Music Inc Magazine April 2025

April 2025

THE NAMM SHOW ISSUE

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE:

Kala’s Dave Cafiero and Mike Upton.

30 I FROM THE TOP Kala founder Mike Upton and COO/partner

Dave Cafiero lend insight into what it’s like to lead the biggest ukulele brand into its 20th year.

14 I NEWS X DPA Mics Acquires Austrian Audio X Guitar Center Opens New Brooklyn Store X Shure Turns 100 12 I PROFILE X How Ear Trumpet Labs is leaving its unique mark on the mic market.

Toca Percussion’s Jim Rockwell, Dave Cywinski, Rick Taylor and Brad Kirkpatrick.

34 I THE 2025 NAMM SHOW REPORT Full coverage of all the breaking news, big events, market trends and hottest gear — straight from January’s NAMM show floor. Plus: Our annual Editors Choice Awards.

36 I NAMM SHOW NEWS 42 I GUITARS, AMPS & ACCESSORIES COVERAGE 48 I AUDIO, RECORDING & DJ COVERAGE 54 I DRUMS & PERCUSSION COVERAGE 58 I BAND & ORCHESTRA COVERAGE 62 I PIANOS, KEYBOARDS & SYNTHS COVERAGE

RETAILER ASK THE 74 I ASK THE RETAILER X Dealers discuss their biggest takeaways from The 2025 NAMM Show. 26 I E-COMMERCE REVERBERATIONS X Reverb’s Mark Anzelc advocates retailers focus on small touches that give players reasons to come into their store. 28 I WOMEN OF NAMM X Angelica Primachenko reflects on her first NAMM show experience and receiving the WoN Scholarship.

The 2025 Best in Show panel highlights their top gear and services at show.

66 I BEST IN SHOW Recapping all of the winners of the annual NAMM session.

ON THE COVER: Clockwise from left: Gospel singer CeCe Winans (photo by Ryan Kotrlik), Grammy winner Jon Batiste (photo by Ryan Kotrlik), singer-songwriter Jacob Collier (photo courtesy of NAMM) and guitarist John Mayer (photo by Mikko Dumadag).

6 I MUSIC INC. I APRIL 2025

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