NAMM's Believe in Music Week, January 18-22, 2021

The NAMM Show, seen here in January 2020, is being held
as a virtual event this year.

 With the pandemic still very much impacting people around the globe, the NAMM Show was not able to be held in Anaheim this week. But the good news is that NAMM's Believe in Music Week begins today and a full schedule of events and resources are available online...Here is the official media release below (and I'll be posting updates throughout the week everyone!)

The Rickenbacker booth as seen at the NAMM Show in Anaheim, CA, 
in pre-pandemic times in January 2019. 
Photo: Robert Kinsler

THE 2021 NAMM ‘BELIEVE IN MUSIC’ WEEK VIRTUAL EVENT BEING HELD JANUARY 18-22, 2021

 

FREE to all Music Makers, Artist appearances include Garth Brooks, Melissa Etheridge, Dave Navarro, The Go-Go’s, deadmau5, Orianthi and more

Melissa Etheridge performing at Doheny Blues Festival
in Dana Point, CA on May 21, 2017.
Photo: Bob Steshetz

 

 

Guitar great Orianthi performing in
Anaheim in March 2010.

Grammy Award-winning Composer and Pioneer of the Virtual Choir Eric Whitacre to Discuss Virtual Music Making with Grammy Winner Imogen Heap

 

Grand Rally for Music Education Presents L.A. Philharmonic’s Gustavo Dudamel, soprano Renée Fleming, Dr. Nina Kraus

Music Education Programs and Interactive Marketplace Designed to Elevate the Innovation and Inspiration Found Across the Industry While Offering Support for Those Most Deeply Affected by COVID

 

WHAT: NAMM’S BELIEVE IN MUSIC WEEK - The online global gathering to unify and support the people who bring music to the world

 

        WHEN:   Monday, January 18 - Friday, January 22, 2021

 

HIGHLIGHTS           Wednesday, 1/20

                                    6AM PT - Global Livestream: Over 40 emerging and established artists from 23 countries and six continentswill come together for 12-hours of livestream concert performances in a musical celebration at NAMM’s Believe in Music week Global Livestream.

 

4PM PT - Believe in Music Product Preview - Featuring a compilation of videos from innovative companies including C.F. Martin & Co., Roland, Yamaha, Avid, Gibson, Shure and more, highlighting their new products through demos, videos, and interviews.

 

Thursday, 1/21

9AM PT - Opening Session featuring seven-time CMA "Entertainer of the Year” Garth Brooks, who will receive NAMM’s "Music for Life" award, which recognizes individuals or organizations for their musical accomplishments and inspiring more music makers.

 

2PM PT - Worldful of Pianos will debut and be live on BelieveinMusic.tv and pianists from around the world are invited to register to join the performance.

 

Friday, 1/22

9AM PT - Opening Session featuring hit song maker Melissa Etheridge, one of music's great female icons, who will discuss reinvention in the time of COVID and her new venture, EtheridgeTV.com. Etheridge, will receive NAMM’s "Music for Life" award.

 

2PM PT - The 36^th Annual NAMM TEC Awards celebrating the best in professional audio and sound production.

 

6:30PM PT - She Rocks Awards honoring women in the music & audio industries. Honorees include Nancy Wilson, The Go-Go’s, Cherie Currie; drummer Cindy Blackman Santana, Evanescence front woman Amy Lee, comedian Margaret Cho, and more.

 

Throughout the week - More than 200 professional development and training sessions for all sectors of the music products, pro audio and entertainment technology industries.

 

GIVE BACK:  Twelve nonprofit organizations to benefit from matching donation program, including The CMA Foundation, HBCU National Band Directors’ Consortium, Music for All, Showmakers, and others.

 

REGISTER FREE to music makers everywhere! Visit https://attend.believeinmusic.tv/ to begin registration.

"Music Worth Buying" co-hosts TJR, left, and Robert Kinsler
at the NAMM Show in January 2020.

Garth Brooks and Melissa Etheridge to be honored by NAMM during 'Believe in Music Week'

 Here is a timely media release in connection with the upcoming Believe in Music Week being presented by NAMM next month...

Garth Brooks and Melissa Etheridge to be Honored With The Music for Life Award at NAMM'S Believe in Music Week    - Global gathering to start each morning featuring luminaries who have inspired and evolved during the pandemic –

CARLSBAD, Calif. – December 28, 2020 – NAMM is pleased to announce that at Believe in Music week, multi-platinum, GRAMMY® award winners Garth Brooks and Melissa Etheridge will be the recipients of the organization's "Music for Life" award. The annual award will be presented at the opening interview sessions on Thursday, January 21 and Friday, January 22, 2021, and recognizes individuals or organizations for their musical accomplishments and inspiring more music makers.    “NAMM Members are often the folks behind the scenes, creating the tools and technologies that artists use to bring their voice and music to the world. And as kindred musical spirits, we were particularly inspired by this year’s Music for Life recipients for their enduring commitment to musical excellence. When the pandemic disrupted everything, the honorees found new and creative ways to connect and encourage others when it was needed the most,” shares Joe Lamond, NAMM President and CEO.   On Thursday, January 21, Brooks will join Lamond for a conversation about adapting in uncertain times and his storied career — Brooks is a seven-time CMA "Entertainer of the Year," a first for any artist, and is the first and only artist in history to receive nine Diamond Awards for the now nine albums certified by the RIAA at more than 10 million album sales each. He remains the No. 1-selling solo artist in U.S. history, certified by the RIAA with 157 million album sales. Last March, Brooks received the esteemed Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song. In 2019, Pollstar announced that The Garth Brooks Stadium Tour was the best-selling country music tour of 2019. In 2017, Brooks finished the three-and-a-half-year long Garth Brooks World Tour with Trisha Yearwood. The tour sold more than 6.3 million tickets, making it the biggest North American tour in history and the biggest American tour in the world.    Earlier this year, Billboard announced that Brooks was the first artist to make it on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in the 1980s, '90s, '00s, '10s and now '20s, with "Dive Bar," a duet he sang with Blake Shelton. Amid tour cancellations, Brooks launched "Inside Studio G," a weekly Facebook Live series from his home studio. It airs every Monday on his Facebook page at 7:00 p.m. EST.   On Friday, January 22, Melissa Etheridge, one of music's great female icons, will join Lamond for an interview and discussion about reinvention in the time of COVID and her new venture, EtheridgeTV.com. Etheridge's popularity is built around such memorable songs as "Bring Me Some Water," "No Souvenirs" and "Ain't It Heavy," for which she won her first Grammy for "Best Female Rock Vocal." Etheridge hit her commercial and artistic stride in 1993 with her fourth album, Yes I Am, featuring the massive hits "I'm the Only One" and "Come to My Window," a searing song of longing that brought her a second Grammy and went six-times platinum. In 2007, Etheridge celebrated a career milestone with a victory in the "Best Song" category at the Academy® Awards for "I Need to Wake Up," written for the Al Gore documentary on global warming, An Inconvenient Truth.   On October 7, 2016, Etheridge released Memphis Rock & Soul, her first album since 2014's critically lauded This Is M.E. Recorded at Royal Studios in Memphis, the album received stellar reviews from the likes of Entertainment Weekly, Parade, Rolling Stone, American Songwriter and more. She followed that up with the April 2019 release of The Medicine Show, an album that addressed the universal themes of renewal, reconciliation, reckoning, compassion and, most profoundly, healing.    In June, Etheridge launched her own live streaming subscription and single ticket concert platform, Etheridge TV. Etheridge plays five unique shows Tuesday-Saturday at 3:00 p.m. PT and has done over 200 live streams in 2020.That same month, Etheridge also announced the launch of The Etheridge Foundation. Through the foundation, the singer said she hopes to raise money to support healthy new research into the causes and effects of opioid addiction.    Brooks and Etheridge join past recipients of the "Music for Life" award musicians, including Graham Nash, Stevie Wonder, Yoko Ono, Henry Mancini, Bob Weir, Nancy Wilson and, in 2020, Jason Mraz, among others. The award is traditionally given each January during the global music, pro audio and entertainment technology gathering, The NAMM Show, held in Anaheim, California.    Brooks and Etheridge interviews will join a growing roster of artist interviews at Believe in Music week from among the likes of Chick Corea, Deadmau5, Diane Warren, Jackson Browne, Lzzy Hale and others. In total, Believe in Music week will offer 150-plus interviews; professional development and training sessions for all sectors of the music products, pro audio and entertainment technology industries; and NAMM Foundation education for music educators and administrators, nonprofit professionals and college-aged students and faculty, among others. Education and training tracks include Business, Audio Production and Technology, Entertainment Technology and Artists, as well as others.  Believe in Music week (January 18, 2021) is the online, global gathering to unite and support the people who bring music to the world. To register for free or to learn more, please visit https://attend.believeinmusic.tv

Sights and Sounds: The Mavericks, Melissa Etheridge, Sammy Hagar

Here is a roundup of today's early news releases...

The Mavericks celebrate their 30th Anniversary in 2019. A number of concert dates have just been announced. Additionally, Mavericks singer-guitarist Raul Malo has also announced a number of solo dates, including a Friday, May 10 date at the legendary Coach House in San Juan Capistrano, CA. Here is some of the information in this morning's announcement from the band:

NEW DATES…AND MANY MORE TO BE ANNOUNCED! As many of you know, 2019 marks the 30^th year of The Mavericks since our inception in 1989... We’ve mentioned it in a few of our shows this year, and are most excited to announce a proper 30^th Anniversary Tour, which will highlight music made from every album and incarnation of the band! The live show will be a bit different from what you may have seen in the past, and we know you’re going to love it! 

For more information, visit themavericksband.com.

GRAMMY and Oscar-winning, multi-platinum artist Melissa Etheridge shares her new song and video for “Wild and Lonely,” the latest track from her forthcoming album The Medicine Show, out April 12 via Concord Records. The new track is available now; watch the video here. In the video, fans get a taste of this new material performed live with footage captured on Melissa’s recent UK dates, ahead of her U.S. tour kicking off March 29 (dates below). Pre-order The Medicine Show here.

With “Wild and Lonely,” Etheridge found herself exploring themes of her past, but with a new perspective. The song is about wanting to break out of routines and reach for the extraordinary -- “an angry craving seeps into my skin,” she sings. Melissa explains, “that was like Old School Melissa. It’s fun for me to play with ‘me’ now, for 57-year-old Melissa to play with the angst. The whole song is about being on the road, being hungry, wanting.”

Paired with the title track, “Wild and Lonely” fully sets the tone for the album, sonically and emotionally. She continues, “I wanted the album to have a sound, a feel,” she says. ‘Wild and Lonely’ really dialed that in for me…the song is a perfect example of the sound I wanted.”

The release of “Wild and Lonely” follows “Faded By Design,” the first single to be unveiled from The Medicine Show, which had its premiere exclusively with Rolling Stone, who called it “a proud declaration of resilience.” For this new album, her 15th studio recording, Melissa was reunited with celebrated producer John Shanks (Keith Urban, Bon Jovi, Kelly Clarkson), and the music was recorded largely live in studio, capturing the raw emotion of the material.

Since the release of her unforgettable self-titled 1988 debut, Melissa Etheridge’s incredible career to date includes sales of over 25 million albums, 5 platinum and 3 multi-platinum records, 15 GRAMMY Award nominations and 2 wins, a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and an Academy Award for “I Need to Wake Up” from the climate change documentary An Inconvenient Truth. Her last release, MEmphis Rock & Soul, debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Blues Chart. Melissa has selflessly dedicated herself as an activist for human rights, LGBTQ issues, breast cancer awareness and alternative medical approaches. 

MELISSA ETHERIDGE U.S. TOUR DATES

*Meet and Greets are available for more information go to MelissaEtheridge.com

3/29/19 Bonita Springs, FL - Southwest Florida Event Center

3/30/19 Bonita Springs, FL - Southwest Florida Event Center

4/10/19 New York, NY - The Town Hall

4/13/19 Montclair, NJ - Wellmont Theater

4/14/19 Lynn, MA - Lynn Veteran's Memorial Auditorium

4/17/18 Los Angeles, CA - Troubadour

4/19/19 Stateline, NV - Harrah's Lake Tahoe - South Shore Room

4/20/19 West Wendover, NV - Peppermill Concert Hall

4/23/19 New Braunfels, TX - Gruene Hall

4/24/19 Irving, TX - The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory with Liz Phair

4/25/19 Catoosa, OK - Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa - The Joint

4/27/19 Lake Charles, LA - Golden Nugget Lake Charles

4/28/19 New Orleans, LA - Saenger Theatre with Liz Phair

4/30/19 Chattanooga, TN - Walker Theater

5/1/19 Augusta, GA - Miller Theater

5/2/19 Durham, NC - Carolina Theatre of Durham

5/3/19 Virginia Beach, VA - Sandler Center

5/6/19 Lancaster, PA - American Music Theatre

5/8/19 Springfield, OH - Clark State Performing Arts Center

5/9/19 Jim Thorpe, PA - Penn's Peak

5/11/19 Plymouth, MA - Plymouth Memorial Hall

5/12/19 Portland, ME - State Theatre

6/20/19 Des Moines, IA - Hoyt Sherman Place

6/25/19 Vienna, VA - Wolf Trap with Pat Benatar Neil Geraldo and Liz Phair

6/29/19 Webster, MA - Indian Ranch

6/30/19 New York, NY – Times Square - World Pride Closing Ceremony

7/4/19 Elk Grove Village, IL - Elk Grove Village Mid-Summer Classics Concert Series

7/8/19 Boulder, CO – Chautauqua Auditorium

7/13/19 Chandler, AZ - Chandler Center for the Arts

Website

Instagram

Facebook

Twitter

YouTube

AXS TV announced today (Tuesday, March 19, 2019) the return of the popular music interview series Rock & Roll Road Trip With Sammy Hagar Presented By Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood, FL, premiering Sunday, May 5 at 8 p.m. ET. The new season features episodes with Willie Nelson, REO Speedwagon, Rick Springfield, Robby Krieger, Cheech & Chong, Charlie Daniels and more.

The star-studded guest list includes Country legend Willie Nelson; as well as Rick Springfield in a special episode shot on location at his home; multi-platinum rockers REO Speedwagon; celebrity chef/TV Host Guy Fieri; renowned comedy duo Cheech & Chong; Country Music Hall of Famer Charlie Daniels; stock car superstar—and seven-time NASCAR champion— Jimmie Johnson; groundbreaking Doors guitarist Robby Krieger; blues rock revolutionary Joe Bonamassa; and a special drummers episode with prolific percussionists Kenny Aronoff, Sheila E.and Jason Bonham,who gives an exclusive insider’s look at the making of his new album.  

As part of AXS TV’s partnership with the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood, FL, the network will present a series of weekly vignettes covering the latest in music news and information in the Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood Music Minute , covering everything from concert tour dates and artist announcements, to music festival news and profiles of up-and-coming artists. Additionally, the series will highlight events at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood, FL, while taking viewers behind the scenes on the venue’s storied grounds, which includes the renowned Rock Vault—the temporary home to Hagar’s trademark checkered suit worn during his performance with Van Halen at the 1992 VMAs. The iconic ensemble is now on display along the marble-floored concourse of the newly opened casino at the resort, right next to David Bowie’s “Glass Spider” red suit, which he wore during the 1987 tour.

Willie Nelson, left, with Sammy Hagar.
Photo courtesy of AXS TV.

“I am so proud to be able to host this wild and crazy show for a fourth season,” Hagar said. “This is pure fun for me, getting to go around just hanging out and playing music with some of my favorite people in the world. It’s humbling to see that our viewers dig it as much as I do. I’m excited to keep this party going!”

“Sammy Hagar is the quintessential rockstar—simultaneously larger-than-life and incredibly down-to-earth,” said Evan Haiman, AXS TV’s vice president of music programming and production. “He hasn’t just lived through rock history, he’s made rock history, and the deep passion he has for music resonates in every episode. AXS TV is proud to welcome the popular series back for a fourth season, packed with even more of the candid conversations and all-star jam sessions that our viewers love.”

“As one of the most iconic entertainment venues on the planet, it made perfect sense for Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood to partner with Sammy Hagar and AXS TV as the presenting sponsor for the Rock & Roll Road Trip series.  Our culture is built on music, having fun and being a little irreverent on occasion. Most of the celebrities that Sammy interviews on the show will most likely have visited or performed at one of our Hard Rock venues,” said Auggie Cipollini, president of Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood. “This is going to be a great partnership and we are thrilled that we have the opportunity to showcase Rock & Roll history and today’s most interesting celebrities to such a passionate and loyal audience.”  

Rock & Roll Road Trip with Sammy Hagar Presented by Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood, FL is produced in-house by AXS TV. Tom Consolo, Evan Haiman, Kari Hagar, and Sammy Hagar all serve as executive producers. The series is produced by Stephen Stormer.

About SAMMY HAGAR

Sammy Hagar  is a Grammy®-winning singer and songwriter who has sold more than 80 million albums during his four decades as a solo artist and frontman for bands including Montrose, Van Halen, Chickenfoot and The Circle. He was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame with Van Halen in 2007, is also a #1 New York Times bestselling author, host of the TV series “Rock & Roll Road Trip with Sammy Hagar,” restaurateur and spirits entrepreneur. He turned his love for Cabo San Lucas, Mexico and hand-crafted tequila into an empire with the Cabo Wabo Cantinas and Tequila and has since added nine restaurants throughout the United States, the award-winning Sammy’s Beach Bar Rum, and in 2017 launched a new spirit, Santo Mezquila.

About AXS TV

Launched in July 2012 by visionary entrepreneur CEO Mark Cuban, AXS TV delivers the ultimate in music entertainment programming with an eclectic lineup that includes classic concerts from music's most iconic bands, as well as exclusive music festival coverage, original hit series, docs that rock, insightful specials, and knock-out live mixed martial arts and wrestling action. AXS TV is a partnership between Cuban, AEG, Ryan Seacrest Media, Creative Artists Agency (CAA) and CBS. The network is available nationally in the United States and can be seen in parts of Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean. For a list of providers, visit axs.tv/subscribe . For more information, see  www.axs.tv and www.axs.tv/press . Follow AXS TV on  Facebook, Twitter   @axstv  and Instagram . Press information is available at axstvmediacenter.com .

About Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood

Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood is the flagship casino resort of Hard Rock International, owned by the Seminole Tribe of Florida.  It is  a world-renowned entertainment, gaming and hospitality destination that features a AAA Four Diamond-rated luxury hotel; expansive gaming offerings including first-in-class slots, high-stakes table games and South Florida’s premier poker room; spa and fitness center; award-winning dining and nightlife; and the popular Hard Rock Event Center which hosts A-list entertainers, comedy and sporting events. A $1.5 billion expansion slated to open in fall 2019 will bring 638 luxury guestrooms to a first-ever, iconic, guitar-shaped hotel and 167 upscale guest accommodations in an adjacent hotel tower overlooking a lush, “Bora Bora” style, private cabana  environment ; a 42,000 square-foot Rock Spa®; a 13.5 acre recreationalwater - focused experience for sunbathing, swimming , kayaking, sailing and paddle boarding; 21 distinctive  restaurants, bars and lounges; an expanded gaming floor featuring 3,100 slots, 193 table games and a 45-table poker room; 120,000 square feet of premier meeting and convention space; and 26,000 square feet of new retail space.  The highly anticipated 6,500 seat Hard Rock Live theater-style  concert venue will feature headline performances and live broadcast capabilities.  The resort is located on 87 acres of the Hollywood Seminole  Reservation along  State Road 7, (U.S. Highway 441). The resort is 10 minutes from Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport and 30 minutes from downtown Miami and Miami International Airport. For more information, visit us online at www.seminolehardrockhollywood. com , call 800-937-0010 or follow us:

Facebook: SeminoleHardRockHollywood, Twitter: @HardRockHolly, Instagram: @HardRockHolly

NAMM Show: In-depth discussion featuring TJR, Robert Kinsler and photographer Bob Steshetz

Watch the in-depth look at the 2018 NAMM Show featuring TJR, Robert Kinsler and Bob Steshetz videotaped during the event.

The discussion ranges from some key performances and artist sightings to new instruments introduced at the music show:

She Rocks Awards 2018 Celebrates Outstanding Women in Music

Photo credit: Ron Lyon

NAMM 2018: The Sixth Annual She Rocks Awards Celebrates Outstanding Women in the Music Industry

Melissa Etheridge, members of The B-52s, and many other musicians and audio industry professionals honored at prestigious event

Melissa Etheridge on Jan. 26, 2018.
Photo credit: Brandon Daza

Exene Cervenka of the band X.
Photo credit: Kevin Graft

Anaheim, CA, January 29, 2018 ––The sixth annual She Rocks Awards rocked the House of Blues Anaheim on January 26, 2018. Hosted by the Women’s International Music Network (the WiMN), the gala celebration featured a star studded array of honorees that included Melissa Etheridge, Kate Pierson & Cindy Wilson of The B-52s, Exene Cervenka of X and members of the pioneering all-female rock band Fanny, as well many other women from all corners of the music and audio industry.

Featured performers Command Sisters delivered an upbeat B-52s medley that had the house singing along. The evening also included the premiere of a new song by WiMN founder Laura B. Whitmore and recording artist Jenna Paone called, “Just a Girl,” along with a moving video that delivered a message encouraging girls to dream big. Laura B. Whitmore co-hosted along with Kat Corbett of LA radio station KROQ. 

Other highlights included a fantastic performance of the Etheridge hit “Come to My Window” by Laura Clapp, and Olivia Rox’s rendition of the Pat Benatar anthem “Invincible.” Alaska Reid of Alyeska interpreted X’s hit “Breathless” with sultry abandon. Members of the pioneering rock band Fanny shared their new project, Fanny Walked the Earth, with a preview of their upcoming 2018 release.

The rousing finale brought together members of Fanny, The B-52s, Melissa Etheridge and performers Olivia Rox, Jenna Paone, Laura Clapp and Sabrina Lentini to deliver an inspired performance of “Respect.” The song, made famous by Aretha Franklin, but written by Otis Redding (whose daughter, Karla Redding-Andrews, was also honored during the event), was an energetic ending to a moving evening. 

The full list of 2018 honorees includes:

•    Pat Benatar, four-time GRAMMY® Award-winning artist
•    Melissa Etheridge, Grammy® Award- and Academy® Award-winning artist
•    The B-52s Katie Pierson & Cindy Wilson, original members of one of the most
      beloved party rock bands of all time
•    Karla Redding-Andrews, Executive Director for The Otis Redding Foundation
•    Exene Cervenka, vocalist for the iconic punk band, X 
•    Amberly Crouse-Knox, Senior Director, Creative and Business Development, BMG Production Music
•    Jean Millington Adamian, June Millington, Brie Howard Darling, Patti Quatro Ericson and         Alice de Buhr of the pioneering all-female American rock band, Fanny
•    Candace Stewart, Studio Manager, EastWest Studios in Hollywood
•    Dawn Birr, Channel Manager for the Americas, Sennheiser Business Solutions 
•    Fabi Reyna, Founder and Editor of She Shreds Media
•    Vanessa Mering, Marketing Manager, HARMAN Professional
•    Kristy Porter, Guitar Center’s Director of Merchandising, General Accessories & Media

Whitmore reflected, “We were proud to formally recognize all the 2018 honorees at the She Rocks Awards. From manufacturers to musicians, our honorees span all corners of our industry. I felt truly humbled to be able to acknowledge their leadership and accomplishments. It was such a pleasure to join with them in this year’s celebration of women in music.”

Find out more at sherocksawards.com.

Winter NAMM Show News: OK Go, Yamaha All-Star Concert, Andy Grammer, B-52s Members Kate Pierson and Cindy Wilson, Melissa Etheridge

With The NAMM Show is only three weeks away, there are exciting announcements about the upcoming event being released...

OK Go, The Yamaha All-Star Concert on the Grand 2018 and Andy Grammer Set to Perform at The NAMM Show

OK Go / Photo credit: Makoto Kubota

CARLSBAD, Calif. – January 3, 2018 – With only 22 days until the start of The 2018 NAMM Show, The NAMM Campus is set to come alive with a variety of Bands@NAMM performers, and at night, talent that includes groundbreaking multimedia artists, legendary performers and a multi-platinum pop singer-songwriter, all performing on The NAMM Yamaha Grand Plaza Stage.

On Thursday, The NAMM Foundation Celebration of Music Education will celebrate the advocacy and dedication of NAMM members with a performance from indie/pop rockers, OK Go. Members Damian Kulash (vocals/video director), Tim Nordwind (bass), Dan Konopa (percussion) and Andy Ross (guitar) have built a unique career at the intersection of music, visual art, technology and science. The band has emerging at the forefront of a class of artists whose 21st-century brand of experimental creativity dissolves the traditional boundaries between disciplines, garnering them millions of fans along the way. Videos like 2007’s GRAMMY^®-winning video “Here it Goes Again” featured the act on synchronized treadmills; “Upside Down & Inside Out” showed the band achieving zero-gravity status as they filming the video on a reduced gravity aircraft; and their recent release, “Obsession,” which utilized 567 printers and a ton of paper and later recycled and the profits donated, have all made OK Go a standout act.

On Friday, an all-star line-up from Yamaha promises an unforgettable multi-artist extravaganza with the “Yamaha All-Star Concert on the Grand 2018,” set to crank up the volume to 11. With the concert performers still under wraps, the evening promises a dazzling array of seasoned performers to delight The NAMM Show audience. Past performers at Yamaha’s annual NAMM event include luminaries such as Elton John, Stevie Wonder, Tony Bennett, John Legend, Earth, Wind & Fire, U2 founder and drummer Larry Mullen, Jr. and many others.

Andy Grammer / Photo credit: Chris Phelps

Saturday evening at the annual “Imagine Party,” The NAMM Foundation and The John Lennon Educational Tour Bus presented by Other World Computing will welcome acclaimed multi-platinum pop singer and songwriter, Andy Grammer. Best known for his upbeat, positive musical stylings and prolific, honest songwriting, Grammer has built a career connecting with his audience and fans in a refreshing, clear voice. In 2011, he became the first male pop star in a decade to reach the Top 10 on Adult Pop Radio with "Keep Your Head Up" and "Fine By Me," from his 2011 self-titled debut. His second album, Magazines or Novels, featured the triple-platinum infectious smash hit, "Honey, I'm Good," which was one of the best-selling songs of 2015, and the certified gold anthem "Good to be Alive (Hallelujah)." Most recently, Andy released his third studio album, The Good Parts, in December which features the hit singles “Smoke Clears” and “Fresh Eyes,” which has become a streaming phenomenon with over 350 million total streams. In addition to his performance in the evening, Grammer will spend part of his afternoon on the John Lennon Educational Tour Bus with young musicians from local area schools.

Each act will start at 6 p.m. and be preceded by a variety of performers throughout the day as part of the Bands@NAMM program. The schedule for both The NAMM Yamaha Grand Plaza Stage and The NAMM Arena Plaza Stage Presented by Pioneer Pro Audio is available at https://www.namm.org/thenammshow/2018/bands-at-namm.

The B-52s Members Kate Pierson and Cindy Wilson, and Melissa Etheridge to be Honored at 2018 She Rocks Awards 

Melissa Etheridge

From left, Cindy Wilson and Kate Pierson of the B-52s

The Women’s International Music Network (the WiMN) announces that Melissa Etheridge and The B-52s band members Kate Pierson and Cindy Wilson will be honored at the 6th annual She Rocks Awards on Friday, January 26, 2018, during the NAMM Show in Anaheim, CA. 

Best known for her hit songs “I’m the Only One,” “Come to My Window,” and the song that first propelled her career, “Bring Me Some Water,” Grammy® Award- and Academy® Award-winning artist Melissa Etheridge has been tearing up the charts and tearing off the roof since 1988 with her signature sound. Her current album, MEmphis Rock and Soul, was released in 2016 to critical acclaim, and features original songs as well as her interpretation of classics. For more info, visit www.melissaetheridge.com.

Kate Pierson and Cindy Wilson are original members of one of the most beloved party rock bands, The B-52s. Known for their unique musical and performance style, the band has made a permanent mark on the musical world with hits such as “Rock Lobster,” “Roam,” “Love Shack,” and many more. Celebrating The B-52s’ 40th anniversary, Kate and Cindy continue to perform with the band, in addition to working on solo projects. For more info, visit www.theb52s.com. 

The WiMN Founder, Laura B. Whitmore, comments, “We are so excited to honor these pioneering women who represent the diversity of musical styles we embrace at the She Rocks Awards. Each has made lasting contributions to music, and has influenced countless female musicians and fans alike.” 

Melissa Etheridge, Kate Pierson and Cindy Wilson join a host of 2018 honorees that includes the pioneering all-girl band Fanny and Exene Cervenka of X plus a collection of role models from all walks of the music and audio industries. View the full list of this year’s honorees here. 

Gearing up for its sixth consecutive year, the She Rocks Awards pays tribute to women who display leadership and stand out within the music industry, and has become a standard at the NAMM Show. Previous award recipients include female industry leaders such as Colbie Caillat, Ronnie Spector, Sheila E, The Bangles, Shirley Manson, Esperanza Spalding, Chaka Khan, Jennifer Batten, Karmin, Orianthi, Dinah Gretsch, Craigie Zildjian, and more. 

The 2018 She Rocks Awards is sponsored by Gretsch, Monster Energy, Sennheiser, Seymour Duncan, Martin Guitar, Reverb.com, Harman, Fishman, Roland, Zildjian, Guitar Center, Casio, Daisy Rock Girl Guitars, PRS Guitars, D’Angelico Guitars, Tech 21, PreSonus, D'Angelico Guitars, Berklee Online, 108 Rock Star Guitars, On-Stage Stands, M.A.C Cosmetics, Paul Mitchell, City National Bank, Bittree, NAMM, Music Inc., Music & Sound Retailer, Music-News.com, NewBay Media, Guitar World, Guitar Player, Bass Player, Electronic Musician, Guitar Girl Magazine, Gear Tech + Recording, KVR Audio, and more.

Tickets are on sale now. This event is open to the public and a NAMM show badge is not required to attend. And yes, men are welcome, too! Learn more at www.sherocksawards.com.