Aalberg Audio Appoints KMC Music as its Exclusive United States Distributor of the Ground-Breaking, Wireless Controlled Effect Pedals

Adding further momentum to its 2016 business development program, KMC Music (www.kmcmusic.com), the industry-leading distributor of MI and ProAudio products, today announced that it has been appointed by Aalberg Audio (www.aalbergaudio.com) to serve as its exclusive United States distributor.

Roger Hart, KMC Music Vice President of Merchandising, today called the appointment another important step forward in KMC’s 2016 business development program. “While last year was very much a year of transition for KMC, this year is going to be a year of significant growth and expansion as we add more and more lines to our brand portfolio," Hart said. "The addition of Aalberg’s audio effects pedals to our available lines is only going to help drive sales for our dealers.” 

According to Hart, great care has been invested in the hardware and software that makes Aalberg audio effects pedals sound amazing while being intuitive to use — with and without their wireless controller. “The pedals have rich, high definition audio, LED indicators for parameter levels, stereo in/out for multiple signal configurations, and a patented custom designed aluminum housing that is built to last,” he emphasized. “The pedals also the have the ability to wirelessly connect with the Aalberg Update app, enabling musicians to easily upload new content to the pedals.” 

Aalberg Audio of Norway, an award-winning manufacturer of innovative and high-end audio equipment, is committed to becoming the world leader in wireless music equipment. The core products of Aalberg Audio are guitar effects pedals that can be controlled wirelessly from a control unit attached to the guitar. This gives the guitar player greater freedom on stage, and the possibility to manipulate the sound in a manner not previously possible.

The inspiration for wireless effects pedals came to Aalberg Audio co-founder and guitarist Rune Aalberg Alstad after a night out with student friends in 2010 during which they'd been arguing about which were the best effects pedals on the market at that time. Alstad realized that all the pedals shared a common flaw: they are all fixed to one position on stage. The sky opened up and the ideas for a remote controlled pedal just came pouring in. Alstad recalls grabbing the closest object he could write on and scribbling down the blueprint for a remotely controlled effects pedal.

Rune used his idea to form the basis of a Masters degree in Music Technology at the Norwegian University of Science & Technology (NTNU). Rune teamed up with the engineer Torkild Indstøy (now Aalberg's CTO) and entrepreneur Aleksander Torstensen (now Aalberg's CEO). The team has grown since then with many contributors and advisors helping to make our innovative ideas into a reality.

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 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.