Each year, the NAMM Show in Anaheim, California gives the music industry a glimpse into new products, emerging technologies, and the evolving direction of music creation and education. Members of the Chesbro Music team attended NAMM 2026 to connect with manufacturers, explore new gear, and better understand the trends shaping the industry.
Below are insights from Miguel Perez (Retail), Mark Brookshire (Purchasing and Product Development), and Shannon Hahn (E-Commerce) based on six key questions about their experience at NAMM 2026.
1. What were your main goals or expectations going into NAMM 2026, and how did the experience measure up?
Miguel Perez – Retail
Miguel’s goal was to explore new products, discover things he had never seen before, and gain inspiration from what manufacturers and creators are doing across the industry. The experience met those expectations. He noted that there was a huge amount of gear to explore and many people to talk with, which provided new perspectives he hopes to apply in his day-to-day work at Chesbro Music.
Mark Brookshire – Purchasing & Product Development
For Mark, NAMM is always about reconnecting with business partners and discovering what new products might be worth bringing into the store. However, he also viewed this year’s show as an opportunity to study how the music industry itself is evolving, especially in the context of economic shifts and changing consumer expectations. With more than a decade of NAMM shows under his belt, Mark said the 2026 event exceeded expectations thanks to new connections and emerging trends.
Shannon Hahn – E-Commerce
Shannon’s primary goal was to meet more of Chesbro’s current vendors and better understand the companies supporting the distribution side of the business. By shadowing Mark Brookshire throughout the event, she was able to gain a deeper understanding of various manufacturers and their product offerings.
Nathan Baird - CEO
When preparing for NAMM, my main goal was to get a clear sense of where the music industry is headed. Where is the focus right now? What can Chesbro Music Company adjust or improve to make our sales process more efficient?
From that standpoint, NAMM 2026 delivered. There were a lot of new products, ideas, and approaches that gave us things to think about and evaluate. It was useful to step back and look at the bigger picture of the industry and how we fit into it.
2. Which new products, instruments, or technologies stood out to you the most, and why?
Miguel Perez – Retail
One unexpected standout for Miguel was a sleek, all-in-one music stand system from Craft Gear that included a light and collapsed into a compact design. While simple, the thoughtful design caught his attention. He also spent time checking out boutique guitar pedals, which are a personal favorite category of his.
Mark Brookshire – Purchasing & Product Development
Mark noticed an increase in headstock-less guitar designs, reflecting musicians’ growing interest in unique instruments that break away from traditional formats. He also saw continued experimentation with hybrid guitars that blend acoustic and electric features.
In the pro audio space, Mark was particularly interested in how technology is merging with content creation tools. Companies like Blackmagic Design were present with film and editing technology, highlighting how video production, music creation, and content creation are increasingly interconnected.
Another major highlight was AI-assisted speaker calibration systems that automatically adjust speaker angle and output to match the acoustics of a room, drastically reducing setup time.
Shannon Hahn – E-Commerce
Shannon was impressed by Danelectro’s new guitars, which featured original 1955 headstocks along with finishes inspired by 1940s and 1950s tabletop designs. The instruments stood out both visually and sonically.
Nathan Baird - CEO
There were some interesting things happening in the boutique guitar space. One electric guitar didn’t even have tuning pegs on the headstock — it was tuned at the heel using an allen wrench or built-in pegs. That kind of design stands out, even if it’s not something every player will adopt.
On the electronics side, there were some impressive developments as well. There was a strong push toward DJ equipment, including hands-on booths where people could jump in and mix with headphones. Those areas were busy the entire time.
One of the more advanced things we saw was from a production company working on stage speaker systems that can adjust based on the crowd and the space. The system can respond in real time to optimize sound, which is a different level of control than most people are used to.
3. Did you have any memorable conversations or meetings with manufacturers, artists, or industry professionals that could shape Chesbro Music’s direction this year?
Miguel Perez – Retail
Miguel attended a workshop that focused on customer experience in retail. One key takeaway was that the true product being sold in a store environment is not just the gear itself, but the experience customers have while interacting with it.
Mark Brookshire – Purchasing & Product Development
One of Mark’s most memorable meetings was with KMC Music, a distribution partner Chesbro has worked with for years. What began as a short meeting turned into nearly an hour of discussions with several brands under KMC’s umbrella.
Mark also had the opportunity to meet with the creative director of the British Drum Company and representatives from brands like Hiwatt. Hearing directly from manufacturers about their passion and the story behind their products left a strong impression.
Shannon Hahn – E-Commerce
Shannon met with a manufacturer that could help Chesbro expand its proprietary product offerings. While details are still under wraps, the company appears aligned with Chesbro’s long-term vision and could play a role in upcoming developments.
Nathan Baird - CEO
Miguel and I spent time meeting with Yamaha, specifically Joshua Prewitt, to talk about band and orchestra programs.
Yamaha is doing some strong work right now, especially on the marching side. They’re manufacturing more of their own hardware for drum systems and developing designs that make setup and teardown faster — things like clip-on components for marching drums.
They’re also working on accessibility, including a flute mouthpiece designed to make it easier for beginners to get a sound right away. That kind of development is directly relevant to what we see in school programs.
4. How do you see the trends from NAMM influencing what musicians and educators will be looking for in 2026?
Miguel Perez – Retail
Miguel observed that many new products focus on convenience and accessibility. For example, he saw a guitar neck training tool that lights up to show scale patterns. Tools like this simplify learning and help musicians visualize theory concepts.
Mark Brookshire – Purchasing & Product Development
Mark described NAMM as a glimpse into the future of the industry. While many traditional educational programs move slowly due to curriculum structures, consumers and independent creators are pushing innovation forward. Content creators and online educators are often the first to adopt new technologies and teaching tools, which then influence broader learning trends.
He also expects AI-assisted learning tools to continue expanding.
Shannon Hahn – E-Commerce
Shannon also noticed significant AI integration across instruments and gear. She believes musicians will increasingly use AI as a creative enhancement tool rather than a replacement for creativity.
Nathan Baird - CEO
NAMM has a wide influence across the industry. It’s not just a one-week event — the trends that show up there tend to carry forward throughout the year.
Artists use NAMM as a place to collaborate, connect, and try new gear. That interaction influences what gains traction. Educators and programs tend to follow those trends over time, especially as certain products or approaches become more widely adopted.
5. Were there any surprises—either innovations or shifts in the industry—that you didn’t expect to see?
Miguel Perez – Retail
Miguel did not encounter major surprises but noted that the show still delivered a wide range of interesting and well-executed products that reinforced the overall direction of the industry.
Mark Brookshire – Purchasing & Product Development
Mark highlighted AI’s growing role across multiple areas of the music industry, from production tools to business applications. Rather than replacing musicians, he believes AI will mostly function as a time-saving tool that assists with tasks such as mastering or workflow optimization.
He also pointed out a shift in the NAMM show itself. Traditionally a business-to-business event, NAMM is increasingly welcoming end consumers to experience products directly, which provides valuable real-time feedback for manufacturers.
Shannon Hahn – E-Commerce
For Shannon, the most surprising aspect was the sheer variety of ways companies are integrating AI into their instruments and gear. The technology is becoming part of the overall creative toolkit rather than something separate from it.
Nathan Baird - CEO
There were definitely some creative designs and new ideas, especially in guitars and specialty instruments. But one thing that stood out is that most players still want something familiar.
When it comes to guitars in particular, there’s an expectation for how the instrument should feel and function. Players aren’t always looking for something radically different. They want something that plays well and meets those expectations first.
The innovation is interesting, but the core experience still matters most.
6. How will what you learned or discovered at NAMM impact Chesbro Music’s offerings, partnerships, or community involvement in the coming months?
Miguel Perez – Retail
Miguel believes the show will help inspire new collaborations and initiatives, including potential partnerships with distributors such as Hal Leonard and AlphaTheta, as well as discussions with Fender about a Chesbro-specific electric guitar.
Mark Brookshire – Purchasing & Product Development
Mark emphasized that NAMM is fundamentally about relationships and community. New product discoveries, partnerships, and networking all contribute to expanding Chesbro’s ability to serve its customers.
He also highlighted the opportunity to create more in-store events, artist demonstrations, and collaborative experiences that help musicians learn how to use new gear and connect with each other.
Shannon Hahn – E-Commerce
For Shannon, one of the biggest takeaways from NAMM was the reminder that the music industry still thrives on personal connection. The experience reinforced the importance of getting Chesbro more involved in the local community.
In the coming months, she expects Chesbro Music to participate in more local events, sponsorships, and collaborations with other businesses to help strengthen the regional music scene.
Nathan Baird - CEO
There are always takeaways from NAMM that influence how we approach the next year. It’s a large organization with a lot of industry-wide influence, so we pay attention to the direction things are moving.
One of the bigger shifts is the increasing focus on the end consumer. There’s a strong push toward direct-to-consumer sales, and that’s changing how the market operates.
We also met with several potential vendors about carrying new products in the store. We’ll see how those develop as we move through 2026.
Overall, NAMM is a good reset. It brings the focus back to what matters most — the players and the people actually using the instruments.
NAMM 2026 offered Chesbro Music a broad look at where the music industry is heading—from AI-driven tools and innovative instrument design to new ways musicians learn, collaborate, and create. The insights gained in Anaheim will continue shaping Chesbro’s products, partnerships, and community initiatives throughout the year.