“Got a feeling ‘21 is gonna be a good year…” begins one of Pete Townshend’s songs from the Who’s 1969 rock opera, Tommy. And so far, 2021 is turning out way better than what we experienced in 2020: Each day we drift away from the winter solstice, the days get a little longer and if we can convince the naysayers, anti-maskers and anti-vaxxers to tow the line a bit, we can get our industry and the world back on track in a few months — hopefully.
Spring hasn’t quite sprung yet, but a bit of normalcy returns with NAMM’s “Believe in Music” virtual show, which should serve to get the industry to begin planning for the future. Slated for January 18 to 22, the digital event’s extensive online programming will include a special track devoted to Entertainment Technology, with sessions and interviews for the touring and live event community. A “Marketplace” feature will offer hundreds of brands showcasing their latest products in an interactive, AI-powered platform designed to connect buyers and sellers. Get your free “Believe in Music” registration at http://attend.believeinmusic.tv.
A not-to-be-missed video to be released during NAMM week will be a rapid-fire retrospective on the first 20 years of the Parnelli Awards, including an In Memoriam section honoring those in our industry who passed away during 2020 and some irreverent fun from Parnelli Awards producer Terry Lowe and board of advisors chair Marshall Bissett. It will be available Friday, Jan. 22 through NAMM’s Believe In Music portal. The retrospective portion will also be available at www.parnelliawards.com.
For a preview of the fun, check out our special “20 Years of the Parnelli Awards” feature starting on page 10. A splendid time is guaranteed for all. Meanwhile, stay safe!
