And just like that, it’s 2025, time flies when you’re having fun, right? Before we dive head first into another year of opportunity, excitement and evolution, we wanted to take a moment to look back at the stories and experiences that made 2024 such an important year.
It certainly had its challenges, but amongst all the chaos that comes with a new government, a cost of living crisis and a myriad of other potential potholes, were some moments of real success and celebration. So join us as we go back, month by month, through 2024!
For the first time since that fateful pandemic era, the NAMM Show, the highlight of the trade show calendar, returned to its rightful place at the end of January. Several of our members were displaying, bringing some really impressive and innovative products to market. Highlights included Ashdown Amplification’s new Rootmaster Evo III amps and Elizabeth line of home audio solutions. Blackstar introduced the ID:CORE V4 range, while Faith Guitars debuted the Blue Moon Mercury on the world stage.
Some high profile acquisitions took place in January as British microphone brand Sontronics entered into a new era following its acquisition by audio solutions company, 2B Heard Limited. John Packer Musical Instruments, the UK-based musical instrument retailer and manufacturer, announced the acquisition of renowned UK manufacturer, Michael Rath Trombones, further strengthening their position as market leaders in brass and woodwind instruments.
Rounding out a great month was the incredible news that Focusrite Chairman and Founder, Phil Dudderidge received the honour of Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to Business and to the Music Industry in the New Years Honours List. This commendation is in recognition of the incredible contribution he has made to the professional audio industry over several decades.
February marked the 30th anniversary of Warwick Music Publishing. The wind and brass publishing specialists started in 1994 with just one piece of music: a previously undiscovered work by Gustav Holst for Trombone and Organ. Now, more than 2,000 publications later, Warwick Music Publishing is continuing to share the gift of brass and wind with musicians across the globe.
We worked with the incredible Music For All, to try and draw attention to the great work they do opening up opportunities to experience and enjoy music for people who might otherwise miss out. Music for All relies solely on charitable donations for their work; over the past five years the charity has awarded over £300,000 in cash grants, donated hundreds of instruments and equipment to individuals, community groups and educational establishments, and provided free Learn to Play experiences for thousands of people, highlighting the sparsity of musical opportunities and encouraging access and involvement regardless of circumstances.
In February we celebrated the life of an industry titan, Paul Brett. Paul, one of the world’s most famous twelve string acoustic guitar players, led a life steeped in the music business. A noted and immensely talented guitar player of more than five decades, he performed and recorded with an endless selection of rock’n’roll luminaries. He was a music industry guru and influencer, a journalist, a prolific collector of art and memorabilia and an avid collector and world leading expert in vintage guitars.
March got off to a storming start with The Guitar Show ‘24 welcoming more brands and visitors than ever before. The undoubted highlight of the UK guitar calendar, this year’s show featured an additional 30 exhibitors attended compared to 2023, when the event moved to Cranmore Park from central Birmingham. And the number of visitors increased by 12%, with an even spread over the whole weekend.
Together for Music, the fully inclusive music festival for young people in the UK, took place at Bristol Beacon on 18th March as part of the nationwide Music for Youth festival. This pilot event celebrated creativity and music-making of all abilities, welcoming young people from D/deaf, neurodivergent and disabled communities.
Following on from the MIA AGM earlier in March, the newly elected MIA Board were introduced! You can read about all 17 Board Members on our ‘Meet the Team’ page here.
On this year’s Earth Day, the Focusrite Group announced that it had achieved the prestigious Ecologi ‘For Our Planet’ Gold Award, and had committed to setting science-based emission reduction targets through the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), underscoring its dedicated efforts towards sustainability and climate action.
In Northampton, UK, the experienced team of valve engineers at Blackstar launched the latest incarnation of the award-winning HT valve amps – the MK III Series. The HT line has been considered the best-in-class for compact valve amplifiers and for over a decade has given guitarists the best solution for getting big valve amp tones onto recordings and for home practice in a small, portable format.
As part of the National Plan for Music Education (NPME), the Department for Education announced £25m of capital funding for musical instruments, equipment, and technology specifically for music-making purposes to benefit children and young people. The intention of this fund is to increase the volume, range, and accessibility of instruments, equipment, and technology available to children and young people, including those with special educational needs or disabilities, and to support Music Hubs in delivering against the aims expressed for them in the NPME.
As we headed into the summer months, Strings and Things announced that industry veteran Robin Crocker would be retiring after 20 years with the Lancing based company. Robin joined Strings and Things in 2003, having started his musical career with Trevor James. Initially managing the workshop, he advanced to Sales Representative and then General Manager. After a brief stint managing Octave Above in Huddersfield, he joined Strings and Things, where he spent the remainder of his career. Robin served the company in several roles before settling in the sales office as Account Manager for the North and Ireland.
The UK Gospel music scene is poised for a revolution as a pioneering new initiative was announced to introduce groundbreaking qualifications for accomplished gospel singers and musicians. Until now, the proficiency and level of musicianship amongst gospel professionals has not been recognised outside of gospel circles. Therefore, to drive change, the international Awarding Organisation, RSL Awards, and the Gospel Music Industry Alliance, GMIA, have partnered to release an exciting new initiative created to award these standards of excellence.
Casio Music UK, one of the world’s most renowned producers of electronic keyboards and digital pianos, announced the return of Casio Sessions, its popular singer-songwriter competition for aspiring piano-playing musicians! Building on the success of last year, Casio raised the bar even higher, giving a new group of talented individuals the chance to showcase their musical abilities for the chance to win an incredible prize; a Casio PX-S7000 piano, worth £2,249 plus an exclusive mastering studio session for their winning song, with the song then pressed to a limited run of vinyl records – courtesy of competition partner and physical music manufacturer Breed Media. Crispin Burton and Dilettante were joint, and very worthy, winners.
Reverb, the largest online marketplace dedicated to buying and selling used and new musical instruments, announced that its sellers saw continued growth in Q1 2024, outpacing every quarter of 2023. This success is part of a larger trend that has seen sales on Reverb increase by nearly 50% since 2020, fueled by demand for used and outlet music gear.
Hidersine, in collaboration with ESTA UK launched a new suite of violin technique video resources for students and teachers. Presented by representatives from the European String Teachers Association, UK, Nicole Wilson (Professor of Violin at the Royal Academy of Music) and Joanne Green (Musical Specialist at Well Cathedral School and member of the Scottish Ensemble) lead a comprehensive series of instructional videos designed for both violinists and violin teachers.
Orange Learn, the educational arm of Orange Amps, introduced its latest educational initiative, designed to make music education accessible to everyone. From June 3, Orange Learn offers its guitar and vocal music courses entirely free of charge, providing students worldwide with open access to high-quality content.
With a commitment to inclusivity and accessibility, Orange Learn recognises the importance of breaking down barriers to education. By offering free music courses, the platform aims to empower aspiring musicians, regardless of their background or financial means, to pursue their passion and hone their skills.
Following a successful pilot programme in Manchester, Casio Music UK and Manchester City footballer and piano player Nathan Aké officially launched ‘Playing for Change’ – a groundbreaking donation project aimed at improving music education provision in disadvantaged schools and colleges nationwide across the UK.
The pilot programme, launched in February, saw the donation of ten Casio CDP-S110 pianos to six schools across Manchester, with Nathan personally delivering two of the instruments to East Manchester Academy, located in one of the city’s most deprived areas. The overwhelming success of the pilot has spurred Casio and Nathan to expand ‘Playing for Change’ nationwide, with the goal of donating even more digital pianos to schools or colleges in need over the next year. ‘Playing for Change’ will now see the donation of two digital pianos per month for one year to UK-registered education institutions.
Check back tomorrow for Part 2 of our Year in Review!
