RBI Music Acquires Silvertone® Brand

Rhythm Band Instruments, LLC, announced today the acquisition of all assets, including all intellectual property, related to the Silvertone brand from the Samick Music Corporation. The historic Silvertone brand was created over a century ago by Sears, Roebuck & Company as its “house” brand for consumer electronics and musical instruments, most famously guitars and amplifiers. The brand has been owned by Samick Music since 2001.

“Just over a year ago we announced our exclusive distribution agreement for the Silvertone brand,” said Brad Kirkpatrick, President of Rhythm Band. “Clearly, that has gone really well – better than our initial expectations. So, we approached Samick Music with an attractive proposal to acquire the brand outright and, we are pleased to announce, they agreed, and we closed that transaction effective September 30.” We are excited to continue the excellent efforts undertaken by Samick to reestablish the Silvertone brand and look forward to doing our own work in taking this iconic brand forward.”

Rhythm Band Instruments has been distributing musical instruments and music education material from Fort Worth, Texas for over 60 years. In 2009, the company acquired the Boomwhackers® brand of tuned musical tubes. In 2016 it bought the Toca Percussion® brand of hand percussion instruments, and Grover Pro Percussion® joined the company’s stable of world-class brands in 2019. Rhythm Band also exclusively distributes a number of other brands, including Big Joe Stompbox®, Chromanotes®, Kidsplay® and ChromAharP® world-wide, as well as Vintage® guitars, in the U.S. only, via RBI Music.

“We could not be more thrilled that we now own the Silvertone brand,” noted Rick Taylor, Product Manager for RBI Music. “The opportunity is immense for RBI and this iconic American guitar brand.   We’ve got plans for some minor tweaks to the existing lineup, several new electrics, more colors, accessories – all of it. Watch this space for further developments. We can’t wait for NAMM 2022. Guitarists around the globe are in for a treat!”

Cloud Microphones Receives Presidential E Star Award for Excellence in Exports

Cloud Microphones designs and manufactures high-quality ribbon microphones and microphone preamplifiers. The company’s patented Cloudlifter Microphone Activator has garnered several industry awards and is used by audio professionals in recording studios, on concert stages, in broadcast booths, in podcasts and for livestream audio. Cloud won the President’s E Award for exports in 2016 and is honored to now receive the E Star Award for exports.
“Working with the US Commercial Service has been instrumental in reaching our goals in foreign markets, helping us increase our US made exports by several hundred percent,” said Rodger Cloud, Co-Founder and CEO of Cloud Microphones. “This is very satisfying as this new revenue comes into the United States, and particularly Arizona, and stays here due to our local Tucson, Phoenix, and Navajo Nation supply chain.”
U.S. companies are nominated for the “E” Awards through the U.S. Commercial Service, part of the Department’s International Trade Administration. The ITA maintains offices in over 100 cities across the United States and in 75 markets around the world. 
The award was presented at a Washington, D.C. ceremony by Deputy Secretary of Commerce Don Graves who said, “Over a decade ago, Cloud Microphones created a partnership with Tooh Dineh Industries, founded by members of the Navajo Nation for circuit board manufacturing and assembly. Cloud Microphones could’ve outsourced the fabrication of their metal parts elsewhere, but they insisted on doing it locally. Their collaboration brought good paying jobs to a marginalized community where unemployment levels average 47%.”
In summing up the honor, Rodger Cloud said, “This E Star Award and recognition by Secretary Raimondo on behalf of the President of the United States not only belongs to Cloud Microphones, but is shared with the wonderful people at the dozens of subcontracting companies across Arizona, the Navajo Nation, and the Southwestern US. These are the families who help to instill quality in our products.”

The Music People Names Tom Tedesco President & CEO, Sharon & John Hennessey Named Chairwoman & Chairman

The Music People (TMP), leading supplier of musical instrument accessories and pro-audio products, is excited to announce the promotion of longtime employee Tom Tedesco to president and CEO. Sharon Hennessey and John Hennessey, current co-presidents, will be appointed chairwoman and chairman. Jam Industries, a leading value-added pro-AVL distributor in the US and global accessories supplier, which recently rebranded as Exertis | Jam, acquired TMP in 2020 and has facilitated TMP’s continued growth and this opportunity.

Over the years, Tom has worked his way up in the company, and in his most recent position of vice president of Sales and Business Development, led the company’s continued growth in all the markets it serves domestically and globally.

“Tom has demonstrated excellent judgment and strong leadership with a focus on our relationships. The time is right for him as well as the business to take this logical next step, and we couldn’t be more proud of him and the whole team,” said Sharon Hennessey.

“I am so excited and humbled for the opportunity to lead the TMP team. I am extremely appreciative of the friendship and mentorship I received from John and Sharon over the last 11 years that prepared me for the next step in my career. Thank you to Marty and Stuart for their confidence in me to build on our momentum into the future,” said Tom Tedesco.

“Promoting Tom to president and CEO is a clear sign of the caliber of the talent that John and Sharon have assembled.  Growth leads to opportunity, and we plan to see much more growth and opportunity for others at TMP in the near future,” said Stuart Frenkel, president and CEO of Exertis | Jam.

Fender To Acquire PreSonus

Fender Musical Instruments Corporation (FMIC), the world’s leading musical instrument manufacturers, marketers and distributors, today announced it has signed a definitive agreement of merger with PreSonus Audio Electronics, Inc. The Baton Rouge, Louisiana based brand is the leading designer and manufacturer of recording and live-sound hardware and software solutions that solve real-world problems for working creatives.
“We are thrilled to welcome everyone on the PreSonus team to the FMIC family and excited about the future growth opportunities available to both companies,” said Andy Mooney, CEO Fender Musical Instruments Corp. “Our teams share the same passion for music, the same commitment to innovation and the same desire to inspire and equip current and future generations of artists”
“I would like to extend our utmost gratitude to our loyal Baton Rouge and Louisiana community that have supported PreSonus for the last two decades,” said Kevin Couhig, Chairman of PreSonus. “It has been wonderful being a part of this incredible journey with PreSonus. I’m excited to see what the future holds going forward”
“After more than 25 years PreSonus feels it has found the right partner to support us as we continue our growth,” said Jim Odom, Founder/CSO PreSonus. “We look forward to showing our current and future music community what this opportunity means for them.”
“PreSonus and Fender’s combined vision, the way we see the future of music creation, and the fundamental alignment of goals has made this an exciting idea since the first conversation,” said Jim Boitnott, CEO PreSonus.
For more than 75 years, Fender has been committed to creating tools supporting artists. With each technological advancement, the way that people create and record music is constantly evolving. While most guitar and bass players still plug into amplifiers, many also plug their instruments into interfaces, using virtual amps and effects to create their sounds. Players of all levels are spending more time online than ever before and using a variety of products and technologies to learn, practice, jam and perform, record and share. This modern workflow has expanded the traditional signal chain to include capturing and distributing creative content to the world. Fender envisions an ecosystem that seamlessly integrates hardware and software to create an effortless end-to-end experience for customers at all levels in their creative journey, and joining forces with PreSonus makes that possible.
Founded in 1995 by Jim Odom and Brian Smith, PreSonus designs innovative audio products that provide professional sound quality and features without sacrificing affordability. Throughout its history, PreSonus has built innovative tools for musicians, content creators, producers, and audio engineers. Today, PreSonus is a leading designer and manufacturer of both recording and live-sound hardware and software solutions that solve real-world problems for real working creatives. 

  • Completion of this merger is subject to U.S. regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions. At this time, FMIC and PreSonus will continue to operate as separate entities.
  • Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP acted as legal counsel to Fender Musical Instruments Corporation.
  • PreSonus was advised by Robert W. Baird & Co. and legal counsel was provided by Butler Snow LLP.

For technical specs, additional information on new Fender products and to find a retail partner near you, visit www.fender.com. Join the conversation on social media by following @Fender.

Announcing Jayla Siciliano as VP of Sales and Marketing

Seymour Duncan is delighted to announce Jayla Siciliano has been promoted to Vice President of Sales & Marketing.

Jayla brings more than twenty years of experience working with lifestyle brands to this role where she will lead the Seymour Duncan sales, customer support, and marketing teams to drive strategic growth and build deeper relationships with our customers.  
 
“In her tenure as Vice President of Marketing, Jayla’s exceptional blend of strategic and tactical skills have helped propel our company and the Seymour Duncan brand ahead,” says CEO Diana Wilson. “The next logical step is to combine sales and marketing as part of a companywide initiative to become more closely aligned with all our customer’s needs.”
 
Jayla was a leader and entrepreneur before coming to Seymour Duncan. After years in the footwear and action sports world, she created her own company of wine spritzers (years before the spritzer boom)—formulated it, branded it, raised capital, went on “Shark Tank” and convinced Mark Cuban to invest. She knows how to handle every aspect of business, from rough-draft ideas to national rollouts.

“During one of the most difficult chapters in our company’s history, Jayla has consistently exceeded my expectations of what it means to lead,” added Wilson. “I’m looking forward to the improvements I know Jayla can bring to the combined department and to the organization as a whole.”

SEYMOUR DUNCAN ANNOUNCES BEN ARESNAULT AS VICE PRESIDENT OF OPERATIONS

Seymour Duncan is very pleased to announce that Ben Arsenault has been promoted from Director to Vice President of Operations.

“In the short time Ben has been part of the Seymour Duncan family, he has been instrumental in helping the company achieve a set of very ambitious growth initiatives directed at helping our customers keep pace with their expanding demand. Ben has worked tirelessly to help us navigate our way through a series of complex Covid-related challenges, and through his efforts our Operations team has achieved extraordinary results. Ben is an exemplary leader whose customer focus and commitment to driving relationships with all our partners, makes him an integral part of the organization. Someone I am confident can help successfully guide our newly energized company into the future,” said Diana Wilson, CEO. 

An avid guitarist, Berklee School of Music graduate and Seymour Duncan fan since the age of 13; Ben is also a dedicated environmentalist and devoted husband and father who, with his wife Nicole, is preparing to welcome their second child into the world. 

Vidami Names Hal Leonard North American Distributor, Expands Online Educational Platform Compatibility

The Vidami, a hands-free video looper that integrates with online video platforms helping guitarists and musicians learn to play quicker, has named Hal Leonard its North American distributor for the US and Canada. The agreement is effective immediately.

The strategic partnership comes as Vidami continues to increase its foothold in the industry with its looper pedal that helps musicians learn more easily by keeping their hands on the instrument and off the mouse. Easy to use, the Vidami integrates with a user’s computer via browser extension and features five switches that allow players to loop, slow down, rewind, fast-forward and play/pause videos on YouTube and dozens of other online tutorial sites.

“We are so excited to be partnering with Hal Leonard,” said Amy Hayashi-Jones, co-founder and CEO of Vidami. “Hal Leonard is one of the largest and most respected distributors in the industry, and we’re humbled and honored for Vidami to be added to the prestigious list of Hal Leonard distributed educational products.  We are witnessing a revolution in music education and are confident that this partnership will bring the Vidami looper to the millions of students in need of a more inspiring and rewarding online learning experience. “

“Hal Leonard loves tools that accelerate the pace in ways people can learn to play an instrument. We all benefit. The Vidami hands-free video controller is just that,” said Brad Smith, Hal Leonard Vice President, MI Products. “Aside from the vast offerings on YouTube, so many teachers had to have online options during lockdown. That made learning via video even more popular. That new aspect of teaching is here to stay as an enhancement. We’re excited to see how this ‘plug-n-play’ device is sold (or rented) and gets incorporated into many learning programs.”

Additional Online Educational Platforms Added
In addition to the new distribution news, Vidami is excited to announce that it has expanded its compatibility with online educational platforms to include: Active Melody, Artist Works, BreakDownWay, Guitar Mastery Method, Jamplay, Lick Library, Rick Beato Quick Lessons Pro and RootsSounds.jp. These new additions accompany the following platforms that are currently compatible with the Vidami: YouTube, Vimeo, Coursera, Fender Play, Guitar Lessons 365 Academy, Guitar Tricks, GuitarZero2Hero, GuitarZoom, Justin Guitar, LinkedIn Learning, Marty Music, Master Class, Music is Win, Muzie.Live, Tim Pierce Guitar, TrueFire and Udemy.

“With the addition of these eight platforms, we’re excited to open up the world of music making to an even wider range of musicians who are being inspired by their favorite online artists and instructors,” Hayashi-Jones said. “As Vidami continues to grow, we will add more and more platforms to help students and teachers save time and stay inspired.”

For more information on Vidami, please visit www.vidami.com