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.” 

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.