awards for arts achievement

Founded in 1901, NAMM is the nonprofit trade association made up of more than 9,000 member companies that unifies, leads, and strengthens the international musical instruments and products industry.

NAMM is best known for producing the NAMM Show, one of the largest music product trade shows in the world.  NAMM reinvests revenues from its trade show back into the industry through many initiatives designed to increase active participation in music making.

Last year alone, NAMM reinvested a record $10 million into these programs reaching people of all ages, including Wanna Play? Sesame Street Music Works, Weekend Warriors, New Horizons Music, and Recreational Music Making.  Nam's outreach also includes advocacy efforts with such organizations and corporations as Disney, FORTUNE Battle of the Corporate Bands, the Vans Warped Tour, Drum Corps International (DCI), the Boys and Girls Clubs of America, American Idol the Magazine, VH1 Save The Music Foundation, The Piano Guy (PBS Television), and the GRAMMY Foundation.  Also, NAMM works on behalf of the industry in Washington, DC, to strengthen music education programs in schools and communities across the country.  In addition, NAMM funds groundbreaking music/brain research that has helped to shape world opinion about the intrinsic value of making music.  NAMM is a regular participant in the Tournament of Roses Parade, reaching millions of viewers around the world with its message about the proven benefits of playing music.

In the spring of 2007, the NAMM Foundation partnered with Americans for the Arts to launch the second phase of the national arts education PSA campaign, Art.Ask for More., with the goal of empowering parents to recommend more arts education for their children both in and out of school.

The members of NAMM range from small-business owners to large multinational corporations from around the world that,are united by a unique bond: their passionate belief in the proven benefits of making music for people of all ages.