I’m sitting in front of my laptop at the kitchen table. I’ve had to rearrange my day to allow my long standing plumber into chez Settle to sort out the central heating. But I still have to do a few things, and start work on that other thing, let alone that stack of long standing things and stuff that really needs my attention for far too long. If I were me, I’d hire another me to take the day-to-day strain, so that I could concentrate on the bigger projects that will make all the difference in the future. And that would appear to be exactly what inMusic supremo and industry mogul Jack O’Donnell has done. So say hello to Patrick Sullivan, the new president of inMusic.
For those of you still with me, and there will be a few, here are the official words:
INMUSIC APPOINTS GC EXECUTIVE PATRICK SULLIVAN AS PRESIDENT
GUITAR CENTER EXECUTIVE TO LEAD INMUSIC INTO THE FUTURE
CUMBERLAND, RI USA (January 24, 2019)—InMusic, a global leader in music technology, music production, software and consumer electronics brands, today announced the appointment of Patrick Sullivan as President reporting directly to CEO Jack O’Donnell. Sullivan joins inMusic from Guitar Center Corporation and brings significant experience in merchandising music technology brands.
In his new role, Sullivan will lead inMusic’s dynamic team during a time of exploding growth across the enterprise’s growing roster of 16 companies that spans categories ranging from keyboards, electronic percussion, DJ hardware and software, recording hardware and software, live performance loudspeakers/studio monitors/headphones, amplifiers/media players/signal distribution, lighting and consumer electronics.
Sullivan joined Guitar Center Corporation in 2003, most recently serving as Vice President of Merchandising, overseeing the live sound, recording, keyboard, DJ, consumer electronics and software business divisions across all channels and properties, including Guitar Center Stores, Musicians’ Friend, M123.com and WWBW.com as well as Guitar Center’s B2B division of Professional Audio and Visual Design Install resellers.
Under Sullivan’s leadership, Guitar Center’s technology merchandising division strategically expanded its category portfolio, re-imagined the in-store interactive merchandising experience, and co-designed its highly-successful promotional marketing program.
“I am honored to take on this new role and look forward to partnering with Jack and our talented senior leadership team to continue the unprecedented growth trajectory of InMusic Brands. Together, we will dedicate ourselves to bringing game-changing technologies and instruments to our customers.”
That’s not all — Existing long time inMusicer Mark Frederick is climbing up another rung and taking on global sales:
MARK FREDERICK PROMOTED TO EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT OF GLOBAL SALES FOR INMUSIC
LONGTIME INMUSIC EXECUTIVE TO EXPAND ROLE TO DRIVE GLOBAL SALES
CUMBERLAND, RI USA (January 24, 2019)—InMusic, a global leader in music technology, music production, software and consumer electronics brands, today announced the promotion of Mark Frederick to Executive Vice President of Global Sales, reporting directly to CEO Jack O’Donnell.
In his new role, Frederick will lead inMusic’s dynamic global sales team throughout the enterprise’s 14 offices across it’s growing roster of 16 companies with a focus on MI brands that span categories ranging from keyboards, electronic percussion, DJ hardware and software, recording hardware and software, live performance loudspeakers/studio monitors/headphones, amplifiers/media players/signal distribution, and lighting.
With over 30 years in the MI, Frederick started his career at Alesis in 1987 and joined the inMusic family upon the acquisition of Alesis in 2001. He has been most recently serving as Vice President of US Sales, overseeing live sound, recording, keyboard and DJ, responsible for the US national as well as the international sales teams for Canada and Latin America.
Under Frederick’s leadership, the US MI sales division has experience unprecedented sales growth. “I’m always excited to take on new challenges for Jack and inMusic. As our brands continue to grow in the United States and throughout the global markets I feel proud, humbled and ready to lead our talented sales teams throughout inMusic’s 14 global offices.”
WHAT IT MEANS
To most of you, nothing. The existing brands will continue to push out the gear that you love and hate. But this indicates that Jack is looking to free himself from running the day-to-day business, and focus more on developing it for the future. I’m sure he’s not quite at the micromanaging level of approving orders for stationery or making sure that there’s enough loo roll in the gents. But having generals around he can trust will release his time and mind to look at other things.
But what could those other things be? Well I imagine that he’ll be cutting some slack for his foot soldiers to make some changes. Given the glowing terms inMusic uses for its own success, it’s hard to imagine any radical changes will take place, but I would expect the new blood will want to shuffle a few things around if only to make their presence felt more than just a new title on their business cards. People do still have business cards right?
As for Jack — well he could be looking to expand his empire even further. Or play more golf. Or take up golf if he doesn’t already play it. Or maybe he’ll disappear for a few months while a mysterious yet familiar new employee called Jeff O’Connell turns up for a previously unavailable job in despatch. And doesn’t his beard look a bit funny? And why does he always wear that cap?
inMusic has a straight flush and full house of DJ and audio brands already. I wonder if Jack is looking to add more to the roster? But what could he add to the core focus of his business? A specialised studio monitor brand? Maybe a headphone company? And what about microphones? If he goes for the one stop shop approach that Pioneer DJ has, he’s still got some boxes to tick yet.
If you were wondering, my central heating is now fixed and Settle Towers is toasty again. Now to that pile of other stuff, because I sure as hell can’t afford to hire a president of DJWORX.
What will be the disco sucks moment for djing?
Theres only so much ‘not even remotely on beat’ scratching and tech house folks can take.
The only long term certainty is around the tricks that turntablists do(not just scratching, DO more); which are at least half of the appeal to djing in general.
sc9000 M
8.25″ platter
Big heavy cf
Octave buttons
Whammy bar and sustain buttons
I have no doubt that Denon will push out a 3700/3900 Primealike at some point. But the additional performer features you’ve outlined are a niche within a niche unit that will appeal to no more than 1000 people (and that’s generous), and consequently be extremely expensive.
Just for the sake of why the hell not, I would love to see someone make such a device. Kodh kind of already has — https://djworx.com/when-mixer-meets-media-player-kodhs-scrxtch/ — but the number of people in the world who could do it justice are countable on my digits. You only have to look who is doing anything meaningful with Controller Ones and fretless faders for evidence of that.
That niche is the driving force behind all of this.
This fact is being slow forgotten, and the style and charisma that goes with it is being watered down beyond recognition.
Those features are not hard to implement, and it doesn`t have to be like a guitar. We DO need more ways to expressively alter the sounds, and the “business” of djing needs us out here making new and unique sounds.
“Niche” is becoming synonymous with “i can’t coax any new/unique sounds out of my gear and need some way to mask my contempt for those who can.”
Denoumarane 9, “for the tablist”
Fader and eq on device
Dual belt-motors for added torque but lightweight
Dc power supply(so cah be mobilised)
If you genuinely believe that your idea is what people want, then you should design it, prototype it, and pitch it, either to the DJ industry, or via crowdfunding.
Inmusic has been doing stellar work. I thought they would sit back and trickle rehashed gear to the masses, but I was very wrong. Good thing, because this innovation led me to become the proud owner of a Denon Prime setup.
InMusic doesn’t need to add any more brands. They need to solidify he empire they have. Make Denon more relevant and significantly improve their software, carve a path for Rane, carve a defined path for NuMark, and not make it seem like they’re the General Motors (United States) of the DJ world with brands that share stuff to a point where it feels like one is buying the same equipment with a different brand name on it from the same parent company.
inMusic has an identity crisis – they don’t know who they want to be or who they are — they have all these brands that compete with each other, but I suppose one way to make a profit is to own as many brands as you can and increase your share of the pie.
I can see one to 2 of the brands merging into one and layoffs happening for “restructuring”.
I agree..they try to be aggressive in all segments but I don’t know if this strategy pay off..
Prime ecosystem is fine, but doesn’t worry Pioneer too much, clubs and kit rents are ever very Pioneerized ..I think Reloop are more focused on something: good products at reasobnable price to get early DJ’s (controllers) and turntablists DJ’s (Elite+7000/8000)..
Denon is a bit ‘so/so’..aside that, I’d like to have 2x SC5000M at home :)
No the ecosystem are far from fine. Its like an ocean that is dying. If you want to be the big fish in the pond you do not feed the competition and you let them starve or choke. Denon have made several errors that only avid customers and fans could anticipate.
I have a different viewpoint on this. I see very distinct DJ brands — Rane is strictly for turntablists, Denon DJ is for club and mobile DJs, and Numark is evolving to become entry level. I believe that there is crossover staff wise inside inMusic across these brands, but to me each definitely has a clear identity with fairly distinct customer bases.
Inmusic are a Hydra that will engulf itself and anything around them. Sure smaller companies my cheer on the fact they made several millions in the merger. But what then?
Guitarcenter? It sound like a used car salesman.
Instead of making brands shine, they dilute them into nothingness. Denon, Rane, Akai, Numark, Alesis, Alto, Marantz, M-Audio will be worth Squat if this continues. Just like many already mentioned. INmusic suffer from an identity crisis like a 8.1 on the richter scale.
They need to make an assessment and damage control not tomorrow. ASAP!