MI Pro

ACOUSTIC GUITAR

Under £500

Tanglewood - 16%
Yamaha - 14%
Fender - 8.75%
Crafter - 6.25%
Freshman - 5%
Farida - 5%
Vintage - 3.75%
Alvarez - 3.75%
Washburn - 3.75%
Taylor Big Baby - 2.5%
Legacy - 2.5%
Epiphone - 2.5%

Past winner Tanglewood has reclaimed its position at the top spot as the company moves from strength to strength.
Joining Tanglewood at the top is Yamaha, whose FG guitars have provided many a newcomer with an excellent introduction to the instrument. Fender and Crafter edged ahead of the pack with the CD 60 and Lite D6 respectively.
Farida, alongside the up and coming Freshman, performed well, both companies committed to providing a quality instrument regardless of pricepoint and reaping the rewards. Vintage, Alvarez and Washburn all scored respectably, whilst Taylor confirmed what we all knew – that it is just as capable of catering to the lower end market with a product like the Big Baby as it is hitting it out at the £1,000 plus mark.

£500 to £1,000

Martin DX-1 - 13.75%
Tanglewood Heritage - 12.5%
Taylor 110 - 8.75%
Taylor 214 - 5%
Takamine Tan 10 - 5%
Yamaha CJ32 - 5%
Breedlove Atlas AJ250SM - 3.75%
Faith Venus - 3.75%
Dean S2 - 1.25%
Freshman FA 400 - 1.25%
Tanglewood Sundance Pro - 1.25%

Westside continues to perform a stirling job with Martin, ensuring that the brand finished top of the tree in the mid-range acoustic market, with the DX-1 just edging ahead of its nearest rival.
The real story here is the ascendancy of Tanglewood, which has risen from a broadly budget brand to a force to be reckoned with, taking on Martin and out-performing the mighty Taylor in the £500 to £1,000 price bracket.
Scots firebrand Freshman makes its mark with the FA 400, capping what has been an exciting year that has seen rave reviews and celebrity endorsements thrust the company into the spotlight.

Over £1,000

Martin D 28 Series - 13.75%
Taylor 510 - 10%
Taylor 314 - 6.25%
Gibson J 45 - 3.75%
Lowden F32 - 3.75%
Fylde Magician - 2.5%

It’s a familiar showing at the top end of the acoustic guitar market, with Martin, Taylor and Gibson continuing to scrap it out.
The old standard, the D 28, was the runaway winner, proving that a rich heritage and the respect of thousands of players worldwide will always sway the customer.
The 510 and 314 models state the case for Taylor. Although 2008 looks set to be full of change for the Taylor brand, hopefully its high standards and keen market awareness will be maintained.
Gibson’s perennial round-shouldered favourite the J-45 still attracts the masses with its distinctive, classic design and fulsome tone, whilst Lowden makes its presence felt with the F32, a smashing guitar that did well enough for the to equal Gibson in its share of the market.

ELECTRIC GUITARS

Under £500

Epiphone Les Paul - 20%
Ibanez RG 321 - 12.5%
Yamaha Pacifica - 8.75%
Fender Squire Strat - 7.5%
Aria STW 03 - 6.25%
Vintage V6 Icon - 5%
Fender Mex Strat - 3.75%
Legacy 56 - 3.75%
Dean Evo S3 - 2.5%
Crafter ST120 - 2.5%
Farida FST - 2.5%
Ashton AG 132 - 2.5%
Tokai LS 50 Q - 2.5%
Stagg Strat - 2.5%
Ibanez AF 75 - 2.5%

Leading the field in the budget electric guitar market is the Epiphone Les Paul, still a hugely popular choice to the guitarist on a budget looking for a classic.
Ibanez’s RG 321 has performed particularly admirably, finishing ahead of both the Yamaha Pacifica and the Fender Squire Strat, two instruments that sell by the bucket load. The popularity of the Yamaha Pacifica, Vintage V6 Icon, Fender Mex Strat and Stagg Strat, amongst others, confirm the dominance of Leo Fender’s classic design as the obvious starting point for the aspiring Hendrix.
Ashton’s steady work has reaped rewards as the AG 132 joins a number of other brands on 2.5 per cent.

£500 to £1,000

Fender USA Standard Strat - 43.5%
Ibanez RG 262 - 7.5%
Gibson Les Paul Studio - 7.5%
Indie Natural - 3.75%
PRS SE - 3.75%
ESP EC 1000 - 3.75%
Fender Highway Strat - 1.25%
Gretsch Electromatic Corvette - 1.25%
Fender Mexican Tele - 1.25%
Epiphone Zakk Wylde - 1.25%
Yamaha SG 1000 - 1.25%
Hagstrom HJ 800 - 1.25%

No real surprises here, as the USA Standard Strat dominates, with classy looks, North American construction and a price tag that has kept many players returning to Fender year after year.
Ibanez’s RG and the Gibson Les Paul both make predictable appearances, while the Indie Natural, a tele-shaped model from the up and coming manufacturer, has been a sleeper hit.

£1,000+

Gibson Les Paul Standard - 32.5%
PRS CE 22 - 8.75%
Ibanez JEM - 3.75%
Fender Strat Custom - 2.5%
Gretsch 6120 - 2.5%

The Les Paul Standard tips the top of the high-end market with a huge percentage of the vote, perhaps due to prices of Gibson’s most popular model remaining, as some might say, refreshingly expensive.
There is no doubt though that Fender has had a poor showing in this part of the survey; with no models other than the predictable Strat making any impact at all, there is clearly work to be done.
PRS, in second place with its modern classic CE, unleashed a number of new products at the NAMM show and is sure to remain a stable of the public’s guitar diet for some time. The gorgeous Gretsch 6120, with its Chet Atkins sound and vintage looks has held its own here, whilst Rickenbacker’s legendary 330 continues to make old mods happy.

BASS GUITARS

Below £500

Yamaha RBX - 12.5%
Ibanez ATK - 12.5%
Fender Squire Precision - 8.75%
Fender Squire Jazz - 5%
Mex Fender Jazz - 5%
Crafter BA 400 EQ - 5%
Tanglewood Rebel 4 - 5%
Ashton AB900 - 3.75%
Warwick Rockbass - 3.75%
Schecter Stiletto - 3.75%

Over £500

Fender USA Jazz - 16.25%
Fender USA Precision - 7.5%
Warwick Corvette - 7.5%
Ibanez Soundgear - 7.5%
Spector Euro 4 - 6.25%
Dean V Bass - 3.75%
Musicman Subbass - 2.5%

For the second year running, the Fender Jazz bass claims first place, with its older sister the Precision coming in behind it.
This year has seen an upswing in Precision sales, with the model reclaiming ground back from Ibanez and Warwick, although both brands are, as demonstrated here, still fighting fit in the bass sector.
In the sub-£500 section, Yamaha and Ibanez give the Squier models strong competition, although once again, combined brand votes show a different story. Interwsting to see that bassists appear a lot less conservative than thier six-string playing cousins.

ELECTRO-ACOUSTIC GUITARS

Under £500

Yamaha APX - 16.25%
Crafter GA6 - 13.75%
Tanglewood TFCE ASB - 8.75%
Takamine EG Series - 7.5%
Cort MR200 - 5%
Washburn D10 SE - 5%
Vintage VEC 500 - 5%
Faith Jupiter - 5%
LAG Summer - 3.75%
Alvarez MD - 2.5%
Farida AD10 - 2.5%
Ibanez AEG - 2.5%
Fender CD 140 - 2.5%
Guvnor 500 SE - 2.5%

The electro acoustic market is a fiercely contested area which especially in the sub-£500 price bracket has seen Yamaha retain an impressive stranglehold on sales with its APX range.
Crafter maintains a strong presence in this area, as Tanglewood once again pops up with a steady third place. With so much electro-acoustic product out there, it is no surprise to see this area crammed with both familiar and unfamiliar names; Guvnor, for example, has recently begun to make itself felt, and enjoys its first appearance in the survey. Farida, Ibanez and Alvarez all join Fender with a small share of the market, whilst interestingly LAG takes up a larger proportion of votes than many would have forseen.

Over £500

Taylor 110 CE - 11.25%
Takamine Tan 10C - 8.75%
Tanglewood Heritage - 7.5%
Ovation Pinnacle - 6.25%
Yamaha CPX - 5%
Breedlove AC 25/FM - 3.75%
Freshman FA 350 FCES - 2.5%
Martin X Series - 1.25%
Fylde Goodfellow - 1.25%

Now that such great instruments can be bought for under the £500 mark, many dealers are happy to keep costs down and stock by avoiding keeping more expensive electro acoustic instruments in stock.
Of those that do, it was once again Taylor that has proven the most reliable sale, with the brand keeping an impressive grip on the UK’s acoustic guitar market.
Again, Tanglewood has made great inroads into a higher price bracket, as the name begins to mature and becomes a safe purchase in the eyes of many players. Familiar names are very much the norm here, with the likes of Ovation, Yamaha and Takamine all putting in respectable results, which only goes to show just how well Tanglewood has done to break into this part of the guitar market.

GUITAR AMPS

Below £300

Line 6 Spider - 26.25%
Marshall MG Series - 13.75%
Vox Valvetronix AD 50 VT - 12.5%
Roland Microcube - 12.5%
Kustom 10 FX - 10%
Fender FM Series - 5%
Crafter Cruiser - 2.5%

Line 6’s flexible and affordable Spider range is the clear winner here, just as in last year’s survey. Its modelling technology continues to provide a large tonal palette to players restricted to keeping things on a tight budget.
Marshall and Vox, with products that pack in the features, demonstrate a desire by players to pick up the best range of sounds possible for the money.
Roland’s Microcube has had a good year, the little amp proving that sometimes simple, straightforward features and as much kick as possible are enough to pull in the punters. Its outstanding price has also no doubt been a factor. Peavey has surprisingly dropped out of this area of the survey, as has Crate and Orange, whilst Hi-Watt, Hughes and Kettner, Stagg and Watson all barge in the open door.

£300 to £700

Marshall AVT Series - 20%
Fender Hot Rod Deluxe - 18.75%
Line 6 Spider Valve - 8.75%
Marshall DSL - 5%
Kustom 36 Coupe - 3.75%
Laney LV series - 3.75%
Peavey Valveking - 3.75%
Orange Rockaverb 30 - 2.5%
Soundcity Mark 6 Combo - 1.25%
Hughes & Kettner Edition Tube 20th - 1.25%
Vox Valvetronix - 1.25%

A close call here, with Marshall’s AVT series just edging ahead of the classic Fender Hot Rod Deluxe to take the top spot.
With the DSL also making a mark, Marshall is the biggest name here, continuing to go from strength to strength across the whole amp market with ease.
All the usual suspects appear here: Line 6 continues to impress, with excellent sales across the board with its Spider amps, whilst Laney, Peavey and Kustom all register solid scores. Orange’s Rockaverb 30 just nudges ahead of the newly re-launched Sound City, which has scored an instant hit with the Mark 6 Combo.

Over £700

Marshall JVM series - 22.5%
Fender Twin Reverb - 6.25%
Mesa Boogie F-Series - 7.5%
Orange Rockaverb 50 - 5%
Randall RG 50 TC - 2.5%
Vox AC30 - 2.5%
Bad Cat Diesel - 1.25%
Kustom Coupe 72 - 1.25%
Diamond Spec Op - 1.25%
Genz Benz El Diablo - 1.25%
Engl Powerball - 1.25%
Peavey - 1.25%
Cornford - 1.25%

Once again, Marshall is top of the tree, with the JVM series proving by far the most popular amplifier of its class.
With the Fender Twin Reverb in second place, it would seem that, as ever, guitarists are sticking to tried and tested brands that are both reliable and can produce a distinctive sound.
The Vox AC30 makes an interesting comeback, with 60s originals at huge prices it’s easy to see why fans are plumping for the newer version.

BASS AMPS

Under £300

Ashdown Electric Blue - 18.75%
Laney RB 3 - 10%
Fender Rumble - 10%
Warwick Sweet - 8.75%
Carlsbro Bass Bomber - 6.25%
Marshall MD - 5%
Roland Bass Cube - 5%
Stagg Combo - 3.75%
Peavey TNT - 3.75%
Kustom 13 Watt - 3.75%
Line 6 Lowdown 110 - 3.75%

Thanks to its ease of use, modern looks and excellent tone – all in all a great value for money package – Ashdown wins with its Electric Blue combo.
The rest of these results show some interesting changes though, noticeably with Ampeg and Hartke both making inroads in the budget sector. Line 6 looks still has some way to go before its dominance in the electric guitar market is reflected in its bass sales, but it is clearly improving. Stagg, Warwick and Carlsbro celebrate their first appearance in the survey, whilst Fender and Laney have much to be pleased with.

£300 to £700

Ashdown Mag - 20%
Hartke Kickback - 8.75%
Laney RB - 7.5%
Mark Bass Mini Mark - 5%
Ampeg B2R - 5%
Roland D-Bass 115 - 3.75%
Indie IB 200 - 2.5%

Once again, with over double the sales of its closest competitor, the Essex-based Ashdown wins the £300 to £700 bass amp category.
Hartke’s much-imitated Kickback combos are still a popular choice amongst four-stringers, providing as they do great bass for buck. Laney’s RB range performed well. Ampeg also appears here, making a noise in all three bass amplification categories, this time with its B2R head.
Huge kudos goes to Indie. The IB 200, with its distinctive front grill and user-friendly interface has struck the right note with bass players in the mid-range looking to spend a touch more cash on equipment.

Over £700

Ampeg SVT - 10%
Mark Bass Little Mark - 7.5%
Ashdown ABM - 5%
Warwick Pro Fet - 2.5%

The Ampeg SVT takes its place at the top of the ladder this year, after coming in second to Ashdown’s ABM in 2007 (which has itself slipped down to third, a disappointing result for the brand that has dominated every other bass amp sector).
Ampeg remains the industry standard for pro bass amps, and with good reason as many players and fans of the brand will testify. As long as Loud continue to get the basics right with Ampeg, it is unfeasible it would lose its position as the go-to amp for those with the funds.

GUITAR/BASS EFFECTS PEDAL/UNIT

Boss GT8 - 15%
Zoom G2 - 13.75%
Digitech RP 50 - 11.25%
Line 6 Pod Pocket - 8.75%
Boss ME 20 - 8.75%
Boss DS-1 - 5%
Danelectro FAB - 5%
Zoom G1 - 3.75%
Line 6 Pod XT - 3.75%
Electro-Harmonix Big Muff - 3.75%
Dunlop Crybaby - 2.5%
Behringer Distortion - 2.5%

In a hugely varied and extremely competitive field, Boss’s GT8 multi effects unit just nudged into the lead over Zoom’s G2.
Thanks to the huge range of effects options open to users, alongside its powerful modelling technology, realistic response and easy-to-master controls, the GT8 is a worthy winner in this year’s effects section.
The popular and affordable Digitech RP50 performed admirably, as the market for budget effects continues to prosper. Line 6’s innovative Pod Pocket alongside the Boss ME 20 both sold solidly, with the trend indicating guitarists are happiest when effects are straightforward to operate, affordable and versatile.
Danelectro has been chipping away at the effects market for some time now, with a variety of different ranges including a whole new batch of stand alone effects announced at NAMM – it has seen the fruit of its labours here with the FAB range scoring particularly highly.
A number of old hands, like the Dunlop Crybaby and Electro Harmonix Big Muff will continue to sell for as long as humans play the electric guitar thanks to the Hendrix effect. By brand, there are some clear winners – Boss, Line 6, Zoom – each of which provide excellent sounding, affordable effects with combine guitarist-friendly features and controls.

DRUM KITS

Under £1,000

Mapex M-Birch - 8.75%
Roland TD3 - 7.5%
Yamaha DTXplorer - 7.5%
Roland HD1 - 5%
Premier Cabria - 5%
Kix - 3.75%
Dragon Kit (G) - 3.75%
Peavey International - 3.75%
Pearl Export - 3.75%

Over £1,000

Roland TD12 - 15%
Roland TD6 - 7.5%
Tama Classic Performer - 3.75%
Roland TD20 - 2.5%

In drum kits the tide is surely turning. Last year’s under £1,000 section saw the Mapex birch walk away with a clear four per cent more votes than the nearest rival.
This year it tops the table again, but with the introduction this year of the Roland ‘home drumkit’, the HD-1, combined Roland votes come out at 12.5 per cent.
Over £1,000, Tama has been pushed back by the Roland sensation as the TD-12 scoops a full 12 per cent more of the vote this year than last. Combined Roland votes amount to a staggering one quarter of all votes in this section.

PERCUSSION INSTRUMENT

Stagg Bongos - 15%
Tambourines - 3.75%
Stagg tambourine - 3.75%
Performance Percussion bongos - 3.75%

You can't beat bongos. Well, you can, obviously. That’s sort of the point of bongos. But what none of its rivals can beat are Stagg’s bongos. The firm’s tambourines are also in the shake-up.

ACOUSTIC PIANO

Yamaha B2 - 6.25%
Kawai KA - 3.75%
Kemble Cambridge - 2.5%
Perzina - 2.5%

2007’S survey asked about keyboards as a whole and Yamaha ran away with the top spot, so this time we asked about pianos, both acoustic and digital – and it is Yamaha again that rules the roost.
Things are a little closer in terms of the acoustics – although a lot of that was due to the small number of retailers that handle acoustic pianos these days. In digitals, however, while a number of models get a look in, the combined Yamaha vote in the sub £1,000 category amounts to some 35 per cent of the vote and over the £1,000 category saw the Japanese giant poll almost a third of the votes.

DIGITAL PIANO

Under £1,000

Yamaha YDP 131 - 18.75%
Roland RD 300 - 13.75%
Yamaha CLP 220 - 12.5%
Casio Privia - 10%
Yamaha P70 - 7.5%
Casio AP 45 - 7.5%
Kawai CL25 - 5%
Winchester WPP - 3.75%
Korg SP200 - 2.5%
Yamaha MP 30 - 2.5%

Over £1,000

Yamaha CLP 240 - 25%
Roland RD 700 - 8.75%
Roland HP 204 - 8.75%
Yamaha CVP 401 - 7.5%
Kawai CA51 - 3.75%

FOLK INSTRUMENT

Mahalo ukulele - 16.75%
Ozark banjo - 6.25%
Stagg mandolin - 5%
Kala ukulele - 5%
Rally banjo - 3.75%

Honourable mentions: Dean banjo, FCN ukulele, Fender banjo

STRING BRAND

Ernie Ball - 55%
D’Addario - 23.75%
Rotosound - 11.25%
Elixir - 2.5%

Honourable mentions: Elites, Stagg, Dean Markley

ACCESSORIES BRAND

Jim Dunlop - 32.5%
Planet Waves - 12.5%
Shubb - 7.5%
JHS / GYC - 6.25%
Hercules - 6.25%
Levy’s - 5%

Honourable mentions: Stagg, Proel

MICS

Live

Shure SM 58 - 45%
Shure PG 58 - 13.75%
EV767 - 7.5%
Sennheiser Evolution - 5%
GYC GS 565 - 3.75%

Studio

Samson CO1U - 12.5%
SE 2200 - 10%
Audio Technica AT 2020 - 5%
Shure Beta 58 - 5%
Behringer C1 - 3.75%

Shure has not only held onto its top slot for live mics, but it has seen the PG mic push up the rankings to second slot, giving it nearly 60 per cent of the combined vote – quite staggering.
In the studio, the Samson C01U was only launched last year, but has already made quite a reputation for itself. Interesting to see the Shure Beta 58 there – we thought it was a live mic. But maybe not. Worth noting the SE 2200 pushing its way into the charts, too.

SPEAKERS/PORTABLE PA

Yamaha StagePas - 21.25%
Peavey Escort - 13.75%
Carlsbro Wanderer - 8.75%
Wharfedale EVP 15 - 5%
Carlsbro Traveller - 5%

LIVE MIXER

Yamaha MG Series - 12.5%
Behringer PMP 3000 - 10%
Mackie CFX 12 - 5%
Dynacord Powermate - 5%
Peavey 14 - 5%
Phonic AM Series - 3.75%

HARD DISK RECORDER

Boss BR 900 - 13.75%
Boss Br 600 - 8.75%
Tascam DP 01 - 8.75%
Boss Micro BR - 7.5%
Zoom HD-8 - 7.5%
Zoom HD16 - 5%
Boss Br 1600 CD - 3.75%
Fostex MR8 - 3.75%
Boss BR 1200 CD - 1.25%

SOFTWARE

Cubase 4 - 11.25%
Propellerhead Reason 4 - 6.25%
Sibellius - 5%
Logic Pro - 3.75%
Cakewalk Sonar - 2.5%
BFD - 1.25%

INTERFACE

Line 6 Toneport - 13.75%
Edirol UA25 - 10%
Digidesign M-Box - 5%
M-Audio Delta - 5%
Tascam US 122L - 3.75%

In hard disk recording, Roland’s Boss brand walks away the clear winner, with a combined brand vote of 35 per cent, although Tascam and Zoom are in there, trying to give a run for the money.
Perhaps no surprises with Cubase topping the soft studio charts, although Sibelius edging out Logic speaks volumes for the importance of this educational, pro notation package in MI stores.

DJ PRODUCTS

Numark DJ in a Box - 10%
Pioneer CDJ 1000 - 5%

Last year’s poll saw the recording sector wipe out hi tech and DJ products, so this year we’ve kept them apart to see what shows up.
Interestingly, although the death of the bedroom DJ was heralded a couple of years ago, Numarks DJ in a Box came through nicely on top, with the high end Pioneer CDJ coming up behind.

SHEET MUSIC

High School Musical 2 (Music Sales) - 18.75%
ABRSM Piano Grades - 16.25%
Blues Harmonica Starter Kit (Mel Bay) - 12.5%
Absolute Beginners (Guitar) (Music Sales) - 12.5%
Learn to Play Guitar (Flame Tree) - 3.75%

High School Musical 2 was the phenomenon of the Christmas period and sales there put the book on top, although one has to assume that the steady, all year performance of the ABRSM grade music has seen it run a marathon rather than a sprint.
Barely a year in the UK market as a standalone publisher, Mel Bay is making some very serious inroads already.

BEST BRASS INSTRUMENT

Entry level

Yamaha YTR 1335 trumpet - 20%
Phil Parker international trumpet - 10%
Roy Benson TR 302 - 10%

Mid-range / Student

Jupiter JTR 606 - 40%
Yamaha YTR 4335 - 35%

Professional

Yamaha Xeno trumpet - 25%

WOODWIND

Entry Level

Yamaha YCL-250 clarinet - 20%
Jupiter JFL-511 ES flute - 15%

Mid-range / student

Yamaha YCL 450 clarinet - 25%
Buffet B12 clarinet - 25%
Trevor James ‘The Horn’ - 20%
Jupiter JFL-911 - 10%

Professional

Buffet R13 clarinet - 17.5%
Yamaha YFL A421E flute - 12.5%
Trevor James Masters flute - 10%
Selmer Mark VI - 5%

Brass and woodwind sees Yamaha coming into its own again – although not getting it all its own way. The Jupiter brand (in the UK through Korg) comes up tops in student brass and runs the Japanese brand close in entry level woodwind, too. Phil Parker, Buffet Crampon and Trevor James are all worthy competitors in this first MI Pro brass and woodwind section.

ORCHESTRAL STRINGS

Entry level

Stentor Student Standard violin - 60%
Primavera Loreato violin outfit - 15%

Honourable mentions: Paragon violin outfit, Mayflower violin

Mid-range / student

Stentor Conservatoire - 30%
Paesold PA400 - 10%

Honourable mentions: Sound Post Westbury, Mavis, Yamaha

Professional

Sound Post Concertante - 30%

Orchestral strings seems to be a Yamaha free zone this year, with Stentor maintaining a grip on the UK market that seems almost unassailable, although Paesold and Sound Post will be hoping to run a closer race next year.

BEST SUPPLIER

Sutherland - 18.75%
Yamaha - 16.25%
P&R Howard - 11.25%
Roland - 11.25%
Tanglewood - 7.5%
Music Sales - 7.5%
JHS - 7.5%
EMD - 5.25%
Barnes & Mullins - 5.25%

Yamaha, which won last year, has been squeezed out by last year’s runner up, Sutherland.
Roland, perhaps, has been the biggest climber this year, upping from eighth to equal third, although caps have to be doffed to P&R Howard, too, bursting straight in as Roland’s equal in this chart.

BUSINESS IN 2007

Up - 31%
Down - 41%
Same - 22%

FORECAST FOR 2008

Up - 56%
Down - 11%
Same - 27%

UK MI dealer optimism continues as nearly half say that business last year was down, but well over 50 per cent see growth in 2008.
The results were pretty similar this time last year, so some were disappointed with 2007, but optimism still reigns.

WHICH MI TRADE MAGS DO YOU RECEIVE?

MI Pro only - 61%
MTN only - 1%
MI Pro & MTN - 38%

WHICH DO YOU FIND MOST USEFUL?

MI Pro - 57%
MTN - 7%
Both - 32%
Neither - 4%

DO YOU READ ANY MI CONSUMER MAGS?

No - 54%
Guitarist - 18%
Total Guitar - 6%
Sound on Sound - 6%
Guitar Buyer - 4%
Pianist - 3%
Acoustic - 3%
Pickup - 3%
Gear - 3%
Rhythm - 2%
Drummer - 2%
Bass - 2%
Guitar Player - 2%

Perhaps one of the most interesting of the new polls this year is this one asking retailers which MI oriented consumer magazines they read.
The leading mag is, unsuprisingly, Future’s Guitarist – very much the the connoisseur’s magazine of choice, although it is interesting to note that neither Computer Music nor Future music gets a mention, while Sound on Sound maintains its position as the number one hi tech mag.
But, over half of retailers read no consumer magazines. Combine this with independent research carried out by a UK supplier that showed only five per cent of guitarists read a specialist guitar magazine, and the MIA’s survey that showed over 80 per cent of people would always buy their musical equipment from an MI store, and MI Pro’s combined ‘importance’ rating from the dealers makes for some very interesting mathematics.


The MI Pro Dealer Survey 2008 was conducted through interviews with 100 UK retailers. These included all major chains and leading independents. A full list of all participating shops is available from mipro@intentmedia.co.uk.