The music industry's "X"
factor.(EDITORIAL)
From a distance of 30 feet, a fine Stradivarius and a cheap Chinese
violin are visually indistinguishable to all but the most sharp-eyed
experts. And despite all of today's digital audio wizardry, . . .
New market report cites deep record label woes.(Industry
Briefings)
In a period of lackluster sales, illegal downloading isn't the
only factor affecting the depressed music industry. Disgruntled
consumers have contributed significantly to the decline in retail . . .
And mall vacancies are on the rise.(Industry Briefings)
U.S. Strip mall vacancies inched up in the third quarter, hitting a
five-year high of 7.4%. The vacancy rate has spurred concerns of
weakening consumer spending, particularly in house-wares. The . . .
But not all economic news is good ...(Industry Briefings)
December saw two large national retailers announce liquidation
proceedings. Computer store CompUSA has hired Gordon Brothers to
liquidate inventory at its remaining 103 store fronts. (Gordon . . .
Online retail spending up 33 percent.(Industry Briefings)
comScore, Inc. has reported that holiday season e-commerce spending
for the first 41 days of the November--December 2007 holiday season was
over $20 billion, a 19-percent gain over the . . .
Retail sales surge in November, defying expectations.(Industry
Briefings)
Retail sales surged in November, trouncing estimates, after steep
discounting on holiday merchandise such as electronics, clothes, and
home-related goods gave merchants a solid start to this . . .
Forget the economy.(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
Great editorial in your current December issue on the economy. I
only hope a large percentage of your subscribers read it and follow your
advice!
Neil Lilien
Meisel Music
Springfield, NJ
In . . .
The global Top 225.(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
Your December issue, featuring the Top 225 and sales data on the
top markets around the world, was one of your best ever. From the
articles on China to the sales and demographics by country, . . .
Parking lot promotional tactics.(LETTERS)(Letter to the
editor)
YESTERDAY ONE OF MY employees brought in a flyer that someone had
placed on the windshield of his car in our parking lot. Imagine my
surprise to find it was a Guitar Center "In-Store Use . . .
Should we be imitating other industries?(LETTERS)(Letter to the
editor)
I RAN ACROSS YOUR comments on music education, and I wanted to
offer my opinion for what it is worth. I own a music instruction
business that has been successful for over ten years. I started . . .
E.U. Wurlitzer files Chapt. 11.(10 YEARS AGO)
E.U. Wurlitzer, a fixture in the Boston market for 107 years, filed
for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on September 23. The six-store
chain will continue operation while investigating a variety . . .
Get ready for NAMM.(25 YEARS AGO)
Despite a challenging economy, NAMM is reporting record turnout for
the fast-approaching winter NAMM show. To date, 320 exhibitors have
contracted for space and over 15,000 are expected to . . .
Running a teaching studio.(25 YEARS AGO)
Tom Hughes of Tom's Music Center in Nebraska explains,
"Having a teaching studio is a lot like raising roses--you get
beautiful results but in the process you run in to a lot of thorns. To
keep the . . .
50 years ago.(FLASHBACKS: A Look Back At People, Products, And
Events, As Recorded In The Pages Of The Music Trades)
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]
50 YEARS AGO the industry hailed a classroom keyboard method that
made use of paper keyboards. "This will introduce the piano to
millions of new students," declared James . . .
100 years ago.(FLASHBACKS: A Look Back At People, Products, And
Events, As Recorded In The Pages Of The Music Trades)
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]
100 YEARS AGO the Wood & Brooks piano action plant set a new
standard for automation, installing electricity-driven wood . . .
Truman takes organ lessons.(50 YEARS AGO)
In these days of his retirement, former President Harry S. Truman
has found himself an avocation that both eases the strain of his still
intensely busy life and also satisfies his longstanding . . .
Poor quality hurts industry.(75 YEARS AGO)
V.C. Squier of the Battle Creek, Michigan string making company
that bears his name says, "Cheap merchandise is not profitable to
manufacture, nor to retail, and it is not wanted by the . . .
End of a tough year.(100 YEARS AGO)
The year 1907 will go down in business history as one characterized
by great disturbance, by considerable interruption of business, by
terrific shock to public confidence, by tremendous losses in . . .
Frank Huffman.(DEATHS)
FRANK HUFFMAN JR., a veteran piano sales representative, died on
October 15 at the age of 67. Born in Tonganoxie, Kansas, he began
playing drums at an early age and eventually landed a job at . . .
Gemstone expands W. Nirschl line.(NEW PRODUCTS: THE LATEST AND
GREATEST IN NEW PRODUCT INTRODUCTIONS)
CONTINUING ITS collaboration with renowned German brass instrument
maker Walter Nirschl, Gemstone Musical Instruments will launch several
new additions to its W. Nirschl line of brass instruments, . . .
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