Music Retail Podcast

In this special episode, I was interviewed by Dave Simon from Ensemble Performing Arts, and I couldn’t be more excited to share our conversation with you. We dive into the rich history of Ernie Williamson Music—from its humble beginnings in 1935 in Pittsburg, KS, to its evolution into a multi-location powerhouse serving generations of musicians. Dave and I explore everything from the origins of ou...

In this conversation, Dave Rogers shares the journey of establishing and growing Dave's Guitar Shop, from its humble beginnings in a small space to becoming a significant player in the guitar retail market. He discusses the evolution of the business, the impact of the internet on sales, and the challenges faced over the years. Dave emphasizes the importance of company culture, the dynamics of his...

This conversation explores the innovative approach to teaching high school students about band instrument repair, initiated by Aaron Moss in response to the retirement of a local music store. The discussion covers the development of a curriculum, student engagement, funding through CTE programs, and the importance of balancing educational initiatives with professional repair services. Moss emphasi...

In this conversation, Donovan Bankhead and Bill Matthews discuss the current state of the instrument repair industry, focusing on the growing demand for repair technicians, particularly among younger generations. They explore the appeal of instrument repair as a career, the challenges faced by technicians, and the importance of fair compensation and a supportive work environment. The discussion al...

In this episode of the Music Retail Podcast, Donovan Bankhead interviews John Tarpley from Tarpley Music. They discuss the history and founding of Tarpley Music, which dates back to the 1920s. They also talk about the challenges and benefits of having multiple locations, as Tarpley Music has nine locations. They touch on the importance of culture by design and how it has helped shape their company...

Summary In this episode of the Music Retail Podcast, Donovan Bankhead interviews Jennifer and Linden Lantz, the owners of Bandwagon Music and Repair in Nashville, Tennessee. The Lantz's background is in music education, with Lyndon specializing in instrument repair. They started Bandwagon as a small repair shop and gradually expanded to include retail and rentals. They faced challenges along t...

Summary Donovan Bankhead and E.J. Dombrowski discuss their friendship and the impact of reaching out to each other. They talk about the challenges of running a music store, being resourceful, and staying competitive in the industry. They also touch on the importance of automation and delegation in order to focus on innovation and growth. The conversation highlights the constant need for adaptation...

Donovan Bankhead interviews Michael Santander, General Manager of Instrumental Music Center, about his journey in the music retail industry and the importance of hiring the right people. They discuss the shift in employee mindset from wanting to be part of a 'family' to valuing a team environment. They also emphasize the need for businesses to prioritize their employees and create a suppor...

Hickey's Music is a 130+ year old business in Ithaca, NY. Dave has owned in since the 1990s, and shares the lessons he's learned along the way.

What a treat it was to get to talk with Sammy Ash about Sam Ash Music, his thoughts on the other national competitor, how he feels about vendors selling direct (here’s looking at you, Fender), and much more!  Hosted by Donovan Bankhead, President at Springfield Music, Inc - a NAMM Top 100 Full-Line Instrumental Music Retail Business.  Want help with your business? Find Articles, Resources, and Coa...

Resharing this interview with Lori, with some brief thoughts from me in the intro.

What's the point of doing marketing that checks a box if it doesn't move the needle? Bob gives us excellent, expert advice on how to connect to our customers. 

This was recorded off the cuff using my cell phone, so please excuse the poor audio quality. But I think you'll hear the love, respect, and gratitude we have for one another in this episode. This is a bit of a trip down memory lane for Springfield Music, but for those interested in our history or growth, or those who are considering an ownership transition, it's totally worth a listen.

Cosmo Music has blown my mind ever since I first heard of them at the NAMM Top 100 Awards! One of the largest interactive music stores in the world - there is lots to learn from this episode. The history of Cosmo Music Pictures of the store

I know I got LOTS of useful things from this conversation that I needed to hear NOW, and I’m sure you will too. Learn how to be proactive in getting women in leadership roles in your organization, design products and programs to meet your customers desires, building culture, growth through acquisition, making key hires, how to do all the marketing things through outsourcing, and so much more! Grab...

Chris shares how he went from a substitute teacher needing a job to the owner of John Keal Music.

What does it take for a business to thrive for a century? Listen and find out!

Beth shares the history of Kidder Music, how it was founded by her parents, and her experience growing up and taking over the day to day.

How has the pandemic affected music studios - specifically those businesses that are primarily focused on teaching? What are their thoughts on the future?

Anderton’s history is like many in our industry - but how did they rise up to become one of the MI retail giants?

Jon is not only an MI industry rep, he also represents products in the powersports industry as well. And, fun fact, he used to own the store that I purchased in KC!

Jim Hirschberg explains what MI SalesTrak does, how it works, what benefits you get from participating in the program, and how to get started.

Have a retail question? Want a free coaching session? Go to http://www.musicretailconsulting.com/

Voice Messages Hey Friends! I want to hear from you! If you have thoughts on today’s episodes, have a suggestion for a future guest, or just have something you want to ask or share, look in the show notes of your podcasting app and click the link to send in a voice message. I’d love to hear from YOU!

Whitney gives us a quick history of Ted Brown Music and how she came to be President, and then we have some fascinating conversations about adaption, adoption, and more!