> Page 22 In The Trenches > Page 24 View from the Repair Bench > Page 25 Women of NAMM
MY TURN I BY MYRNA SISLEN MAKING MOVES IN D.C. A s NAMM celebrates its 125th anniver- sary this year, what better way to mark the occasion than to all made possible by support from NAMM. THE ASK
This year’s Fly-In was unique. In addition to lobbying for continued funding for music education in schools, the effects of tariffs on the MI industry took a front-and-center role. One-third of congressional meetings this year were focused on tariffs. Industry leaders, includ- ing Julie Robbins of EarthQuaker Devices and Ryan Richman of Eastman Music Company, high- lighted how current tariffs increase raw material costs by up to 30%, squeeze retail margins and threaten the affordability of instruments for students and families. During their meetings, delegates highlighted their challenges by re- vealing the devastating effect tariffs are having on the music industry, and ultimately on American chil- dren. They spotlighted how many families might not be able to afford the beginner band instruments stu- dents need for the music classes. NAMM delegates were lobbying Congress for funding to continue — an outcome most delegates (and myself) had not fully considered. Eastman Music Company, headquartered in Pomona, Cali- fornia, has felt the crunch of the increased tariffs. “When the tariffs were raised a year ago, we had to do something to make sure that our business was still going to remain healthy,” said
travel to Washington, D.C., for the 20th annual NAMM Fly-In? From May 11–14, 100 member delegates from 74 MI companies representing all 50 states came to Capitol Hill with two goals: to ask Congress to protect federal funding for mu- sic education, and to request tariff exemptions for musical instruments, along with the components and raw materi- als used to make them. And I was honored to join them. John Mlynczak, NAMM president and CEO, said in a Music Inc. pre-Fly-In in- terview: “I can tell you, this will be the largest and most impactful Fly-In that NAMM has ever done. And I think a lot of that has to do with just the momentum of the industry now, behind working together in times of uncertainty.” And I have to agree. Mlync- zak and his NAMM staff, working alongside Connie Myers and Chris Cushing of NAMM’s lobbying firm Nel- son Mullins, delivered one of the best-run, most informative Fly-ins in recent memory. THE BREAKDOWN The week began with The
A firsthand reflection of the 2026 NAMM Fly-In.
NAMM Foundation hosting its annual day of service at McKinley Tech High School in Northeast D.C., connecting students with music professionals through its Careers in Music initiative. The program provides mentorship and career insights, helping inspire the next generation of music makers and industry leaders. The NAMM Foundation presented the McKinley Tech Music De- partment with $10,000. The following day was de- voted to training sessions to prepare delegates for their meet- ings on Capitol Hill, followed by a reception where NAMM presented Congressmen Ron Estes and Lloyd Doggett with
the SupportMusic Champion Award, followed later that eve- ning by the third annual NAMM Jam — curated once again by Mike Risko of Mike Risko Music and sponsored by Chuck Levin’s Washington Music Center. All day Wednesday, delegates crisscrossed Capitol Hill, hold- ing more than 200 meetings with members of Congress, congres- sional staff and legislative aides. It was topped off that night with the Congressional Record, a biparti- san event celebrating the unifying power of music and the arts. The event included partic- ipation from members of the Congressional Musicians Caucus and Congressional Arts Caucus,
20 I MUSIC INC. I AUGUST 2026
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