By Valerie Milano and Judy Shields
Anaheim, California (The Hollywood Times) 04/19/2023
(photo THT)
NAMM had a media day with vendors, who were lucky enough to be picked in a lottery system.
These are the participants at this years NAMM Show:
*Participating companies include::
- 1V/Oct
- 3DVARIUS
- AEA Ribbon Mics Inc.
- Antelope Audio
- Audeze
- Augspurger
- beyerdynamic
- Chapman Guitars
- Dingwall Guitars
- Donner LLC
- Endlesss
- Eventide Inc.
- FENDER AUDIO
- Magneto Guitars (Lyon & Healy Corporation)
- Paoletti Guitars (Lyon & Healy Corporation)
- Peavey Electronics
- Positive Grid
- Shure Incorporated
- SoundFlow
- Universium Guitars (True Temperament)
- Yamaha
- Zylia
Thursday and Friday nights at The 2023 NAMM Show came alive with a two-night concert series for all attendees which evoked the musical passion guests convened to celebrate. Presented by Yamaha, Thursday brought the Night of Worship with TobyMac, and on Friday, the Yamaha All-Star Concert on the Grand will honor its NAMM tradition by providing awe-inspiring musical performances. Legendary Greg Phillinganes emceed the night as artists Lawrence, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, and Jamison Ross took the stage.
The TEC Experience celebrated twenty-one innovative technical achievement products and technologies, and one studio design project as a part of the NAMM Technical Excellence & Creativity (TEC) Awards. The NAMM TEC Awards are bestowed annually in celebration of the pro audio community and recognizes the individuals, companies, and technical innovations behind today’s sound recordings, live performances, films, television, video games, and other media. View the recipients below.
Hip Hop 50 was a highlight of the evening’s celebrations, which honored the career and legacy of Chuck D, the leader of Public Enemy, a social activist, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee, and GRAMMY® Lifetime Achievement Award winner. Musician, producer, songwriter and bandmate Brian Hardgroove presented Chuck with NAMM’s Impact Music & Culture Award, an award he conceived in homage of Chuck’s ability to move culture through the power of music.
Upon receipt, Chuck D said, “It’s an honor to honor those who make this music, and that’s what I’m using this platform for. Seeing peers and technologists like DJ Jazzy Jeff, Lord Finesse, Arabian Prince and being able to see Keith Shocklee, DJ Johnny Juice. This platform that NAMM provides us helps tell the story, and we need to continue to tell that story. It is important and something I am fortunate to be a part of.”
DJ Jazzy Jeff presented Rock Walk of Fame inductee, GrandMixer DXT with the Hip-Hop Innovator Award for his contribution of innovating the turntable as a musical instrument, the impact of which can be heard in every music genre.
Lord Finesse, an artist, producer extraordinaire, and member of the iconic hip-hop crew Diggin’ In The Crates (D.I.T.C.) gave a special performance to open The TEC Experience. Resonant Alien, featuring Hardgroove and DJ Johnny Juice of Public Enemy capped off the celebration with a performance.
A specially-produced hip-hop video and music montage conceived by smash-up video man Mike Relm was also played at the event. Entertainment industry veteran and producer Larry Batiste hosted.
The 2023 TEC Awards recipients were selected by a panel of respected industry voters from pro audio publications and members of professional music, technical and creative organizations.
In a TEC Tracks session, Dave Way interviewed Carlile to discuss her approach to record production, lessons she has learned when shifting from artist/songwriter to producer, tips and tricks in the studio, what it takes to find “magic” in a process that can be very hard work for all involved, and the differences between producing her own music versus other artists’ work. A short Q&A portion will conclude the session. The Hollywood Times was present for this Brandi Carlile interview.
Brandi Carlile is a nine time GRAMMY® Award-winning singer, songwriter, performer, producer, #1 New York Times Bestselling author and activist, who is known as one of music’s most respected voices. Widely beloved by her peers, Carlile has collaborated closely with Joni Mitchell, Elton John, The Highwomen, Soundgarden, Alicia Keys, Marcus Mumford, Dolly Parton and more. In recent years, she has been increasingly in-demand as a record producer, helming albums by Tanya Tucker, Lucius, The Secret Sisters and Brandy Clark. The 2019 Tanya Tucker album While I’m Livin’, which Carlile co-produced with Shooter Jennings, won the GRAMMY for Best Country Album (Carlile’s first production GRAMMY for work with another artist). Her production work continues in earnest this year, with multiple high-profile projects in the pipeline, including the upcoming self-titled Brandy Clark LP, Tanya Tucker’s recently announced June release Sweet Western Soundand others.
On Thursday night was the She Rocks Awards and The Hollywood Times was there on the red carpet and inside for the entertainment and award presentations. The industry gathered to celebrate female leaders and innovators at the She Rocks Awards. The eleventh annual award show featured a star-studded performance lineup, including live music, and honored a varying range of artists and professionals, including singer-songwriter Judy Collins; Fitz and the Tantrums’ Noelle Scaggs; songwriter Shelly Peiken; Helen Culleton, COO of Audiotonix; Katherine Wing, Vice President of Roland Americas; and many others.
She Rocks Awards 2023 – L to R: Lisa S. Johnson, Michelle Bell, Shelly Peiken, Mary Spender, Noelle Scaggs, Katherine Wing, Judy Collins, Gretchen Menn, Stacey Ryan, Helen Culleton, WiMN Founder Laura Whitmore (photos courtesy of Kevin Graft)
The Hollywood Times went to the main hall on Friday to check out all the musical instruments and the vendors who had them on display. We saw so many different instruments and even the post office was there to help vendors with their shipping needs. Here are some photos taken by The Hollywood Times:
We decided to go seek out Ciari Guitars, who we discovered last year during media day, who sells a patented folding electric guitars. We took some photos and interviewed Jonathan Spangler, CEO and Founder of Ciari Guitars:
Friday evening saw the return of the Parnelli Awards to The NAMM Show. The annual gathering recognizes pioneering, influential professionals and companies for their contributions to the live production industry. The event brought together the live entertainment community in a vibrant gathering to recognize industry leaders, including Marty Garcia, Parnelli Audio Innovator Award; Keny Whitright, Parnelli Visionary Award; and Roy Lamb, Parnelli Lifetime Achievement Award.
“It was thrilling to be back at NAMM for the first full Parnelli Awards in three years,” says Terry Lowe, executive producer. “It was so great to hand out our complete array of awards and honors, and it was a crowning achievement for an industry that had to work its way back from such a critical time. We had a sell-out crowd, a record number of sponsors, and it was the kind of in-person celebration that can only happen at NAMM.”
Women of NAMM welcomed women and allies from across the crossroads to a special cocktail reception, which featured Christine Schyvinck, President and CEO of Shure. The evening also presented the Beacon Award to Robin Walenta, one of the founders of the group formerly known as SWIM.
NAMM Show+
The show’s digital extension, the NAMM Show+, provided a platform for attendees to connect with each other, livestream sessions, special events, and performances from across the campus. Nearly 100 sessions and special events were livestreamed from the campus, with attendees able to engage through chat, networking features, and more on the platform. The NAMM Show+ platform will remain open until May 26 to view replays of sessions and events, and continue networking.
Looking Ahead: The Right Place, The Right Time.
Beginning May 1, John Mlynczak will assume the NAMM President and CEO role. Of the return in January, Mlynczak shares, “Exhibitor reservations are already exceeding expectations, and we are hearing from countless industry partners that they can’t wait to return to the right place at the right time. The rhythm of our industry is back with the NAMM Show in January!”
The global crossroads of the music products, pro audio, and entertainment technology industry will return January 25-28, 2024. For additional information, please visit NAMM.org
Here are more photos courtesy of NAMM