#nammnext

June 29 – July 1, 2025 • Nashville, TN

6–8 pm
Check-In and Welcome Reception
Check in on Level 2 and enjoy cocktails and bites with colleagues. Registration desk will be open from 4–8 pm.

8 am
Breakfast and Live Music

8:45 am
Welcome and Opening Remarks
JOHN MLYNCZAK
NAMM President and CEO
Kick off NAMM NeXT with an opening message from NAMM President and CEO John Mlynczak.

9 am
The Future Favors the Bold
MIKE WALSH
Globally Renowned Futurist
In a world reshaped by technological breakthroughs, shifting customer behaviors, geopolitical tensions and the rise of machine intelligence, success belongs to those who dare to adapt, experiment and learn at scale. Incremental improvements won’t cut it anymore. Progress demands radical reinvention — ideas that challenge convention, create new markets and combine technologies in unexpected ways. And in this special kickoff to NAMM NeXT, globally recognized futurist and author Mike Walsh will reveal why transformation is not a checklist; it’s a journey paved by courageous decisions. It could mean championing a provocative idea, breaking a long-held rule or hiring someone who challenges deeply held assumptions. The future isn’t an upgrade of the familiar — it’s an entirely new frontier. In an age of uncertainty, only bold leaders and even bolder teams will shape what comes next.

10 am
Networking Break

10:30 am
Workshop: How to Make AI Work for You
DANIEL NESTLE
Award-Winning Communications Technology Expert
The AI overwhelm is real. Whether you’re just getting started or a heavy AI user, keeping up with the daily advancements and new tools is tough. The good news: You’ll find out how to work with AI at this interactive NAMM NeXT workshop with Daniel Nestle, an award-winning strategic communications executive, communications technology leader and host of The Trending Communicator podcast.
 
You will get a look at the AI landscape and a realistic view of the tasks, processes, procedures and strategies that you need to execute every day, which we’ll turn into use cases and workflows. Also, you’ll get experience with readily available tools that won’t be obsolete next week. Most of all, you’ll walk away with your own roadmap for using AI with your specific use cases, and maybe even some practical AI solutions ready to roll that very day. 

10:30 am
Workshop: Leadership Strategies to Navigate Disruption and Foster Growth
NATALIE MURRAY
Executive Leadership Coach
In this era of continuous disruption, change fatigue is a big issue — and it can hinder your team’s engagement, resilience and progress. This workshop, let by executive leadership coach Natalie Murray of Disruption Advisors, will explore the root causes of change fatigue and its impact on individuals and organizations. Murray will also provide you with five actionable strategies to help manage change, so you and your team can move forward. Don’t let disruption impact performance and morale! Take control today at this special workshop.

12 pm
Lunch and Live Music

AIMM Lunch (Private Event)

1 pm
The Future of Economic Growth: 
Identifying Emerging Opportunities and Risks
YELENA SHULYATYEVA
The Conference Board
What does rampant economic disruption mean to business? Join Yelena Shulyatyeva, senior U.S. economist for The Conference Board, as she shares an in-depth analysis of the current economic outlook, including a comprehensive review of such key indicators as GDP growth, the labor market, inflation and interest rates. She’ll break down complex economic concepts and what they mean to the music business, as well as the potential impact of global events and economic policy decisions. Discover future market trends, and get practical advice for how you can navigate the current landscape.

2 pm
Networking Break

2:30 pm
NeXT-Generation Leadership

3:30 pm
Networking Break

4 pm
Industry Leader Roundtable: Insights From Outside the Music Business
JOHN MLYNCZAK and PANEL
NAMM President and CEO (Moderator)
How do top business leaders who originally came from outside our industry view our business? What can we learn from them as we look at future business strategy? Are we, as an industry, missing any opportunities because of long-held assumptions? Find out at this eye-opening panel discussion.

6 pm
An Evening at Gibson Garage
209 10th Ave. S, Ste 209, Nashville, TN 37203
Get ready for an exclusive NAMM NeXT event as Gibson opens the doors after hours to Gibson Garage. Join fellow industry leaders for a private evening of music and drinks at one of Nashville’s finest hot spots. This reception will be open to a limited number of attendees.

8 am
Breakfast and Live Music

Women of NAMM Breakfast

9 am
The New Experience Economy
JOE PINE
Globally Acclaimed Author
Goods and services are being commoditized. What consumers want today are experiences — memorable events that engage each individual in an inherently personal way. Musical instruments have always been about experiences, but now other industries have caught up to us. How do we now harness the concepts of the Experience Economy to up our game? How do we use experiences to generate demand so strong that customers can’t help but buy from us? Find out at this special session from globally acclaimed speaker, author and management advisor Joe Pine. He’ll walk you through the key principles of the Experience Economy and show you how to create greater value for your customers.

10 am
Networking Break

10:30 am
Workshop: Advanced Communication Strategies for Leaders
KATY CRAIG
Pavo Leadership and Disruption Advisors
Discover how to elevate your core leadership skills, whether you’re a veteran or new to running a team. This interactive workshop, led by Katy Craig of Pavo Leadership and Disruption Advisors, will focus on accelerating your leadership through improved communication, active listening and greater self-awareness.

You’ll find out how to level up your core leadership skills first by reconnecting with what matters most to you as an individual, then discovering new techniques for identifying what’s most important to others. During the workshop, you’ll also practice your skills and build relationships. Walk away with practical strategies to make decisions and take actions that will help you navigate change, improve interpersonal communication and positively impact your team and their performance once you return home. 

12 pm
Lunch and Live Music

NASMD Lunch (Private Event)

1 pm
Keynote: The Future of Retail

2 pm
Networking Break

2:30 pm
What's NeXT for Our Industry?
CULLEN HENDRIX
Peterson Institute for International Economics
At 2025 NAMM NeXT, we explored the latest business, cultural and economic shifts shaping our world. To close things out, we’ll turn to what’s ahead. Join Cullen Hendrix — a senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics — for a forward-looking session on the forces set to reshape the music instrument industry. From demographic shifts to trade policy and geopolitical realignment, Hendrix will explore the dynamics driving change in the global economy. A trusted advisor to governments around the world, multinational firms and international organizations, he helps leaders apply strategic foresight to navigate uncertainty. Hendrix is also a PhD, lifelong drummer and former music journalist.

3:30 pm
Closing Remarks
JOHN MLYNCZAK
NAMM President and CEO

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