Cosmo Music , Ottawa Pianos & Wentworth Music Makes ‘ Top 100 Dealers ’ List Three Canadian MI stores have made NAMM ’ s 2020 Top 100 Dealers list . They are Cosmo Music and Ottawa Pianos in Ontario , as well as Wentworth Music , which has three locations in British Columbia . All three retailers have made the prestigious list in past years , with Cosmo Music being named NAMM Dealer of the Year in 2019 .
Now in its 10 th year , the Top 100 Dealer Awards honour retailers who “ demonstrate exceptional commitment to their stores , neighbourhoods , and customers and share in a vision of creating a more musical world through their local communities .”
“ While things may look quite different now , NAMM retail members remain the musical heartbeat of the communities they serve ,” says Joe Lamond , NAMM president and CEO . “ We look forward to honouring the remarkable efforts of our dealers as they adapt to the changing retail environments and continue to bring music to the world .”
Historically held at Summer NAMM , this year ’ s celebration , along with the announcement of the “ Best of ” and “ Dealer of the Year ” awards , will be announced in January during Believe in Music Week . The award categories include Best Community Retail Store , Best Customer Service , Best Store Design , Best Marketing and Sales Promotion , Best Online Engagement , Innovation Award , and the Music Makes a Difference Award . All submissions are evaluated for effectiveness in marketing , customer engagement , and innovation in retail by a panel of independent judges . From the finalists of these categories , one store will be recognized with the Dealer of the Year award .
Introduced last year , the Customers ’ Choice Award will return and offers the Top 100 a chance to entice their audiences to vote online for their favourite retail store .
For more information , go to www . namm . org / top100 .
PHOTO : GETTY IMAGES FOR NAMM
Hoshino USA Taking Over Canadian Distribution for Ibanez , Tama & Hardcase Beginning Jan . 1 , 2021 , Hoshino USA Inc . will be assuming Canadian distribution responsibilities for the Ibanez guitars and Tama Drums brands in Canada . This will also include distribution of Tama ’ s Bergerault line of marching and concert percussion products . Beginning Feb . 1 st , Hoshino USA will also be distributing Hardcase drum cases in Canada .
In addition to announcing these distribution changes , the company named its team of independent Canadian representatives . It includes Dave Firby ( dave @ firbygroup . com ) for Manitoba , Saskatchewan , Alberta , and British Columbia , as well as the Yukon and Northwest Territories . Hoshino USA ’ s rep for Quebec is Richard Sullivan ( rsully @ videotron . ca ). Central and Southwestern Ontario will be covered by Brian Leblanc ( brianleblanc007 @ gmail . com ). Paul Hanna ( rtmi . inc @ bell . net ) will cover eastern , western , and northern Ontario , as well as the Atlantic provinces .
Prior to 2021 , the Ibanez and Tama brands have been distributed by Efkay Music Instruments and Hardcase has been distributed by Coast Music . Hoshino USA Inc . is a subsidiary of Japan-based Hoshino Gakki Group , which owns Ibanez and Tama Drums . For more information , contact Hoshino U . S . A . Inc .: 215-638-8670 , customerservice @ hoshinousa . com , www . hoshinousa . com .
HOSHINO USA PRES . & CEO SHOGO HAYASHI
CANADIAN MUSIC TRADE 11