The 2023 NAMM Show will celebrate two of history’s most impactful musical innovations: the 40th anniversary of MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) with MIDI@40 and the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, with Hip-Hop@50.
Each day of the show, which takes place April 13–15, in Anaheim, California, will offer the intertwined story of
hip-hop and MIDI, and the relationship between technology and music creation. Together, hip-hop and MIDI — as an underlying, enabling technology — have had a global impact in breaking down barriers and making music more accessible.
In fact, MIDI drum machines, sequencers, synths, and turntables are at the heart of many of the iconic records that made hip-hop the cultural phenomenon that it is today.
As part of the MIDI@40 celebration, the MIDI Zone in the front of Hall A of the Anaheim Convention Center will celebrate a wide range of products and innovations using MIDI. In total, 30 companies will be displaying the latest in MIDI innovation, and The MIDI Association will be demonstrating MIDI 2.0, the most important upgrade to MIDI since its debut at The NAMM Show in 1983.
“MIDI@40 not only showcases all of the amazing MIDI products that have impacted music over
the past 40 years but also looks forward to the future with MIDI 2.0 products that will continue to
shape the way music is made for decades to come,
Athan Billias, President of the MIDI Association
HipHop@50 Events At April NAMM
TEC Experience on Thursday night
Chuck D, the legendary leader and founder of rap group Public Enemy, social activist, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, and GRAMMY® Lifetime Achievement Award winner, will be honored with NAMM’s Impact Music & Culture Award at The 2023 NAMM Show, being held April 13-15, in Anaheim, California.
The Impact Music & Culture Award was conceived by musician, producer and songwriter Brian Hardgroove as an opportunity to recognize individuals who move culture through the power of music. The award will be presented at NAMM for the very first time. Chuck D will be on hand to accept the award, presented at the TEC Experience on Thursday, April 13 from 6-7:30 p.m.
The recognition comes as part of The NAMM Show’s Hip-Hop 50 celebration, a curated slate of sessions and events throughout the conference that pay tribute to a genre of music that has greatly influenced culture, music, and music-making products.
“As an outgrowth of hip-hop culture, rap music has revolutionized popular music with an impact not seen since the emergence of rock and roll. One of hip-hop’s most influential artists is Public Enemy’s Chuck D,” shared Hardgroove, Public Enemy’s bassist and bandleader and founder of Resonant Alien. “I had the opportunity to watch Chuck up close and witness first-hand the impact he’s had on music fans worldwide. It will be an honor for me to present Chuck with the first Impact Music & Culture Award as part of this year’s TEC Experience at NAMM.”
As an outgrowth of hip-hop culture, rap music has revolutionized popular music with an impact not seen since the emergence of rock and roll. One of hip-hop’s most influential artists is Public Enemy’s Chuck.
I had the opportunity to watch Chuck up close and witness first-hand the impact he’s had on music fans worldwide.
It will be an honor for me to present Chuck with the first Impact Music & Culture Award as part of this year’s TEC Experience at NAMM.
by Hardgroove, Public Enemy’s bassist and bandleader and founder of Resonant Alien.
Only You Can Set You Free:
Living Colour’s Muzz Skillings on the Making and Impact of ‘Vivid’ and ‘Time’s Up’
Friday, April 14, 2023 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM · 1 hr. (America/Los_Angeles)
Streaming will start Friday, April 14, 2023 12:00 PM
204AB
In-Person & Livestream on NAMM +
Muzz Skillings is a multi Grammy Award-winning artist most widely known as the original bass player from Living Colour. He has also recorded and performed with Michael Jackson, Robert Plant, Elvis Costello among others. Born and raised in Southeast Queens, New York, he enjoyed the environment which enabled him to record and perform in the styles and genres of music such as Rock, Jazz, Jazz Fusion, Salsa, Merengue, Contemporary Gospel, and R&B.
He has also partnered with the United Nations, conceiving and developing their first Global Media Event to eradicate AIDS, and has written, narrated directed the NFL Films presentation of his not-for-profit organization, Audible For Autism, partnering with the NFL.
On Friday, Hip-Hop@50 will present “Chuck D on Hip-Hop@50.”
Hosted by Brian Hardgroove, the session will feature an in-depth conversation with legendary rapper and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame leader of Public Enemy, Chuck D. Come hear the history of this American cultural phenomenon through the lens of a legend that influenced the genre like no other.
MIDI@40 Educational Sessions
Wearable technology has had the promise and ability to usher music into a new era, letting us go beyond sound and enter into new multi-sensory experiences for both creators and audience members. But despite this potential, the question remains: Why are the music and entertainment industries not realizing and better showcasing these next-generation innovations?
Join A3E for a fascinating discussion on the intersection of creative imagination and technological innovation. A panel of experts will explore the ways in which wearable technology is transforming the entertainment industry, how it will expand artistic expression and create more inclusion for audience members, and how we can bridge the gap between artists and developers creating transformative collaboration opportunities.
On Friday, April 14, from 4:00 – 5:00 p.m., A3E: Advanced Audio Applications Exchange will present “MIDI 2.0: What Developers Need to Know About Free Tools for Developing MIDI 2.0 Products and Apps.”
The panel discussion will feature members of the MIDI 2.0 working group, including Pete Brown, Florian Bomers, Mike Kent, and Andrew Mee as they discuss recent changes to the core MIDI 2.0 specifications and the MIDI 2.0 API on Apple, Google, Linux, and Microsoft operating systems.
They’ll also explain the tools that The MIDI Association is providing to all developers to help make MIDI 2.0 devices easier.
Immediately following the session, attendees can delve into “MIDI 2.0: What Musicians Need to Know About MIDI 2.0.” The panel session, featuring Craig Anderton, Brett Porter of Art and Logic, Michael Cain of Ekwe and artist Moldover, will introduce the new MIDI 2.0 products at The NAMM Show and provide an overview of what new MIDI specifications will mean to musicians, including MPE,
The MIDI@40 and Hip-Hop@50 celebrations will come together on Saturday, April 15 from 3–5 p.m. with an All Star concert
The MIDI@40 and Hip-Hop@50 celebrations will come together on Saturday, April 15 from 3–5 p.m. on the Yamaha Grand Plaza Stage with a performance by Resonant Alien, the new band featuring Brian Hardgroove and DJ Johnny Juice of Public Enemy and then an hour showcase of MIDI artists from around the world.
At Saturday’s anniversary celebration, lifetime achievement awards will be presented to (or posthumously honor) legendary music industry innovators who created the modern music production environment of synths, drum machines, and sequencers, including Bob Moog, Don Buchla, Ikutaro Kakehashi, Tsutomu Katoh, Roger Linn, Tom Oberheim, Alan Pearlman, Dave Rossum, and Dave Smith.
The musicians, composers and performance artists selected as MIDI brand ambassadors represent the beautiful diversity of cultures and people from all over the world and music from different genres and generations brought together by music and MIDI.
At Saturday’s anniversary celebration, lifetime achievement awards will be presented to (or posthumously honor) legendary music industry innovators who created the modern music production environment of synths, drum machines, and sequencers, including Bob Moog, Don Buchla, Ikutaro Kakehashi, Tsutomu Katoh, Roger Linn, Tom Oberheim, Alan Pearlman, Dave Rossum, and Dave Smith.
The musicians, composers and performance artists selected as MIDI brand ambassadors represent the beautiful diversity of cultures and people from all over the world and music from different genres and generations brought together by music and MIDI.
The afternoon event will be hosted by world champion juggler and MIDI power user Mark Nizer and will feature musicians, composers, and performance artists who represent the beautiful diversity of cultures and people from all over the world, along with music from different genres and generations brought together by music and MIDI.
The show will start with a movie scored by the first president of the MIDI Association and film and game composer, Jeff Rona.
Mike Garson (David Bowie, Nine Inch Nails, Smashing Pumpkins) will perform an improvised piano solo.
- Rick Feds and Cécile Delaurentis will be showing off the Embodme Erae Touch next generation MIDI Controller, Mimu gloves and the Ableton Push.
Mark Isham who has over 4 billion dollars in box office movie scores will perform music from some of his most popular soundtracks.
Jordan Rudess (keyboard player for Dream Theatre and developer of Geoshred) is working with a group of musicians from India and showing off the possibilities of MPE for expressive performance.
Myron McKinley is a pianist, producer, songwriter, programmer, and film score composer for large box office films and television shows.
Working extensively with the best in the industry, McKinley has toured with Grammy award winner Whitney Houston, Kenny Lattimore, Stanley Clarke, En Vogue, and has toured as the Musical Director for Philip Bailey, Cherokee, Doc Powell and Shai.Currently, for the last twelve years, McKinley serves as the Musical Director for Grammy award winners and pop music giants Earth, Wind and Fire while touring with his own incomparable band, The Myron McKinley Trio.
MIDI Innovation Awards judge
Moldover (godfather of Controllerism) and
Lula Mebrahtu are collaborating on a performance showing off DIY controllers.
The show will climax with a performance from The Ambassador of Soul, Ellis Hall.
Blind since the age of 18, Hall has written nearly 4,000 blues, gospel, and soul songs and performed with the likes of Ray Charles, Natalie Cole, Herbie Hancock, Tower of Power, Bobby Womack, and Stevie Wonder.
A NAMM JAMM to close the April Show
The MIDI@40 and HipHop@50 celebrations are truly joined together musically in a finale written by Brockett Parsons, keyboard player for Lady Gaga where many of the performers from HipHop@50 and MIDI@40 will join the stage for a final JAMM at NAMM.
“The MIDI@40 and Hip-Hop@50 celebrations have come together in a perfect creative storm.
Hip-hop and MIDI have both made music more accessible to more people and changed our global music culture.
Brian Hardgroove, Resonant Alien and Public Enemy
Registration for The 2023 NAMM Show is now open.
