Hi Genesys
These keyboards, Roland G1000-G70, Korg PA1xpro-2Xpro, Ketron SD1+-Audya and Lionstrack Mediastation DO NOT all fall in the same niche market. We tend to look at these instruments as general arranger instruments but they are not to the manufacturer.

The mediatstaion is in a niche that some would argue has yet to be discovered in terms of clear demarcation and profitability. The Korg PA product is a true workstation arranger hybrid and will be more attractive to producers and style makers (especially eastern) because of its sampling and deep editing functions and its ability to fit in as part of a studio keyboard as well as live performance, but its weight puts the elderly mature buyers off. Also its operating system is more complex than yamaha. The Roland G70 and E80 lost market share almost entirely due to its weight. It was not well known for its deep editing potential (although i know it had some) or its sampling potential (it had none) so it had no redeeming qualities to appeal to any of the other niche markets although it was an excellent machine. Roland themselves didnt know who their market was and sold it in plainly stupid distribuition outlets. Ketron products were and still are the best kept secrets of the arranger world. However if you cant see a product , touch it and ghear it you cant sell it and few will buy that product unless you were already aware of Ketron

So what seesm like a simple question i actually quite complex.

Yamaha have some of the best defined target markets in terms of their ideal types of customer.

1. They know their customer and arnt afraid to listen only to their customer.
2. they know what their customers will buy, and how often and what features will apeal even down to the colours they prefer.
3. They know how their customers prefer to purchase in terms of distribution outlets amazon local music stores catalogues etc.
4. They understand that high visibility both in terms of advertising but a presence on the web throuigh forums like ours and elsewhere. They understand how important and strong branding is.

In other words they understand the market that they are selling to and they seem to be doing a good job at it.