Thanks for joining us again as we jump back in to 2024!
With the summer in full swing, and the holidays on the horizon, July is typically a quiet month, but not for MIA members! Barnes & Mullins introduced the Trevor James ‘EVO’ Saxophones to their catalogue. These saxophones are a perfect blend of exceptional tonal quality and affordability, designed for advanced students and intermediate players. The 2024 TJ ‘EVO’ model builds upon the respected ‘SR’ and the professional TJ ‘Signature Custom’ series, offering a remarkable instrument that caters to both advancing students and seasoned saxophonists.
There is a new face in the pre-owned gear marketplace, and these guys are changing the way we shop for used instruments. reSound, co-Founded by FinTech entrepreneur Evan Michaels and MI veteran Lee Alexander, are a next-generation marketplace for pre-owned and refurbished musical instruments and audio equipment. reSound are revolutionising the pre-owned musical instrument market whilst promoting sustainability.
“Our vision is to create a next-generation intelligent marketplace that redefines how musical instruments are bought and sold,” said Evan Michaels, CEO of reSound. “We aim to make great musical instruments accessible and affordable, empowering musicians young and old to find their sound and inspiration.”
Fender announced the arrival of the Player II Series, the long-awaited update to Fender’s best-selling electric series, the Player Series. These guitars are designed for musicians ready to take the next step in their creative journey, they superceded the Mexican Standard and have taken budget guitars to new heights.
Since its inception in 2018, the Player Series has shown nearly 30% consecutive year-over-year growth globally and holds rank as Fender’s best-selling range of electric guitars of all time due to its accessible features that both capture the imagination of new players and satisfy the demands of more experienced guitarists alike.
Following a decades-long friendship with the Garnier family, the team behind amplification specialists Ashdown Engineering established Algam Ashdown, the British arm of the highly successful pan-European music products and event technology distribution company.
Along with Ashdown Engineering, UK dealers now have access to a full range of Algam brands, including Lâg guitars, currently the best-selling acoustic guitar line in France, as well as SML Paris, renowned for its wind instruments, Pleyel Home Audio, Pleyel Pianos, Yellow Cable & Parts, and Tobago gig bags.
On August 20th Headline Audio announced that they will be the exclusive distributor for Solid State Logic (SSL) in the UK and Republic of Ireland. A partnership resulting from a meeting of minds, passions, and a shared commitment to the music that moves us all and the product that helps us create it.
SSL has been at the heart of the music recording industry for over 40 years, setting the gold standard of studio recording. Headline Audio are about bringing brands to life by connecting people with the tools that inspire creativity and help shape the music of tomorrow.
Novation launced the fourth generation of their widely acclaimed Launchkey range of MIDI keyboard controllers.
The new Launchkey is designed to provide the most detailed DAW integration of any Launchkey to date, offering in-depth hands-on control of all major DAWs, as well as a totally overhauled suite of creative tools.
September kicked off with a bang as the arrival of Spira Guitars, a sister company to Jet Guitars, was announced. Designed from the ground up for the rock and modern metal player, Spira Guitars are all about high performance and sleek, modern aesthetics whilst offering unprecedented value.
Spira believe that every player deserves an instrument that both inspires them and that they can depend on whether playing at home, on the road or in the studio.
Featuring a number of 6 and 7 string models, every Spira guitar is equipped with premium hardware, custom designed Villain high-output pickups, and crafted using top-tier materials, making them ideal for both aspiring and seasoned players.
Guitars signed by Sir Cliff Richard OBE raised over £900 when auctioned on Tuesday September 3rd 2024 at Gardiner Houlgate in Bath, UK, one of the country’s premier auctioneers.
These unique acoustic instruments are amongst scores donated from the Vintage guitar brand owned and distributed in the UK by JHS, and mark over four thousand guitars given away by Guitar Aid based in Exeter, Devon in the UK, raising funds for the charity’s worldwide missionary work, enabling Christian musicians, worship groups, and church communities, many in underprivileged areas, to praise God with quality instruments.
We also posted an informative and inspiring article called “Influencer Marketing Strategies for Music Businesses”, written for MIA members by Thea Paraskevaides of ARTISTS&. You can check the article out here, it’s full of great insights around the role that influencers can play in your marketing strategy.
Another year, another budget, this time from a Labour government. And it didn’t really make comfortable reading for many. With the headline being ‘£40 billion in tax rises’ it is unsurprising that a vast majority of people will be impacted by this year’s budget statement. Clearly the largest burden of these changes will fall on commerce and as such MI businesses will not escape unscathed.
Increased National Insurance contributions and a rise in minimum wage mean many are heading into the new year a little unsure of what the future holds.
Wide-ranging brands and a symphony of innovation elevated the 21st edition of Music China, which attracted 119,083 visitors from 105 countries and regions and saw a 10% increase in overseas buyers compared to last year. The fair closed on 13 October, after welcoming over 1,800 exhibitors from 26 countries and regions for four days of international business at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre.
On the 17th October, MIA members gathered at The Rose Shure Experience Centre in London for a transformative day of sales training at our sold-out event, Level Up, hosted in partnership with industry experts at Get The Edge Training.
This event offered a highly interactive, personalised experience designed to refine sales techniques and build confidence for both new and seasoned sales professionals. Based on attendee feedback, the day more than delivered on its promise!
We started working with the British Retail Consortium (BRC) to respond to the recent Budget Statement by Chancellor Rachel Reeves.
As a trade association that represents a great many Retailers, the MIA has been concerned about a number of changes due to be implemented by the Treasury in April of next year. The impact on the sector could well be considerable as a ‘triple-whammy’ of extra-costs was announced; namely the reduction of Business Rate Relief for the Retail Sector, the increase in Employer National Insurance Contributions and the rise in the cost of employment due to the increase in the National Minimum Wage.
We also launched the MIA Net Zero Transition Plan. We’ve all heard the term “Net Zero” thrown around, but how many of us truly understand what it means, what the goals are, and, most importantly, what actions we can take to help achieve it?
Achieving Net Zero status was set out by the UK government in the 2017 revision to the Climate Change Act, setting the 2050 target date in law. As a minimum, we all need to be aiming to achieve this, but without time to dedicate to researching this topic it is difficult to know where to start.
MIA board member and Focusrite’s Head of Sustainability, Andy Land, has developed the MIA Net Zero Transition Plan – a comprehensive guide designed and written specifically for MIA members to help create an effective Transition Plan for your music industry business; whether you’re a retailer, a supplier or a manufacturer.
The end of November also saw MIA General Manager, Alice, head off on maternity leave! We’re all super excited for her and her incoming bundle of joy, and wish her all the best at this really exciting time!
Friday 13th, unlucky for some, and the date on which the new EU General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR) took effect. The GPSR requires that all consumer products sold in EU markets are safe and it establishes specific obligations for businesses throughout the supply chain, to ensure it.
We held a Drop-In, hosted an article on Sheep (which you can read here) and posted across the web and socials to try and communicate as much advice and support as we could.
With NAMM planning in full swing, we were pleased to announce an exciting opportunity to network with other UK attendees, and members of the MIA & NAMM Organisation & Board.
Commencing at 5pm on Thursday 23rd January, and lasting approximately an hour, you will have the chance to enjoy some refreshments and connect with representatives from NAMM, as well as Ant (MIA Executive Director) and other UK attendees. Full details, and a link to confirm your space, can be found here.
We rounded out the year with a special selection of “Industry Voices – Under the Christmas Tree Lights”. Featuring interviews with some MIA members who have had really impressive years, they offered great insight into the inner workings of the MI, plus we asked the festive questions everyone wants to know!
What a year! We’d like to thanks all our members and those who we have worked with and engaged with in 2024, here’s to a successful and profitable 2025 for all of you!
