Industry News — May 2026
Industry News — May 2026
by PAS Staff
May 5, 2026
BERKLEE COLLEGE OF MUSIC
Jacob Collier, Jill Scott, and Vinnie Colaiuta to Receive Honorary Doctorates at Berklee College of Music’s 2026 Commencement
Berklee College of Music will present honorary Doctor of Music degrees to Grammy-winning artists Jacob Collier, Jill Scott, and Vinnie Colaiuta ’75 at its 2026 commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 9, at 10 a.m. at Boston University’s Agganis Arena.
Commencement festivities will begin on the evening of Friday, May 8, at 7:30 p.m. with a reception and concert at Agganis Arena. The concert will feature a global cast of more than 200 student vocalists, instrumentalists, dancers, arrangers, and track producers from the graduating class, who will perform a musical tribute to the work of each of the honorees.
This year’s honorary doctorate recipients will be celebrated and recognized for their invaluable artistic contributions to the world of music. Past recipients from the college include Duke Ellington (the first, in 1971), Aretha Franklin, Quincy Jones ’51, Celine Dion, B.B. King, Joni Mitchell, Chaka Khan, esperanza spalding BM ’05, André 3000, Willie Nelson, Missy Elliott, Ringo Starr, Tito Puente, Gloria Estefan, Roberta Flack, Juan Luis Guerra ’82, Rita Moreno, Ledisi, Q-Tip, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Sara Bareilles, and John Legend.
CHICAGO DRUM SHOW
2026 Chicago Drum Show Announces Diverse Schedule Of Educational Sessions.
An exciting variety of drum clinics will be featured at the upcoming Chicago Drum Show — the 35th
Anniversary edition of the world’s largest and longest running independent new, vintage and custom drum show. The 2026 Show takes place on May 16th and 17th with appearances by 6 world-renowned artists (3 on each day).
Saturday, May 16
• 11:00 AM – Zach Miller (Noted educator, composer and performer is an adjunct professor at North Central University in Minneapolis, MN.)
• 1:00 PM – Dave King (Founding member of “The Bad Plus” jazz band has also performed with Bill Frisell, Joshua Redmond, Jeff Beck and others.)
• 3:00 PM – Calvin Rogers (Dummer and MD for Gospel legend Fred Hammond, Calvin has worked with Aretha Franklin, Beyoncé, Chaka Khan and many more.)
Sunday, May 17
• 11:00 AM – Nicholas Baker (Hybrid drummer blends drumset, congas and percussion in “LA LOM”.)
• 1:00 PM – Mark Giulliana (Genre-bending collaborator and solo artist is equally at home in acoustic jazz, next-level rock and electronic music.)
• 3:00 PM – Teddy Campbell (First-call LA session drummer has worked with artists from Britney Spears to Barbra Streisand as well as the BET, Grammy, Academy and VH-1 awards shows.)
Featuring more than 50,000 square feet of displays, nearly 200 exhibitors and a line-up of world class clinicians, the Chicago Drum Show is hosted by Drugan’s Drums & Guitars. For information and tickets, and to keep up with the latest developments, visit www.chicagodrumshow.com and follow @chicagodrumshow on Instagram and Facebook.
GUITAR CENTER
Guitar Center announces return of legendary Drum-Off national competition
Guitar Center today announced the return of Drum-Off, bringing back its national drumming competition in 2026 after nearly a decade. Starting May 1, drummers can step into any of Guitar Center’s 300-plus stores nationwide to record and submit an original three-minute on-camera audition video. Every store will feature a premium acoustic drum kit with simple, step-by-step instructions for submission. First launched in 1988, Drum-Off ran for 28 years and served as a proving ground for drummers for more than three decades, helping emerging talent gain recognition and advance their careers.
Originally launched in Southern California, Drum-Off began as a grassroots, store-led competition where anyone could sign up and step behind the kit. As Guitar Center expanded nationally in the early ’90s, the program grew with it, evolving into a multi-stage competition that has seen more than 100,000 drummers participate over its lifetime. Along the way, it became a defining platform within the drumming community, featuring some of the most respected names in music as judges, including Travis Barker, Peter Criss, Chad Smith, Taylor Hawkins, and Steve Ferrone. From legendary live moments to career-launching performances, Drum-Off has earned its place as one of the premier stages for drummers in the industry. The 2026 competition will continue that legacy with a lineup of high-profile judges, with additional details to be announced.
Drum-Off aligns with Guitar Center’s Legends Play Here™ brand initiative, bringing together emerging drummers, established players, and industry judges in a competition built around live performance. Past Drum-Off competitors include Tony Royster Jr. (Jay-Z, Katy Perry), Cora Coleman-Dunham (Prince, Beyoncé), Thomas Pridgen (The Mars Volta), Glen Sobel (Alice Cooper), and Ilan Rubin (Nine Inch Nails, Foo Fighters). The competition has built its reputation on performance, where technique, creativity, and musicality determine who advances. With more than 300 stores nationwide and long-standing relationships across the music industry, Guitar Center brings this competition to life at a scale unmatched in music retail.
“I cannot tell you how often musicians (not just drummers) ask me when we’re going to bring back Drum-Off,” said Gabe Dalporto, CEO of Guitar Center. “It was literally an iconic part of music culture for nearly three decades, shining a spotlight on emerging talent and launching careers. Well – it’s back, just bigger and louder.”
Drum-Off 2026 begins in Guitar Center stores nationwide, where participants visit any of the brand’s 300 locations to record and submit an original on-camera audition video using premium DW acoustic drum kits. Select entries will advance to live district competitions held at 24 Guitar Center locations, followed by regional competitions in key markets including Hollywood, Nashville, and New York City. The competition will culminate on August 20, 2026, at the Fonda Theatre in Hollywood, CA, where six finalists will perform in front of a live audience and a panel of legendary judges for the title of Drum-Off Champion.
At the national level, the Drum-Off Champion will receive $25,000 in cash, a premium drum kit and cymbal package from participating sponsors, a brand endorsement opportunity, and an electronic drum kit from Roland. The winner will also travel to Drumeo HQ to create original content across Drumeo’s platforms.
Additional prizing builds throughout the competition, beginning at the district level. Up to 480 district competitors will receive a commemorative gear and swag bag, with advancing participants earning gear from leading drum and percussion brands including DW, Zildjian, OCDP, Pearl, Roland, Yamaha, Gretsch, Tama, ProMark, Evans, Remo, Sabian, Mapex, Drumeo, Ludwig and Vic Firth.
Drum-Off 2026 marks the return of one of Guitar Center’s longest-running programs, reinforcing its commitment to supporting musicians at every stage. Full details and audition submission information are available at https://drumoff.guitarcenter.com.
GUITAR CENTER
Guitar Center relaunches Musician’s Friend as the dominant off-price outlet for premium gear
Guitar Center today announced the relaunch of Musician’s Friend as an off-price online outlet for premium musical gear. Built with manufacturers, Musician’s Friend consolidates overstock, open-box and selected excess inventory and offers launch discounts up to 45% — with savings that can reach the thousands on higher-end items.
At launch the site will feature thousands of deals across guitars, digital pianos, drums, recording gear, keys, live sound and DJ — from leading brands including Gibson, Fender, PRS, Yamaha, Epiphone, Ibanez, Alesis and Shure. Stock is limited, rotates frequently and will be replenished through ongoing manufacturer partnerships. Limited-quantity drops and time-sensitive offers will be regular features. “Stupid Deal of the Day,” a longtime customer favorite, remains on the site as a daily featured bargain with a new discounted item every day.
“Premium gear gets discounted somewhere – overstock, open-box, discontinued models. Today it’s scattered across marketplaces and clearance racks,” said Gabe Dalporto, CEO of Guitar Center. “Musician’s Friend pulls it into one place, sourced directly from the brands, at prices that reflect what an outlet should be.”
Musician’s Friend works directly with manufacturers to source excess inventory and open-box items, creating a steady flow of fresh opportunities across key categories. For brand partners, the platform offers a controlled channel to move inventory without diluting full-price distribution through curated presentation, limited quantities, and a managed promotional cadence. For musicians, studios and creators, it provides a dependable outlet experience backed by Guitar Center’s sourcing, fulfillment and customer protections.
Within Guitar Center’s family of brands, Guitar Center remains the world’s largest musical instrument retailer, the destination for new and used gear and in-store experiences; Musician’s Friend is now the company’s dedicated off-price outlet for premium gear.
To support this next phase, Brian Packer has been named General Manager of Musician’s Friend, leading the business day-to-day. A longtime Guitar Center leader, Packer reports to Kinna Thomas, SVP of Merchandising Operations, who joins from senior roles at Walmart and Target. Jerry Brandehoff, EVP, Chief Merchandising Officer, expands his scope to include Musician’s Friend.
The new Musician’s Friend is live now. Visit www.musiciansfriend.com for more information.
Ron Lee Chosen as Musical Director and Drummer for “MLK the Musical” Live Recording
Following his recent appearances with international super-stars Kevin Woo, Huntr/x and the cast of the Grammy®, Golden Globe® and Academy® Award-winning K-Pop Demon Hunters movie on iHeart Radio’s 2025 Jingle Ball tour, Ron Lee returns to his Gospel roots as the musical director and drummer for an upcoming performance/live recording of the music from the “MLK The Musical”. The event features a world-renowned cast and 22-piece orchestra and will take place on May 15, 2026 at the Greater Emanuel Temple in Los Angeles.
Ron’s collaboration with “MLK” highlights a busy touring and recording schedule that is based on his work with a variety of top Smooth Jazz, Pop and R&B artists, including Faith Evans, Christina Aguilera, Mary Mary and more. In addition, Ron maintains his status a first-call drummer in the rapidly-growing K-Pop scene with leading influencers such as Kevin Woo, Amber Liu, Justin Park and others.
Ron Lee plays and endorses Mapex, TRX, Aquarian, Vater, the BOOM, Gruv Gear, Ultimate Ears and Big Fat Snare Drum.
SANDBOX PERCUSSION SUMMER SEMINAR
June 9–15, 2026
The New School’s College of Performing Arts announces the eleventh annual Sandbox Percussion Summer Seminar, led by the university’s Ensemble-in-Residence Sandbox Percussion, hailed for their “supreme virtuosity, grit and groove” (Seen and Heard International). The program takes place June 9-15, 2026 with an opening concert on June 9 and a closing concert on June 15, both free and open to the public.
The intensive program celebrates luminary composer Steve Reich and the countless musicians and music he inspired, on the occasion of his 90th birthday year. Starting in the 1960s, Reich’s landmark minimalist works helped shift the aesthetic center of musical composition, and he continues to influence younger generations of composers and mainstream musicians and artists all over the world. Many of Reich’s mentees have ties to The New School’s College of Performing Arts, including Nico Muhly, whose opera Dark Sisters was presented by Mannes Opera in 2023, and Timo Andres, who is on the faculty at Mannes School of Music. Of Reich’s work, Muhly says: “This music is as part of my artistic ecosystem as air is to my respiratory system.”
Summer Seminar participants will learn, rehearse, and perform alongside Sandbox through daily rehearsals, coachings, and workshops. The College of Performing Arts is thrilled to welcome Steve Reich for a special afternoon of conversation, reflecting on his music, career, and contributions to the percussion repertoire. Additional special guest composers include David Crowell, Joan Tower, and Gabriella Smith.
The seminar will culminate in a collaborative performance of Reich’s complete Drumming on June 15, performed by all participants alongside Sandbox Percussion. Students will explore the fabric and intricacies of this music from the inside out, and have the opportunity to engage directly with Reich during his visit.
In 1970, Steve Reich embarked on a trip to study music in Ghana with Gideon Alorwoyie. From this experience in Africa, Reich drew inspiration for his landmark piece Drumming, which he composed shortly after his return and which uses his signature technique of phasing. Composed for a nine-piece percussion ensemble with female voices and piccolo, Drumming marked the beginning of a new stage in his career, for around this time he formed his ensemble, Steve Reich and Musicians, and increasingly concentrated on composition and performance with them. Writer K. Robert Schwarz described Drumming as “minimalism’s first masterpiece.”
Ian David Rosenbaum of Sandbox says, “Steve Reich’s music has been part of the DNA of Sandbox Percussion since our inception. His Drumming was one of the very first pieces that we learned together, and his music has formed a key part of our repertoire in the years since. It’s a pleasure to celebrate his many achievements and contributions to our contemporary music community at our Sandbox Percussion Seminar this year. We will feature several works by Steve throughout the week, including a seminar-wide performance of Drumming, and we are very excited to welcome him to The New School for a day of conversation and rehearsal. In addition, we’re excited to feature many other composers—over the course of the week, we will examine the many ways that Steve’s work has shaped the future of contemporary chamber music.”
An Observation Pass will be offered for those who would like to join the seminar but need a more flexible schedule. Open to all ages and experience levels—from students and hobbyists to professionals—the Observation Pass allows participants to observe all performance classes, Sandbox Percussion masterclasses, and guest artist seminars. Observation Pass holders will also receive priority seating at the final concert.
Sandbox presents the Summer Seminar on the heels of a GRAMMY Award win for their 2025 album Don’t Look Down, featuring music by Mannes faculty member Chris Cerrone. The album won Best Engineered Album, Classical at the 68th Annual GRAMMY Awards.
More info: https://event.newschool.edu/sandboxpercussionsummerseminar
