O n May 2, a week before going to press with this issue, it was an- nounced that Sam Ash Music would be closing all of its stores. The New York-based business, which turned 100 this year, made the announcement via its social media platforms to the shock and disappointment of customers and fans worldwide. “Sam Ash was a tremendous hub of inspiration for me, and I met dozens of local musicians from the bulletin boards, many of which are still lifelong friends,” said one commenter on Instagram, while another shared, “Sam Ash was a huge part of my upbringing and crafted me into the person I am today.” While reps at Sam Ash Music could not be reached for comment (as of going PERSPECTIVE I BY KATIE KAILUS A SAD DAY FOR MI
to press on May 9), the effect of the closure of the company’s 40 some stores no doubt extends beyond its customer base and is felt across the MI industry. Competition is good for business. Rising tides lift all ships, and a strong MI market is good for the industry as a whole. We spoke to several MI leaders to get their thoughts on the closures. Here’s what they said. “It’s certainly sad news for the industry; Sam Ash has been an iconic brand for musicians’ worldwide for over 100 years, as well as our neighbor and our friend,” said Joe Castronovo, Korg USA’s president and CEO. “There are countless stories of customers walking into a Sam Ash for the first time, their lives forever changed as they walked out with their first
instrument. Sam Ash was always focused on the community and, thanks to [its] bulletin boards, so many musicians were able to connect with other local musi- cians and form bands. Their hometown service and dedication to fostering and developing music-makers has enriched the lives of so many it simply cannot be measured. On behalf of everyone at Korg USA, thank you for being a great partner.” “It’s just a really sad thing,” said Brian Reardon, owner of Monster Music in Levittown, New York. “It’s like the reinforcement of the message that nothing is forever. Everything is temporary, and for companies that have been around, in this case for literally 100 years, when you consider what they’ve been through in terms of good times, bad times and really challenging times, to have made it through everything, and then this confluence of variables puts them out, it’s like, wow, if that can happen to a company of that size and that [caliber] it makes everybody feel a little more vulnerable.” “The news about Sam Ash is very sad for us on many fronts,” said John D’Addario III, D’Addario’s CEO. “Our family’s relationship with the Ash’s goes back to the early childhood days of my uncle Jim D’Addario who regularly visited one of their stores as a young boy. In those days, Jerry Ash himself always took good care of him. We have all witnessed monumental changes in the music retail environment, particularly in the last decade, mostly due to channel shift from brick-and-mortar to e-commerce. However, given our family’s relationship with the Ash family, this one is the saddest of them all.” “We’ve been partners with the Ash family for generations,” said Chris Martin, Martin Guitar chairman. “The stores had a vibe that amateur and professional musicians alike appreciated, [and it] worked for 100 years. They will be missed.” MI
10 I MUSIC INC. I JUNE 2024
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