BEST BUY TO OPEN IN-STORE MUSIC CENTERS
In a move that could radically transform the musical-instrument retail landscape, retail electronics giant Best Buy (bestbuy.com) announced it will open in-store music centers in as many as 85 stores by the end of this year. The retailer plans to sell acoustics ranging in price from $89.99 to $3,200. Fender (fender.com) and Gibson (gibson.com) have been announced as featured brands, and acoustic guitars from both companies are already available via Best Buy’s online store. If Best Buy completes plans for all 85 stores, the company will become the second largest instrument retailer (behind Guitar Center) in terms of locations.

INDEPENDENT FILM CHANNEL AND DEL MCCOURY ANNOUNCE FILM-FOR-MUSIC CONTEST
In an interesting case of crossover music marketing, bluegrass legend Del McCoury has joined forces with the Independent Film Channel (IFC) to enable fans to create film interpretations of songs from McCoury’s new album, Moneyland. As part of an effort that McCoury describes as a push to inspire grassroots creativity, fans can choose any one of the songs from the album as a vehicle for their film and enter the contest via an entry form at:
livinginmoneyland.com/movieadd.cfm

CLASSICAL GUITAR WEEKEND COMES TO CLEVELAND
Guitars International, the Cleveland-based dealer of fine classical guitars, is working in cooperation with the Cleveland Institute of Music to present a Classical Guitar Weekend. The festival takes place September 5–7, 2008, on the campuses of the Cleveland Institute of Music and Case Western Reserve University and features performances and master classes with Jason Vieaux, Ricardo Gallen, and Paul O’Dette.
guitarsint.com

LA CHITARRA—QUATTRO SECOLI DI CAPOLAVORI TO SHOWCASE GUITAR MASTERPIECES IN ALESSANDRIA, ITALY
One of the most impressive collections of antique guitars ever assembled will be on view at La Chitarra—Quattro Secoli di Capolavori (The Guitar: Four Centuries of Masterpieces), a month-long exhibit at the Palazzo del Monferrato in Alessandria, Italy. The exhibit, which runs September 19–October 19, 2008, will feature works by some of Europe’s most important, influential, and pioneering luthiers including Torrès, Stauffer, Hauser, Ramírez, Stradivari, and Simplicio. The exhibit will also feature several guitars with notable histories—among them instruments owned by Niccolò Paganini, Queen Margareth of Savoy, Augustin Barrios, John Williams—and some will be featured in concerts held as part of the festival.
http://sinierderidder.free.fr/gb/maingb.html

SCHERTLER SB
We review a distinctively styled flattop that unites the efforts of Schertler and designer Claudio Pagelli. With video. [more]

MULTIPLE-SCALE FRETBOARDS
All you need to know about guitars with “fanned” frets. [more]

August 21–24
JAMES BURTON INTERNATIONAL GUITAR FESTIVAL AND EXPO
Shreveport, Louisiana
jamesburtonmusic.com

August 24–25
MUSICAL INDUSTRIES ASSOCIATION OF CANADA 2008 TRADE SHOW
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
miac.net

September 5–7
CLASSICAL GUITAR WEEKEND
Cleveland, Ohio
guitarsint.com

September 29–October 5
IBMA WORLD OF BLUEGRASS 2008
Nashville, Tennessee
ibma.org

September 20–October 20
LA CHITARRA, FOUR CENTURIES OF MASTERPIECES
Alessandria, Italy
http://sinierderidder.free.fr/gb/maingb.html

October 18–19
ARLINGTON GUITAR SHOW
Arlington, Texas
texasguitarshows.com

January 15–19
WINTER NAMM
Anaheim, California
namm.org

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