Musikmesse
International Trade Fair for Musical Instruments, Sheet Music, Music Production and Music Business Connections
Frankfurt am Main, 21 to 24 March 2012
The musical instrument sector will get together once again at the Musikmesse in Frankfurt am Main 21 to 24 March 2012. There, exhibitors will present the latest products and innovations from the world of musical instruments and accessories. The Musikmesse is the world’s biggest trade fair for musical instruments and musicmaking accessories. Over 75,000 visitors from the trade and industry, as well as music lovers, attended the last event in 2011. On the Saturday, Musikmesse opens its doors to amateur musicians and families, who then have the opportunity to see the range of over 30,000 musical instruments and attend the numerous concerts and product demonstrations. Musikmesse is not only a business platform but also a musical event and is aimed at both trade visitors and consumers.
Musikmesse
International Trade Fair for Musical Instruments, Sheet Music, Music Production and Music Business Connections
Frankfurt am Main, 21 to 24 March 2012
The musical instrument sector will get together once again at the Musikmesse in Frankfurt am Main 21 to 24 March 2012. There, exhibitors will present the latest products and innovations from the world of musical instruments and accessories. The Musikmesse is the world’s biggest trade fair for musical instruments and musicmaking accessories. Over 75,000 visitors from the trade and industry, as well as music lovers, attended the last event in 2011. On the Saturday, Musikmesse opens its doors to amateur musicians and families, who then have the opportunity to see the range of over 30,000 musical instruments and attend the numerous concerts and product demonstrations. Musikmesse is not only a business platform but also a musical event and is aimed at both trade visitors and consumers.
In six exhibition halls, Musikmesse presents instruments, accessories and services for the music sector. With everything ranging from classic instruments, acoustic and electric guitars and basses, brass and woodwind instruments, percussion and keyboards to electronic equipment, computer hardware, software and harmonica instruments, as well as sheet music, specialist literature, services for music-marketing and sales, musicians’ platforms, content aggregators and music instruction, Musikmesse covers the complete spectrum from the idea, via making music, to hearing music on records or on the internet. In other words, Musikmesse visitors can discover the entire value chain from instruments and sheet music to labels and music marketing and sales.
Musikmesse as business platform
All leading manufacturers and distributors from around 50 countries and regions take part in Musikmesse. In 2011, more than 1,500 exhibitors from 50 countries presented products and services to trade visitors from 119 countries. This high degree of internationality on both the exhibitor and visitor sides offers excellent chances for making new contacts with manufacturers, dealers and consumers during the fair. During the first three days, which are reserved for trade visitors, the Musikmesse provides the ideal setting for holding business discussions, cultivating existing business relationships and canvassing new customers.
Musikmesse as an event
On the Saturday of the fair, members of the public can also attend Musikmesse. This gives manufactures the chance to make direct contact with users and to obtain undiluted feedback about their products and services. Throughout the day, visitors can take part in the multi-faceted programme of events with concerts, workshops, autograph sessions and product demonstrations. On this public day, the ‘star density’ is much higher than during the trade-visitor days, and numerous international and national stars give demonstrations of their skills and the latest product innovations on the Musikmesse stages and the exhibitors’ stands.
Awards ceremonies and events
Every year, the musical-instrument sector takes advantage of the Musikmesse to present important awards for instruments and personalities from the music world and musical-instrument sector, e.g., the Frankfurt Music Prize, the PRG LEA and the German Music Instrument Award. Initiated by the Federal Association of German Musical Instrument Manufacturers (Bundesverband der Deutschen Musikinstrumenten-Hersteller e. V. – BDMH) and Messe Frankfurt, the Frankfurt Music Prize is presented on the eve of the Musikmesse for outstanding achievements in interpretation, composing, musicology and music teaching. The PRG Live Entertainment Award (LEA), which is given to the people behind the scenes of concert tours and stage shows, is also held on the eve of the fair. During this glamorous evening event in the ‘Festhalle’ of Frankfurt Fair and Exhibition Centre, stars who generally stand in the limelight will present the awards to colleagues who normally remain out of the public eye.
The musical-instrument sector selects the instruments of the year from among its ranks. In 2012, the German Musical Instrument Award, which is given by the German Ministry for Economics and Employment, will go to instruments in the categories Renaissance lute, 8-course, in G’ und ‘Cello’.
Promoting young people
Musikmesse helps promote music making and education among young people with a number of specific activities. One of the events in this segment is Music4Kids. This participatory exhibition, at which children can try out musical instruments and acoustic installations for themselves, provides them with an active introduction to music making and the world of sound. Music4Kids, which has developed into the world’s biggest event of its kind, will open its doors to school classes and kindergarten groups on 19 March 2012. All Musikmesse visitors can see Music4Kids for themselves on the Saturday when the fair opens to members of the public.
An event for more ‘advanced’ youngsters is the final round of the SchoolJam competition in which school-student bands play and sing for the title of ‘Germany’s Best School Band’. On a professional stage, the eight finalists have to demonstrate their abilities to a jury made up of musicians, journalists and other experts from the music sector.
One event – two fairs
In many product groups, there is no longer an unequivocal boundary between consumers and professional / hire users, especially in the fields of studio engineering, studio software, microphones and effects. These products are used both in home and professional studios. Account has been taken of this situation by holding Musikmesse concurrently with the Prolight + Sound trade fair, which presents equipment and services for events and entertainment. Holders of admission tickets to the Musikmesse are entitled to attend Prolight + Sound and vice versa. The admission price also includes 2nd class travel on local public-transport services operated by the RMV public-transport authority. Visitors can purchase their tickets via the Online Ticket Shop and print out their admission tickets at home. More information and reproduction-quality photographs can be found on the internet at: www.musikmesse.com.
Musikmesse hours of opening
from 21 to 24 March 2012 09.00 to 18.00 hrs.
Admission prices, Musikmesse 2012 Trade visitors (21 to 23 March)
Day ticket (in advance and online) € 28.00 (on arrival) € 43.00
Season ticket (in advance and online) € 45.00 (on arrival) € 67.00
Members of the public (Saturday, 24 March)
Adults (in advance and on arrival) € 29.00
Adults (online ticket) € 20.00
Children aged from 6-12 € 7.00
Pupils / students / pensioners
Trainees (including trade-visitor days) € 15.00
Families (up to two adults and three children aged from 6-12) € 32.00
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