Nashville, TN (April 8, 2020)—Originally set to take place July 9-11 in Nashville’s Music City Center, Summer NAMM is cancelled for 2020. The annual mid-year gathering of the MI and pro audio industries was scrapped due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In an open letter announcing the change to the industry, NAMM chair C.F. Martin noted, “the current circumstances make it impossible to hold the show or to undertake the many months of careful planning and preparation that are required to create a secure and organized event.
According to regional media, the Music City Center itself is currently being prepared for likely use as an alternate hospital as Nashville braces for a rise in COVID-19 patients. The site could hold as many as 1,600 beds for patients battling the novel coronavirus if necessary. Around the country, other convention centers, such as New York City’s Jacob Javits Center where the AES Convention and NAB New York will be held in October, are being used as temporary hospitals.
Martin stated that instead of pouring resources into the Summer event, NAMM “will continue to connect our community to help everyone move forward. Our focus remains on guiding our members to the financial relief that so many badly need through the CARES Act. In addition, the NAMM team has been sourcing and sharing the most creative strategies that are working in music retail and online music learning, vital tools to survive these unprecedented economic times.”
At this time, the organization’s main convention, the NAMM Show, is still scheduled as planned for January 21–24 in Anaheim, California, and the next Summer NAMM will take place in Nashville’s Music City Center, July 15–17, 2021.
Shutting down this year’s Summer NAMM has resulted in also removing the launch pad for the annual TEC Awards. Traditionally, the year’s TEC Award nominees are announced during the first day of Summer NAMM and are awarded at the following year’s NAMM Show in January.
As a result, while this year’s nominations were going to be announced July 9 in Nashville, the announcement date has been pushed back to September 16. Hand in hand with that shift, the TEC Awards program’s submission deadline has been moved from June 12 to August 31.
SUMMER NAM FAQ
What is the status of Summer NAMM?
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Summer NAMM, scheduled for July 9–11 in Nashville has been canceled. At NAMM, we recognize the importance of this annual mid-year gathering for our industry but the harsh realities of this crisis make it impossible to undertake the many months of careful planning and preparation that are required for such a show. We look forward to reconvening the global crossroads of the industry at The 2021 NAMM Show, January 21–24 in Anaheim, California and returning to Nashville in summer 2021.
When is the next Summer NAMM?
Summer NAMM will return to Nashville and the Music City Center, July 15–17, 2021.
For Exhibitors
What happens to my Summer NAMM exhibit space contract and deposit payment?
Due to the cancellation of Summer NAMM, contracts will be considered nullified, and we will provide a FULL refund to any payment made directly to NAMM. We will initiate the refund directly based on total payments received. If you have any questions, please contact your Tradeshow Representative.
What is the timeline to receive a refund?
We will provide full refunds by May 1, 2020. Thank you for your patience as we work through a high volume of orders.
When is the next opportunity for my brand to exhibit at a NAMM Show?
We look forward to reconvening the industry at The 2021 NAMM Show, January 21–24 in Anaheim, California, and returning to Nashville in summer 2021. Connect with your NAMM Tradeshow Representative to discuss options for your brand.
Hotel and Travel
What if I booked my hotel room through Summer NAMM’s official hotel provider EventSphere?
Any reservations made through our official hotel partner EventSphere will be canceled. At this time, attendees have not been charged for these reservations.
If you have any questions, the NAMM housing team at EventSphere is available to assist at [email protected].
What about other travel reservations?
For all lodging reservations or additional room nights booked separate from EventSphere, contact the respective property or booking agent to cancel and confirm a refund. We recommend canceling any air and ground travel arrangements as soon as possible. Many airlines, hotels and lodging companies are offering flexible refund options at this time due to the COVID-19 situation. Please contact your airline or travel provider directly to review options.
Top 100 and TEC Awards
When will the Top 100 Dealer Awards be held?
The celebration of music retail will be staged at The 2021 NAMM Show in January. The deadline to submit applications has been extended to October 2, 2020, to give our members time to focus on their businesses during this critical period, yet still participate in the award program should they choose to do so. We will announce the new date of the Top 100 Dealer Awards in the coming months.
When will TEC Award Nominees be Announced?
Nominees were originally scheduled to be announced on the first day of Summer NAMM, July 9; the announcement date has been rescheduled to September 16. In order to provide our commercial members more time to participate in this year’s program, we have extended the submission deadline from June 12 to August 31.
Are You Offering Other Resources to Support the Industry?
We will be offering a variety of online resources, including insightful webinars to help our members navigate the current health crisis.
Your Trusted Guide to Business Relief and Policy Action
In the U.S., NAMM is working with our industry partners in Washington D.C. to ensure that the voices of our members have been heard; the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”) has just recently become law and more legislation may be on the horizon. Other countries are enacting measures designed to stimulate the economy, which we continue to monitor; a list of which can be found at namm.org/covid-19. We will do our very best to lead our members through this process and provide a trusted place for the most up-to-date information and guidance.
Taking NAMM U to You in Real-Time
NAMM U is committed to providing live online sessions on timely and relevant topics to help members identify the strategies and opportunities to see this time through. Alongside this, the NAMM U Online library is a resource containing the shared wisdom and creativity of our global membership, with survival strategies that are working in this new reality, as well as proven best practices and ideas. Visit https://www.namm.org/nammu.
Convening the Global Industry at The 2021 NAMM Show
We are committed to further enhancing The 2021 NAMM Show (January 21–24) with new programs and experiences, while remaining the steady, reliable platform for our global industry. We anticipate that January will provide the perfect time for the industry to convene, refocus, reengage, and reimagine across the crossroads to take advantage of the new business opportunities that will arise. To learn more, please visit https://www.namm.org/exhibit/wn21.
What steps will be taken to update health and safety protocols at future shows?
When we meet again, know that we will be working with partners including the Anaheim Convention Center and the Music City Center to implement additional precautions and protocols and ensure the health and safety of all in attendance. We will be following all guidelines set forth by the CDC and state and local health authorities.
Questions
What if I have other questions?
Exhibitors: please contact your Tradeshow Account Representative at (760) 438-8001 or [email protected].
Attendees: please contact your membership support team at (760) 438-8001 or [email protected].
Thank you for your support of the industry and NAMM!
More information about all aspects of the Summer NAMM cancellation is addressed in a special FAQ page – https://www.namm.org/summer/2020/articles/summer-namm-faq
