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| According to recently released industry sales figures for 2004, the percussion market continues to be one of the fastest growing segments of the entire musical instrument industry- topping half a billion dollars in U.S. retail sales for the first time ever. Statistics show that the unit volume of drumkit sales increased by a whopping 24% while the dollar volume of accessories such as sticks, heads, cymbals and hardware as well as the dollar volume of the overall drum market was up an average of just under 9% for the year.
Available sales data for the first quarter of 2005 indicates a 3.2% increase over the previous year that, once again, puts the percussion market among the industry's top performers. Industry analysts conclude these consistently upbeat figures show that new players are not only coming into the market, they are remaining in it as they mature. Along with this rising tide of drummers and dollars, the Percussion Marketing Council (PMC) continues to play an important role in contributing to the inertia of the marketplace. The PMC, which was formed in 1995 and is currently managed by four co-directors and an advisory board made up of drum industry executives, has been responsible for creating public relations and market development programs that have supported the market's growth from $150 million in 1994 to $530 million in 2004, an increase of over 350% during the course of the Council's ten year existence. Earlier in 2005 the PMC announced its plans for an impressive slate of projects and partnerships for 2005-2006. Among these programs are: - PMC-PAS Alliance - PMC has partnered with the Percussive Arts Society, the world's largest organization of drummers, educators, manufacturers and suppliers, to promote drumming through community outreach activities in conjunction with PAS' International Conference as well as regional and state chapter events. - PMC-Retailer Alliance - PMC has initiated a pilot program in conjunction with Kaman Music to encourage community outreach activities at local music retailers throughout the United States using PMC-created market development programs such as Developmental Drumming (early childhood music), Play Drums! (first drumset and hand drum lesson) and Roots Of Rhythm (World Drumming for fifth and sixth grade classrooms). - Roots Of Rhythm - The classroom World Percussion curriculum is being expanded in conjunction with program partner, the International House Of Blues Foundation, and several additional teacher-training sessions have been scheduled at House Of Blues locations around the country. In addition, a one-week Roots Of Rhythm teacher workshop/certification program is in development for the summer of 2006. |
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