John Mlynczak: Why NAMM Still Matters in 2026

Jan 18, 2026

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We're putting The Tonearm's needle on John Mlynczak, President and CEO of the National Association of Music Merchants.

NAMM is the trade association for the music, sound, and event industries. Basically, NAMM represents the companies that make the tools your favorite music artists use to create their work.

John has spent years at Hal Leonard and PreSonus Audio, where music education meets technology. He built curricula, managed platforms, and taught teachers how to use tech in their classrooms.

Now he runs an organization that's rethinking what a trade show means when the music industry has gone digital. NAMM just celebrated its 125th anniversary, but John isn't interested in nostalgia. He's asking harder questions about how people discover instruments, how they learn to play them, and why gathering in person still matters when you can order anything online. The NAMM Show draws tens of thousands of people to Anaheim every January (this January 20 - 24, to be exact), and the numbers behind those crowds tell a story about content, influence, and how musicians connect with gear today.

We talk about John’s shift from teaching in Louisiana to shaping industry strategy, why music advocacy needs to be offensive rather than defensive, and what happens when trade shows have to prove their value in real time.

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Dig Deeper

Guest and Organization:

Visit NAMM at namm.org and follow on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn
John Mlynczak's NAMM Profile
The NAMM Show 2026 - January 23-25, Anaheim, California
NAMM Show Registration and App Information

Educational Background and Previous Roles:

Virginia Commonwealth University - Bachelor of Music Education
Louisiana State University - Master's degrees in Music Performance and Education Leadership
Hal Leonard - Music publishing and education
PreSonus Audio - Audio technology and recording equipment
Noteflight - Online music notation software

Music Education Organizations:

Music Technology Tools Mentioned:

GarageBand - Apple's music creation software
Cubase - Digital audio workstation
Essential Elements Interactive - Music education platform

NAMM Events and Awards:

She Rocks Awards - Celebrating women in music
Parnelli Awards - Honoring live event professionals
NAMM U - Educational programming and resources

Performance Groups:

MetWinds - John's current performance ensemble

Musical Reference:

Alexander Arutiunian Trumpet Concerto - The piece John performed as a cocky freshman

Industry Research and Reports:

NAMM Industry Insights - Music products industry data
Trade Show Executive - Conference John mentioned attending

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