Attendance figures for the NAMM 2023 show in Anaheim, California have now been revealed, with details for the 2024 outing also confirmed.
The annual NAMM show took place in April this year, as the show moves gradually back towards its traditional spot on the calendar following significant upheaval on account of the pandemic. After a year off in 2021, the 2022 event was held in June, being the earliest point in the year in which the show could open its doors to the fullest, free from social distancing measures. Rather than host another show a mere six months later, the move was made to stagger its return to January scheduling, pushing NAMM 2023 into an April slot. The organisation has now confirmed that NAMM 2024 will be held from January 25-28.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the unusual timing of the last two NAMM shows has resulted in an expected dip in attendance post-Covid. Not only have certain territories around the world still been fully emerging from Covid conditions and regaining the confidence to attend vast international trade shows, the last two outings, being in the spring and summer months, has inevitable hampered the ability of many NAMM regulars to attend.
Attendance for 2023 was virtually identical to 2022, with this year attracting 46,711 people, up marginally on last year’s total of 46,627. These figures represent a 50% decline on 2020’s record breaking attendance (115,000), yet, as former NAMM president and CEO Joe Lamond told Headliner, are very much in line with where organisers expected the show to be.
This year’s attendees represented 120 countries and territories, according to NAMM’s post show report.
In excess of 1,200 exhibitors are said to have been out in force on the show floor, representing more than 3,500 brands.
Exhibitors accounted for the largest portion of visitors to NAMM this year, making up 20.3% of all in attendance. Artists made up 19.4% of visitors, 19% were retailers, 13.9% were described as ‘additional audiences’ encompassing manufacturers, media, non-profit, house of worship, VIP, entertainment tech, post production, software/tech, speakers, corporate buyers and publishers. 14.4% were listed simply as ‘attendees’. Pro audio visitors accounted for 5.3% of those at the show, with students accounting for 3.9%, and educators 3.8%.
Away from the show floor, NAMM continued to up the ante with its additional content, delivering more than 200 educational sessions, seminars, talks, workshops, and networking opportunities, as well as over 150 live concerts.
Commenting on this year’s event from an exhibitor perspective, Beyerdynamic’s Jaime Thompson said: “NAMM is like the Super Bowl of the industry. You’ve got to be here. It’s the best way to show a product, and it’s so good to see the industry family.”
Yamaha’s Tom Sumner said: Yamaha launched 40 new products at the NAMM Show. It’s the perfect place to get our dealers hands-on experience. We put our products and our people in the best light at the show, and we engaged customers that weren’t at the show through social media and the press.”