Focusrite Novation Inc. Appoints KMC Music to Serve as a United States Sub-Distributor of Focusrite and Novation Lines

Underscoring their shared commitment to meet the rapidly expanding needs of the 21st century MI retail marketplace, Focusrite Novation Inc. (www.focusrite.com) and KMC Music (www.kmcmusic.com) today announced that, effective immediately, KMC Music will become a United States distributor of both the Focusrite and Novation digital audio production and recording lines. The announcement was made today at NAMM 2016 by Focusrite Novation Inc. President Phil Wagner and KMC Music President Mark Terry.

In announcing its expanded distribution strategy, Phil Wagner noted, “We are very happy to have KMC Music represent Focusrite and Novation products to their customer base of more than 6,500 retailers.  We believe KMC Music have the reach into the market that our products deserve.  It’s tremendously convenient that our distributor, American Music & Sound, and KMC Music are both owned by Canada’s JAM Industries.  KMC Music’s customers will enjoy the same benefits that AM&S customers have experienced.”

For KMC Music, the appointment marks the start of the next great chapter in the company’s quest to meet all of the instrumental and technology needs of today’s MI retailer. “Having added 18 new lines to our product portfolio in 2015, including major guitar, amplifier, and percussion brands, KMC Music is taking the next giant step forward in its commitment to meet the needs of today’s 21st century MI retailer,” Mark Terry said today. “Today’s MI retailer has to be able to provide the instruments, accessories, and the digital audio production and editing technology that their customers want to buy.  KMC Music will now be able to provide them with the very best in digital technology with the Focusrite and Novation product lines. Now, more than ever, KMC Music’s offerings mirror the reality of the 21st century MI retail marketplace.”

Terry today also reaffirmed the importance of the larger corporate relationship between JAM Industries, KMC Music’s parent company, and Focusrite Novation. “This appointment strengthens a very successful existing JAM Industries corporate relationship with Focusrite while making it possible for thousands of new MI dealers to have immediate access to the Focusrite and Novation brands through KMC Music.”

Focusrite Novation, Inc. is the United States division of The Focusrite Group, a global music and audio products group that supply the hardware and software products used by professional and amateur musicians, which enables the high quality production of music. The Focusrite Group has two established and rapidly growing brands — Focusrite and Novation. The Focusrite brand makes audio interfaces and other products for audio recording musicians. The Novation brand allows its customers to make electronic music using synthesizers, MIDI controllers and computer-enabled technology. Each brand has over 20 years of quality sound heritage and are well established as leaders in the music making industry.

Both the Focusrite and Novation brands are being featured at the KMC Music booth all during NAMM 2016 in Anaheim, California in Hall B at Booth #5952.  Focusrite is exhibiting its products at Booth #6464 in Hall A of the Anaheim Convention Center.

Manuel Rodriguez Guitars Names KMC Music to Distribute Exclusive Models in United States

Manuel Rodriguez Guitars (http://mrguitarras.es/en/) the renowned 110-year old crafter of the iconic Spanish guitars known around the world as a central contributor to “Brand Spain,” today announced the appointment of KMC Music (www.kmcmusic.com) to distribute exclusive models of Manuel Rodriguez guitars to its network of 6,000 resellers in United States, making it possible for dealers to offer their customers the greatest range of Rodriguez models in the company’s history. 

“Our partnership with KMC Music is going to make it possible for more consumers than ever before to experience the beauty, the craftsmanship, and the unique performance characteristics of a Manuel Rodriguez guitar, regardless of the collection and model they choose,” said Manuel Rodriguez III, the third-generation CEO of Manuel Rodriguez Guitars.  “The combination of our commitment to old-world craftsmanship and design and KMC Music’s ability to sell and support our line is going to make for a very powerful business relationship for many years to come.”

In accepting the appointment, KMC Music Vice President of Merchandising Roger Hart emphasized, “It is an honor to represent this storied line of classical Spanish guitars, which has, for more than 110 years, maintained the very highest standards of design, materials, and construction.  Indeed, each and every Rodriguez guitar, handcrafted in Toledo, Spain, carries within it the very essence of Spanish history and culture.  Our dealers will be equally thrilled to be able to present the Rodriguez collections to their discerning guitar enthusiast customers.”

The full range Rodriguez guitars are almost entirely handmade.  Rodriguez still employs the traditional Spanish Heel construction technique that increases the solidity of the neck joint, resulting in enhanced resonance and tone. No detail is too minor to merit attention.  The tuning machines are intricately cast, whether nickel-plated or gold-plated.  Silver-plated frets from Germany are meticulously set, leveled and polished ensuring optimum feel and performance.  

The neck and headstock of Rodriguez guitars are typically made of Canadian cedar, often reinforced with two ebony strips on the underside of the fingerboard to increase rigidity and eliminate movement caused by wood aging.  Each Rodriguez guitar is hand-formed and glued to create precise balances.  From the delicate sanding —even inside the body, to the beautifully unique rosette inlays, each guitar stands as a credit to its luthier and is worthy of being handed down from one generation to the next.  Each instrument receives a thin varnish finish ensuring purity of tone.  The cutaway electric models feature a state-of-the-art L.R. Baggs or Fishman pre-amp system for excellence in response, balance, and tonal adjustability. 

KMC Music Strengthens Regional Sales Support With Three Key Appointments

KMC Music (www.kmcmusic.com), the industry-leading distributor of MI and ProAudio solutions, today announced the appointment of three new regional sales managers for the Southeast, Mid-Atlantic, and West/Northwest sales territories.  According to KMC Music Vice President of Sales James Tsaptsinos, all three appointments bring significant MI retail and sales management experience to their new positions.

“Our philosophy is, and always will be, that it takes a retail sales veteran to understand the unique needs of today’s MI retailers, and the appointment of Michael Stockdale, Ryan Morgan, and Mike Johnson to key district sales management positions more than lives up to this philosophy,” Tsaptsinos said today.  “Each of them have countless years of experience in their respective territories demonstrating track records for building cost-effective, sales-productive business building programs for retailers. They all started their careers working for and managing MI retail stores as well.  We are thrilled to have professionals of their caliber join our sales team.”

Based in the Baltimore, Maryland area, Michael Stockdale now assumes the position of District Sales Manager for the Mid-Atlantic Region.  He brings an extensive record of experience and success to his new position, having started his career as an Assistant Store Manager at Sam Ash Music, where he served for three years. Michael’s field experience includes having served as the National Product Sales Manager for Music & Studio Environments at IAC Acoustics, District Sales Manager for Specialty Brands at Fender Musical Instruments, Inc., Regional Sales Manager at Line 6, and District Sales Manager at Korg USA and Behringer. 

Ryan Morgan brings an equally impressive resume to his new position as District Sales Manager for the West/Northwest Region, based out of Bend, Oregon.  From a career starting in his Family’s Music store as a child to an 8-year General Manager of various Guitar Center locations, Morgan went on to serve as Director of Operations/Marketing/Sales for Boulder Creek Guitars/Riptide Ukuleles/Wedgie Picks and Accessories and Sales Manager for Bedell Guitars and Weber Fine Instruments. 

Based in Orlando, Florida, Mike Johnson now assumes the position of District Sales Manager for the Southeast Region.  Most recently, Johnson served as National Sales Manager at Gold Tone, Inc. Michael’s 30 years of MI experience on the National Level for Brands like Samick and regionally for Line 6 make him an obvious choice for KMC.

To download hi-res headshots, click here.​

Paiste America Appoints KMC Music to Serve as its Sole United States Distribution Partner

Strengthening a percussion portfolio that already includes Gibraltar, Latin Percussion, Remo, Toca, Vater, and Vic Firth, KMC Music (www.kmcmusic.com) today announced that it has been appointed to serve as the sole United States distribution partner of Paiste America (www.paiste.com), one of the world’s most renowned lines of cymbals, hand cymbals, and gongs that includes the iconic Paiste 2002 Series and the highly respected Paiste Signature Series.

“The addition of Paiste to our already extensive percussion portfolio reinforces our position as the MI retailer’s only true one-stop source for all of their percussion needs,” KMC Music Vice President of Merchandising Roger Hart emphasized today.  “We are proud to be able to offer our customers the cymbals used by artists that include Stewart Copeland, Nicko McBrain, Ian Paice, and Alex Van Halen, among many, many others.” 

The success of Paiste can be directly attributed to the core philosophy that underlies all of its product development programs.  “As a family business, we have always been driven by the goal to constantly create new sounds with cymbals, gongs, and bronze percussion instruments that meet the unique needs of drummers and percussionists,” explained Paiste CEO Erik Paiste.  “And now, with the help of KMC Music’s extensive in-field sales, merchandising, and support teams, the Paiste line of cymbals and gongs is going to be more immediately available to the largest network of MI retailers in the world’s largest MI retail marketplace.” Key house accounts will continue to be served by Paiste America and its own sales team.

“Experimentation, integration, and revolution are all a normal part of the Paiste product development effort,” Erik Paiste continued.  “The art of percussion has evolved to a point where the technical and musical components that go into creating ‘sound’ have reached unprecedented new heights.  Today’s drummers and percussionists speak many musical languages and actively perform in several genres.  Paiste is committed to keeping up with these trends and, as a result, our product line today meets more musical styles and needs than ever before.” 

KMC Music Appointed the Exclusive United States Distributor of Supro Amps

Adding a powerful new line to its growing portfolio of MI and pro audio products, KMC Music (www.kmcmusic.com) today announced that Absara Audio LLC has appointed the company to serve as the exclusive United States distributor of Supro amplifiers (www.suprousa.com), the iconic line of guitar amps that have inspired guitarists since the dawn of electrified music.  

Out of production since the late 1960s, an entirely new line of vintage inspired Supro amplifiers was introduced to the world in 2014 when Absara Audio LLC acquired the rights to the Supro brand from former Fender amp designer and longtime Pigtronix associate Bruce Zinky.  Zinky and Absara Audio founder and President David Koltai have collaborated to create the modern incarnation of the classic Supro “sound” that KMC Music will now make available to the more than 6500 dealers in its nationwide retail network.  The Supro line-up includes the Coronado, Dual-Tone, Royal Reverb, Saturn Reverb, Thunderbolt, and Thunderbolt Plus models as well as the upcoming Tremo-verb model which will be released in July, through KMC distribution. 

“The appointment of KMC Music to serve as our exclusive United States distributor marks the next giant step forward in the return of this legendary American brand,” Koltai said today. “The explosive success of Supro’s rebirth, combined with our 5-year history of working with KMC Music to build Pigtronix into a powerhouse in the pedal category, has paved the way for Supro to now become a nationally distributed marquee brand for KMC. We are proud to partner with KMC’s visionary new leadership and dedicated sales force to provide dealers with in-the-field brand representation, merchandising support, enhanced logistics and world class customer service.”

According to KMC Music President Mark Terry, “We are proud and excited to be able to offer our retailers the entire Supro product line.  The addition of Supro to our rapidly growing portfolio further strengthens our position as the number one resource for dealers to meet all of their product needs.”

Supro's origins can be traced back to the early '30s when the National Resophonic and Dobro guitar companies merged to form a manufacturing entity called Valco. As electrified music started to emerge, Valco began producing guitars and amplifiers under the Supro name. Supro amps delivered the tone of choice for the early '60s south-side Chicago blues players who in turn influenced the British invasion. By the late '60s, Jimi Hendrix was playing a Supro Thunderbolt amp on tour with Little Richard and the Isley Brothers; meanwhile, in England, Jimmy Page cut seminal Led Zeppelin tracks using a 1x12 Supro combo amp. Now, some 50 years later, sales of Supro reissue tube amps are increasing worldwide with consistently glowing reviews and numerous awards piling up. Guitar icons such as Joe Perry (Aerosmith), Joe Walsh (The Eagles), Brian Setzer (Stray Cats), Robby Krieger (The Doors), Steve Stevens (Billy Idol), David Hidalgo (Los Lobos), Adrian Belew (King Crimson), Eric Krasno (Soulive) and many others are using Supro amps in studios and on stages everywhere.