The NAMM 2026 music gear show highlighted divergent strategies of the industry's biggest names, set against a backdrop of rapid technological advancement, frame a central question: is the future of music made in a woodshop or coded in an app?
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Bots and soundscapes: The show floor revealed two dominant industry-wide pushes: artificial intelligence and immersive audio. Avid sits at the center of both, integrating new AI-powered tools from partners like Splice into Pro Tools. Packed demonstrations for producers and artists from Sony and Dolby show the clear momentum for formats like Dolby Atmos.
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Code over chords: Fender debuted Fender Studio, its new hardware and software ecosystem built from the company's acquisition of PreSonus. In a move that shows where it believes that future is headed, the legendary guitar maker's booth was dedicated entirely to its new studio gear, with its iconic guitar collection reportedly absent, according to MusicTech.
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A century of sound: Meanwhile, Gibson leaned into its own legacy, celebrating the 100th anniversary of its first flat-top acoustics with the announcement of its new Century Collection. "We are reclaiming the acoustic revolution we sparked exactly one century ago," said Gibson VP of Product, Mat Koehler. The company also unveiled a limited run of 100 L-1 Anniversary guitars, alongside one-of-a-kind custom instruments built for its dealers.