NAMM at a glance

Full name: National Association of Music Merchants

Founded: 1901 Headquarters: Membership:

More than 15,400 global member companies and individual professionals with a global workforce of over 475,000 employees; 7,000 active member companies from 120 countries and territories, as well as musicians, pro audio and live sound professionals, music educators, entertainment technology professionals, concert touring and staging professionals, venue and studio representatives, houses of worship performers and operators, music influencers and content producers, and theme park operators.

Annual trade show: January at the Anaheim Convention Center

Total number of employees: 61

Mission statement:

“To strengthen the music products industry and promote the pleasures and benefits of making music.”

Did you know?

NAMM operates the Museum of Making Music at its Carlsbad headquarters, where it also regularly presents concerts, including a Feb. 9 concert by country music guitar great Albert Lee. The museum’s current exhibit, “MIDI@40: Artistry, Inclusivity, Connectivity,” explores the history of MIDI (short for Musical Instrument Digital Interface).

of Champions — Mlynczak will unveil a number of new initiatives and stress that NAMM is an organization that supports and provides services to its members year-round.

“In my job as an industry leader, you won’t ever do things that everyone will approve of at the same time,” Mlynczak noted. “But we make everyone feel cared for and approved of. I see myself as an evolutionary agent more than an agent of change.”

True to his word, rather than shy away from artificial intelligence — which some see as a major threat to NAMM’S constituents and the way their industry does business — Mlynczak is embracing it. He estimates that about 20 percent of this year’s 200 NAMM Show educational panels and related presentations will include an AI component.

“The NAMM Show started in 1902, and the history of our industry is a history of threats and opportunities,” said Mlynczak, who is embracing social influencers as a vital part of this year’s NAMM Show.

“We have thrived on new threats, dating back to back to bicycles becoming popular. That was a huge threat because kids were riding their bikes and not practicing piano. There were lawsuits filed over (the surge of) drum machines.

“Is AI a threat to our industry, or an opportunity? Long term, it’s absolutely an opportunity. It will allow us to do things we never imagined. Is it perceived, in the short term, as a threat? Absolutely. Our job at NAMM is to help our members get ahead and provide as much opportunity as possible to innovate.”