Keyboard Magazine 1999:

Not a single review, advertisement, or so much as a mention of any arranger keyboard make/model, could be found, even though arrangers (of which at that time included: Solton X1, Korg i series, Technics KN5000, Roland G800) were all being marketed & sold in the United States.

Forward to:

Keyboard Magazine (Sept 2007) issue:

Front Cover: Ketron Midjay review announced
Inside Front Cover: Full Page Korg PA800 Ad
Page 18: Casio CTK-810 arranger announced (w/picture)
Page 74-76: Ketron Midjay Feature Review


as Bob Dylan so famously sang: "The Times they are a changin'" , and of which brings me to the question: What do you all think brought about this change (revolution/evolution)?

Scott

[This message has been edited by Scottyee (edited 08-29-2007).]

Not on mine, Dave Brubeck's on my cover. Nothing about the Midjay. Maybe the Sept issue? Haven't got mine yet.

Glenn

It is the Sept. 2007 issue.

all it means is they paid more for advertising nothing more.

Come on Donny, it's gotta mean MORE than just that. If what you say is correct, then WHY did the manufacturers now in 2007 decide to promote their arranger (thru advertising) in Keyboard Magazine when they didn't in 1999? In 1999, manufacturers would devote their inside cover ads to Synths and workstations, never arrangers. - Scott

I think it is due to increased general awareness of arranger keyboards. Advertising is just another indication of the increased awareness otherwise manaufacturers wouldn't be paying to advertise .... like they didn't back in 1999.

I think the other thing that is earning respect for arrangers is the use of sound engines and features from the pro lines of synths. The reputation of sounds on arrangers is now up there with pro synths. I don't think this was so much the case back in 1999, well at least that is how arrangers were perceived back then.

Actually, having been in music retail for 30 years plus, I'd say Donny is pretty close to the truth.

I don't think there is that much more understanding or knowledge especially about mid or high end arranger keyboards than there ever was. Why? Go to the large majority of music stores, including Guitar Center and you won't find even any mid range arrangers, unless you're in a very large major city. And if you do, 9 times out of 10 the people selling them don't know what to do when once it's turned on. Result, low public exposure and understanding of arrangers.

Here in the Pensacola area there is a surrounding population of 400,000 and I doubt the local GC will even carry a PSR-S500.

So, I think what the companies are doing is to increase the awareness of what's out there in the top of the line models as opposed to the cheapie low end which is what most people think of because that's all they see, to see if it boost's their sales or not. After a while they will analyze sales vs advertising expenses, figure out what may have helped, what didn't and make adjustments. It will be interesting to see if these ads continue over an extended period of time. That is what will tell the story

Scott

Hi,

Having worked in or around music retail, wholesale and manufacturing for the past 35 years, I will agree that there have been past editors and management of years gone by where it sure appeared that there was favoritism going on. But under the current crew at Keyboard, I don't think your comments are the least bit valid. Advertising or the lack thereof has absolutely nothing to do with the reviews that appear in their magazine. In fact, Ernie Rideout, editor-in-chief of Keyboard talked about this in his editorial a month or so ago. He explained the decision to replace the term review with Audition. And while the writing style, personal experience and musical tastes of each person doing an Audition varies, which will have some bearing on the outcome, the goal is to be as un-biased as possible.

Case in point, Keyboard included the Genesys Pro S in their Arranger Keyboard article in the April 2007 issue and did a full review of the pRP700 in their March 2007 issue. Generalmusic hasn't advertised in keyboard magazine for years.

Dave

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Wm. David McMahan
Nat'l Product and Support Manager
Generalmusic USA
GEM Community Forums

[This message has been edited by WDMcM (edited 08-30-2007).]

Has that April issue boosted Gem sales?

What it has done is added credibility. That we were asked by Keyboard to be included in this article and the pRP700 audition (in part because of the increased talk and interest in Generalmusic keyboards on the Music Player forums and others) was a very nice surprise. Add to that the nice things Stephen Fortner, technical editor for Keyboard, had to say about the Genesys Pro S with absolutely no prompting from me btw; we were very pleased with the article.

The fact that Sweetwater Music decided to include Generalmusic products in their catalog and website, and the fact that others are knocking on our door so to speak indicates that things are on the up-swing.

Dave

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Wm. David McMahan
Nat'l Product and Support Manager
Generalmusic USA
GEM Community Forums