Yamaha Wins Big at NAMM ‘Believe in Music Week” with Nine Awards for Excellence in Instruments and Sound Gear

Yamaha, the world’s leading sound and music brand, was honored with nine awards at this year’s NAMM “Believe in Music Week,” a new virtual event that featured industry networking, educational enrichment and uplifting entertainment January 18-22, 2021.

The Yamaha YDS-150 Digital Saxophone was selected as one of only six “Best in Show” award honorees by a panel of industry experts. The award ceremony was held on the event’s online platform January 25 and was moderated by Frank Alkyer, publisher of Music Inc. and UpBeat Daily magazines.

Also recognized during the ceremony was the company’s SS-3H Advanced Lightweight Hardware Concert Snare Drum Stand, which took honors in the “Gotta Stock It” category. The SS-3H reduces the typical snare drums stand weight by over 50 percent without sacrificing stability or height adjustment range. It is perfect for schools or individuals with snare drums, drum pads and auxiliary percussion on the go.

“I’ve got band directors who will buy ten of these,” said Leslie Stirm of Instrumental Music Center and one of the Best in Show panelists. “Drum lines, marching band, anyone who is doing pipe bands, anyone who moves around a snare drum and plays it…this is it.”

In addition, Yamaha received two honors in the “Companies to Watch” category—for the company overall and for Yamaha Electronic Drums.

“Yamaha has always had excellence in every category…their lines have always been top-notch,” said Ed Spence of Chuck Levin’s Washington Music Center and one of the Best in Show panelists. “I’m looking at where they’re going, and they always seem to be ahead of the game, and that is why I chose Yamaha as a company to watch.”

According to Alkyer, these awards bestowed upon Yamaha collectively represent the most one company has received since the inception of Best in Show in 2005.

The NAMM TEC Awards recognized AMPEG—a Yamaha company—in the “Musical Instrument Amplification & Effects” category for the AMPEG Heritage 50th Anniversary SVT, which distills the legendary amp’s most celebrated circuits into a single stage-ready head with a host of must-have modern technology and elegant vintage aesthetics.

Music Inc. also recognized Yamaha with a “Supplier Excellence” award, while MMR magazine presented the company with its Dealers’ Choice award for “Band & Orchestra Line of the Year.” Finally, Music & Sound Retailer presented Yamaha with two Music & Sound Awards: one for the YDS-150 Digital Saxophone earning “Best Band and Orchestra Product of 2020” recognition, and one for Frank J. Gutwein who earned the “2020 Rep of the Year” distinction.

“These industry accolades are particularly meaningful to Yamaha, since the dealers themselves vote on these awards, rendering them the most credible and coveted recognition in the musical products industry,” said Tom Sumner, president, Yamaha Corporation of America. “We wish to extend our deepest thanks for these honors and our steadfast commitment to continue supplying our dealers with the industry’s finest musical instruments.”

For more information about Yamaha, visit https://yamaha.io/2shekbO

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About Yamaha
Yamaha Corporation of America (YCA) is the largest subsidiary of Yamaha Corporation, Japan and offers a full line of award-winning musical instruments, sound reinforcement, commercial installation and home entertainment products to the U.S. market. Products include: Yamaha acoustic, digital and hybrid pianos, portable keyboards, guitars, acoustic and electronic drums, band and orchestral instruments, marching percussion products, synthesizers, professional digital and analog audio equipment, Steinberg recording products and NEXO commercial audio products, as well as AV receivers, amplifiers, MusicCast wireless multiroom audio systems, Blu-ray/CD players, earphones, headphones, home-theater-in-a-box systems, sound bars and its exclusive line of Digital Sound Projectors. YCA markets innovative, finely crafted technology and entertainment products and musical instruments targeted to the hobbyist, education, worship, music, professional audio installation and consumer markets.