me at drew@guitarmammoth.com so I can feature your story and help shine a light on what you do. And if you’re a guitarist, take the pledge at guitarmammoth.com/save-our- guitar-shops and help keep your local shop alive. I want to start a global movement, one guitarist at a time.
If the response that we personally encountered at The 2026 NAMM Show is any indication, the future looks bright for all of us. Thank you, Music Inc., for continuing to fuel that positivity. Ted Burger President Hanser Music Group Cincinnati Continuing to Support Our Dealers T hank you for the From the Top feature on Darius Sea- baugh, our senior vice president of marketing, in your February/ March issue. Following the story, our team reflected further on a year that was defined by both legacy and forward momentum for ACT Entertainment. We cel- ebrated landmark anniversaries for ProCo Sound and RapcoHo- rizon, which underscored the company’s deep roots in pro- audio. Additionally, continued
investments in talent and infra- structure have positioned ACT for sustained growth. As the organization expands its reach across live sound, video, light- ing and interconnect solutions, our commitment remains firmly grounded in supporting dealers, musicians and production pro- fessionals with reliable, road- tested tools. At the same time, our company continues to evolve through a thoughtful approach to partnerships and acquisitions, prioritizing brands that bring both heritage and innovation to its growing portfolio. With more than 600 employees and a unified brand vision centered on service, education and performance, we’re focused on delivering end-to-end solutions for live experiences of every scale. Shawn Wells Market Manager, Sound
Drew Haselhurst Owner Guitar Mammoth Brighton, U.K.
EDITOR’S NOTE: MUSIC INC. ENCOURAGES LETTERS AND RESPONSES TO ITS STORIES. EMAIL LETTERS TO EDITOR@MUSICINCMAG.COM.
ACT Entertainment Jackson, Missouri
12 I MUSIC INC. I MAY 2026
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