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.

KMC Music Rolls Out Biggest Ever 'Back-to-School Sales Bonanza' Promotion Program Through July 31!

Underscoring its commitment to offer MI retailers the largest array of seasonally themed promotion programs, KMC Music (www.kmcmusic.com) today announced the launch of its “Back-to-School Sales Bonanza,” featuring dozens of brands and hundreds of products all specially priced to generate nationwide consumer excitement during the critically important start to the fourth quarter sales season.

“As the largest distributor of MI and pro audio products, KMC Music can and will offer our retail partners the largest selection of specially priced products and promotion programs and our new Back-to-School Sales Bonanza lives up to that commitment,” said KMC Music Vice President of Sales James Tsaptsinos.  “Every major product category and accessory line is included in this year’s programs — guitars, amps, pedals, percussion, microphones, strings, and more.  Dealers will find all of our brands featured in exciting new programs that are designed to maximize sell-through sales to their customers.”

Brands featured in the Back-to-School program include Legere, VIC FIRTH, Lanikai, Line 6, MBT Lighting, Audio-Technica, AKG, Casio, Belmonte, Denis Wick, K&M, RICO, Herco, Lauren, Lee Oskar, Mooer, Suzuki, Hilo, Innovative Percussion, REMO, Martin & Co, King David, Vandoren, SuperSlick, Mono, Shure, RCF, Dunlop, Jones, Kaiser, Sennheiser, Corpmaster, Players, Stageline, Lauren, Blitz, Bruno, ChopSaver, Kratt, Mike Balter, Becker, Stentor, Barcus-Berry, Seiko, Snark, Wittner, Eldon, Antigua, APM, Vincent Bach, Blessing, BARRI, Selmer, Hohner, Grover, Manhassett, Elixir, Hamilton, and BoomWhackers, among others.

The program runs now through July 31, 2015.  To learn more about the Back-to-School Sales Bonanza promotion program, dealers can call the KMC Music call center at (855) 417-8677.

KMC Music Strengthens Its Product Portfolio With the Addition of Five New Product Lines

Reinforcing its position as the MI industry’s one-stop source for the broadest array of retail MI and pro audio products, KMC Music (www.kmcmusic.com) today announced that it has been appointed to serve as the United States distributor of Keeley Pedals, Mono Bags, Mooer Pedals, Pigtronix Pedals, RCF professional audio products, and Suzuki Harmonicas.  According to KMC Music Vice President of Merchandising Roger Hart, the new appointments effectively mean that dealers will now be able to offer even more options to their customers.

“No one is more focused on meeting the needs of MI dealers than KMC Music,” Hart said today.  “The addition of these five great new lines to our product portfolio underscores the fact that our manufacturer partners understand that our ability to serve dealers as a complete solutions resource is unmatched by any other company.  They understand that we can meet the needs of our dealers better than anyone else.  Even more importantly, our valued retail partners can now order even more solutions from a single source — KMC Music!”

The addition of five new brands to the KMC Music portfolio comes at a time when the industry-leading distributor of MI and pro audio solutions has begun the next chapter in its history as a division of JAM Industries.  Recently, KMC Music announced the opening of a new corporate headquarters and training center in Bloomfield, Connecticut, a new 300,000 state-of-the-art warehouse and operations center in Southaven, Mississippi, and plans to add to its team of in-field sales professionals. 

Latin Percussion®, Toca® and Gibraltar® Percussion Brands Return to KMC Music as Part of New Distribution Agreement

Underscoring its unique ability to provide manufacturers with a broad and deep reach to every segment of the MI retail marketplace, KMC Music (www.kmcmusic.com) today announced that it has been appointed by Drum Workshop, Inc. (www.dwdrums.com) to serve as the preeminent United States distributor with the largest selection of Latin Percussion®, Toca®, and Gibraltar® percussion brands.  Drum Workshop acquired the brands three months ago in an asset sale agreement with then KMC Music owner, Fender Musical Instruments, Inc. 

“We welcome the return of these great brands to the KMC Music family,” KMC Music President Mark Terry said today.  “This is a great moment for our dealers, who can now again order the Latin Percussion, Toca, and Gibraltar brands from the industry’s best high value added distributor, KMC Music!  Drum Workshop’s appointment is a true testament to KMC Music’s unique capabilities.”

Under the terms of the agreement announced today, KMC Music assumes immediate responsibility for selling, marketing, and supporting the three industry leading percussion brands to all non Drum Workshop house accounts, providing KMC Music’s sales team with the ability to bring the brands to some 6,000 additional MI dealers across the country.  “This appointment reaffirms KMC Music’s distribution strengths,” Terry emphasized, “And, in the process, it effectively cements our position as the industry’s most complete one-stop shopping resource for any MI dealer looking to offer their customers the broadest range of percussion brands and options at every major price point.”

The Latin Percussion, Toca, and Gibraltar brands now join KMC Music’s existing arsenal of percussion lines that include Remo drumheads, Vater Percussion, World Percussion, Vic Firth Drumsticks, Evans Drumheads, ProMark Drumsticks, DW Hardware, PDP hardware and drums, Regal Tip drum sticks, and Innovative Percussion. 

Commenting on the appointment today, Drum Workshop, Inc. President Chris Lombardi noted that, “KMC Music is the logical solution considering the history they have with these iconic brands.  They are a natural complement to our own sales organization and they possess the field sales and telemarketing teams, the service and support staffs, the year-round promotion programs, and the logistics and fulfillment capability needed to bring the Latin Percussion, Toca, and Gibraltar brands to the widest possible audience of musicians.  We very much look forward to working with the entire KMC team.” 

2015 KMC Music Golf Tournament Set to Tee Off on June 8th

Manufacturers, dealers, and related MI industry guests who have long looked forward to teeing off at the KMC Music Golf Tournament can book their tee times now for June 8, 2015, with the announcement today that the 28th annual event will be held at the Blue Fox Run Golf Course (www.bluefoxent.com) in Avon, Connecticut.

“This annual event has been part of the DNA of KMC for 28 years,” KMC Music President Mark Terry said today.  “And, now that KMC Music is part of the JAM US MI Group, this tradition is going to continue for, hopefully, 28 more years!  It’s simply one of the most important events on the KMC calendar and we know it is a tradition that the entire MI industry looks forward to every year.”

Indeed, the 2015 event should generate enough money to reach the $150,000 mark in total donations generated to date for the Paul Newman-created Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, according to tournament organizer Roger Hart, KMC Music Vice President of Merchandising.  “For many years, the event raised money for several charities, but, since 2006, the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp has been the sole beneficiary of the outing.  The annual event first took place in 1987 in memory of Matt Porter, the son of Everett Porter of Ovation Guitar.  That’s why the event has always been referred to as the Everett Porter Unintentional.” 

The 2015 event promises to be every bit as challenging and fun-filled as the 27 events that preceded it.  The day will begin with a shotgun round of golf, lunch, and a post-event evening of dinner and entertainment.  Platinum and Gold level sponsorship programs are available.  The Platinum Level costs $1,250 and includes a hole sponsorship, corporate signage, branding in all print materials, four rounds of golf (inclusive of cart, lunch, cocktail reception, and dinner), and four beverage tickets.  

The Gold Level costs $625 and includes corporate signage, branding in print materials, two rounds of golf (inclusive of cart, lunch, cocktail reception, and dinner), and two beverage tickets.  Sponsorship of one beverage cart is available at a cost of $1,500 and includes corporate signage, branding in print materials, four rounds of golf (inclusive of cart, lunch, cocktail reception, and dinner), and four beverage tickets.  Sponsorship of three drink stations is available at a cost of $625 each and includes corporate signage, branding in print materials, two rounds of golf (inclusive of cart, lunch, cocktail reception, and dinner), and two beverage tickets.  The individual golfer fee is $225 and includes the round of golf, lunch, cocktail reception, and dinner.

“The 2015 event will offer an entire day of golf and entertaining activities that include a Hole in One Contest, raffles, auctions, and a variety of contests that are now being developed,” Hart explained.  “For those attendees wishing to stay over night, rooms have been blocked at the Avon Old Farms Hotel (www.avonoldfarmshotel.com), located at 279 Avon Mountain Road in Avon, Connecticut.” 

To learn more about how individuals and corporations can participate in the 2015 KMC Music Golf Tournament, please email Roger Hart at roger.hart@kmcmusic.com or call him at (860) 380-3717.