KMCMusicorp

KMC Music
Division
Industry Musical instruments
Predecessor Kaman Music Corporation
Founded 1966 (1966)
Headquarters Bloomfield, Connecticut, USA
Key people
 Charles Kaman
Products String instruments
Brass instruments
Percussion instruments
Amplifiers
Parent Jam Industries
Website kmcmusic.com
External video
Oral History, Bill Kaman reflects on his father's love of music, and his contributions to both the aerospace and music industries. Interview date June 9, 2007, NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants) Oral History Library

KMC Music, a division of Jam Industries,[1] is an owner and distributor of several brands of musical instruments.

History

The company began as Kaman Music Corporation /kəˈmɑːn/, a part of the Kaman Corporation founded by Charles Kaman. In addition to his business interests in aviation, Kaman was a guitarist who came to explore the use of composite materials technologies in guitar building. He and his engineers created the round-backed, composite-body Ovation guitar in 1966.

In January, 2008, Kaman Corporation sold Kaman Music Corporation to Fender Musical Instruments Corporation (FMIC) for $117 million.[2]

In 2011, Kaman Music Corporation and Musicorp, sister companies under the FMIC umbrella, united their sales and catalog divisions as KMC Musicorp.[3][4][5]

In 2014, FMIC sold KMC's Gretsch Drums, TOCA Percussion, Latin Percussion, KAT Percussion, Ovation guitar and Gibraltar Hardware brands to Drum Workshop.[6]

In February 2015, Fender Musical Instruments Corporation sold KMC to Jam Industries[1]

Brands

Brand Products
Barcus-Berry Pianos, classical guitars, violins, harps
Becker Instruments Violins, viola, cellos
Eldon Trumpets, saxophones, flutes, clarinets, trombones
Genz Benz Guitar amplifiers
Hamer Electric guitars

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "FMIC Sells KMC Music Wholesale Distribution Business to JAM Industries". Music Inc. Magazine. February 12, 2015. Fender Musical Instruments Corporation (FMIC) announced on Feb. 10 that it has completed an asset sale of the KMC Music wholesale distribution business, including the trade name B&J Music, and certain proprietary brands, to JAM Industries, Ltd. JAM Industries is a global leader in the MI, pro-audio and consumer electronics wholesale distribution business.
  2. ↑ Chang, Andrea (October 30, 2007). "Fender to acquire music firm Kaman". Los Angeles Times.
  3. ↑ Jason Farrell (May 17, 2012). "About Fender Musical Instruments Corporation". Press Release: Fender Musical Instruments Corp. appoints Jeff Quinn as licensing director (May 17, 2012). Fender Musical Instruments Corporation. Retrieved 2014-06-11. ... In 2007, FMIC acquired KMC Music, one of the largest independent U.S. distributors of musical instruments and accessories. In 2011, KMC Music and Musicorp united their sales and catalog divisions as KMCMusicorp, creating a leading wholesaler of musical instruments, accessories and lighting equipment. KMCMusicorp produces and/or distributes Ovation®, Takamine® and Hamer® guitars; Latin Percussion®, Gretsch® Drums, Gibraltar® Hardware, Toca® Percussion, Sabian® cymbals and Genz Benz® amplifiers and more. ...
  4. ↑ "KMC & Musicorp merge sales and marketing efforts". Music Trades 160 (1): 34. Feb 2012. Retrieved 2014-06-11.
    Abstract: The article discusses the merging of the sales and marketing forces of KMC Music and Musicorp under the KMCMusicorp banner. It notes how the new KMCMusicorp combined the best of both companies' product offerings into a new "1-Stop" catalog that has the most comprehensive range of products such as the Barcus-Berry, C.F. Martin and Dunlop. It indicates that dealers can enjoy KMCMusicorp's 24/7 state-of-the art online environment, more access to brands and streamlined shipping.
  5. ↑ "KMC & Musicorp form KMCMusicorp". Musical Merchandise Review 171 (2): 6. Feb 2012. Retrieved 2014-06-11.
    Abstract: The article reports that the sales and catalog divisions of KMC Music and Musicorp, sister companies under the Fender Musical Instruments Corp. (FMIC) umbrella, have joined forces as KMCMusicorp.
  6. ↑ "Drum Workshop Purchases Latin Percussion, Toca Percussion, Gretsch Drums, Gibraltar Hardware, and KAT Percussion from Fender’s KMC Subsidiary". Modern Drummer magazine. January 7, 2015. Drum Workshop, Inc. and Fender Musical Instruments have finalized an asset sale agreement to purchase owned and licensed percussion brands from Fender’s KMC subsidiary, including Latin Percussion, Toca Percussion, Gretsch Drums, Gibraltar Hardware, and KAT Percussion. Ovation Guitars and exclusive U.S. distribution rights for Sabian Cymbals are also included in the transaction. ...

External links

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