The NAMM Show: My Journeys in 2016, 2019 & 2023

If you’re in the music industry — whether you’re into instruments, production, education, or gear — you’ve likely heard of the NAMM Show. Run by the National Association of Music Merchants, it’s the most influential music retail conference in the country. The largest event is held annually at the Anaheim Convention Center in California, drawing over 100,000 attendees from around the world.

I first attended NAMM in 2016 as a college student eager to learn everything I could about pro audio and music marketing. That experience opened so many doors for me. By 2019, I earned the NAMM President’s Innovation Award, which came with a fully sponsored trip to the show — airfare, hotel, and all. It was a major milestone, and I even shared my application journey during an interview with College Magazine.

Most recently, in 2023, I returned to NAMM as media/press — this time to document the show from a content creator’s perspective. I captured tons of vibrant photo and audio content for my NAMM Instagram Highlight, and I’ll be releasing more once my podcast officially launches. Let’s just say: it’s been an incredible full-circle moment, and I’m excited to keep sharing what comes next.