NAMM steps up to aid Nashville flood victims

In the wake of the recent Nashville flood and ongoing recovery efforts, NAMM, the 109-year-old trade association of the international music products industry, announced today how the association and the music products industry will aid the ongoing relief efforts during its upcoming annual summer music product trade show called Summer NAMM. NAMM and the industry will assist the relief efforts as follows:

1. Moving forward with the Summer NAMM event as planned at the Nashville Convention Center, June 18-20, 2010. Gathering the international music products industry in Nashville will bring a much-needed estimated $13 million to the local economy during this difficult time.

2. NAMM will host a MusiCares® booth at Summer NAMM, where a silent instrument auction will be held. Proceeds will benefit the MusiCares Nashville Flood Relief fund, providing aid to local Nashville-area musicians and their families who were impacted by the floods. NAMM Members wishing to donate instruments for this should stop by this booth or send an e-mail to jefffl@namm.org. 100 percent of the proceeds generated from this auction will directly benefit local flood victims.

3. NAMM will also host an instrument donation booth at the show run by the Nashville Musicians Association, AFM Local 257. Donated products should be undamaged and in usable condition. The Nashville Musicians Association is also taking flood relief donations on their Web site www.nashvillemusicians.org

4. NAMM is working with Next Big Nashville, American Songwriter magazine, the Nashville Musicians Association and Musicares on a program called “The BIG Gear Giveback” where NAMM vendors, gear companies and compassionate musicians will have the opportunity to donate gear to working musicians who lost the tools of their livelihood during the Nashville Flood. The association will be celebrating this effort with a special concert event at Hard Rock Cafe in Nashville on Friday, June 18, 2010. As a special thank you from NAMM, all donors at this event will also receive a wristband to attend the Summer NAMM trade show as part of a special event called "Wanna Play Music Sunday." For more information, please visit www.namm.org/wannaplaysunday

"Our prayers and support continue to go out to the people of Nashville who have been affected by this natural disaster," said Joe Lamond, president and CEO, NAMM. "For years, the Nashville community has embraced NAMM and our members with great Southern hospitality and open arms. And now, when they need help the most, our industry is grateful for the opportunity to give back."