A 100th Celebration to Remember T hank you for sharing my From the Top interview in your May issue of Music Inc. magazine. Since it was published before we recently held Shure’s 100th anniversary celebration in the Chicagoland area for our nearly 1,000 employees in the U.S., I wanted to take a mo- ment to thank a special group of our employees — who are also talented performers and produc- tion crew — for organizing the ultimate anniversary concert. We had 80 different employ- ees in various bands perform- ing a series of different types of music through the decades — a four-hour journey through musical history that blew the doors off of the live music venue hosting us. Not only were the performers Shure employees, but our production crew of Shure professionals delivered a flaw- less production. I can’t think of any other companies who could pull off a celebration like this using only in-house talent, and I’m so proud of how everyone came together to celebrate 100 years of history at Shure. This experience has made all of us appreciate even more how much music means to us and how important it is in helping shape memories that will never be forgotten. Chris Schyvinck CEO Shure Niles, Illinois How a Drum Throw- Off Turned into a 25-Year Friendship & a Drum Shop Dream B ack in 1997, I was working the drum counter at Sam Ash Music in Paramus, New Jersey, when I got a phone call from someone I didn’t know — Rob Siciliano. He was looking
up, talking gear and building up our friendship. Fast forward to 2024, when Sam Ash announced they were closing all their retail locations. I called Rob and said, “What do you think — should we finally build the drum shop we always wanted to shop in?” Without hesitation, he said “yes.” And so, Garden State Drums & Percussion was born. We officially opened our doors in May with one goal: to treat every customer like they matter, because they do. Whether you’re buying a throw-off or a 25-piece custom kit, we’re here to listen, share our knowledge and help you find what you need. Sometimes, it’s the small things that lead to the big things. George Rigney Owner Garden State Drums & Percussion Scotch Plains, NJ Experiment During Your Summertime Sales Blues W hile summer can be slow for music retailers, it’s also an excellent time to experiment with new ideas and prepare for busier times of the year. We’re very excited to pilot a couple workshops where attendees will have an opportunity to learn and play. We’re also preparing for promotions where customers can snag some incredible deals. The workshops and promo- tions are an excellent way to at- tract customers to the store to increase traffic and boost sales during a slow period. Adam Daut Owner Mad Music Chandler, Arizona
for a throw-off for his Lud- wig Supraphonic snare drum. I asked him what year his drum was, and he seemed puzzled — “Why does that matter?” he asked. I explained that if it was from the 1960s, he’d need a P84, but if it was a later model, a P85 would be the right fit. He confirmed it was a later drum. We didn’t have the part in stock, but I told him I’d order it from Ludwig with no deposit necessary and would call him when it came in. A few days later, the part arrived, and Rob came in that Saturday. When he showed up, he told me he had called four other stores before reaching me. No one else knew what he was talking about — or they dismissed him once they re- alized they didn’t have the part. He said, “I’ll take the throw- off, but what I really want is that
five-piece DW Collectors Series kit on the shelf — the black satin oil with black hardware.” We spent the next couple of hours playing DW drums, talk- ing about music, drummers and the business. Rob went home that day with that DW kit, cym- bals, hardware and a matching snare on order. That was the beginning. Over the years, Rob became more than just a loyal custom- er — he became a friend. He continued to buy gear regularly, including a custom 25-piece Spaun drum kit inspired by Terry Bozzio’s iconic setup. That kit had everything — an exotic burl finish, 28- and 20- inch bass drums, and 12 5x12 inches toms tuned chromatically. Every time we talked — whether on the phone or in per- son — we’d spend time catching
EDITOR’S NOTE: MUSIC INC. ENCOURAGES LETTERS AND RESPONSES TO ITS STORIES. EMAIL LETTERS TO EDITOR@MUSICINCMAG.COM.
10 I MUSIC INC. I JUNE 2025
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