March 11 | PMC | Event
International Drum
Month Moves to May

The Percussion Marketing Council has moved International Drum Month to May and is relaunching the campaign with a redesigned website and wider marketing campaign.

As the PMC described at its all-member meeting during The NAMM Show, the switch from November to May was intended to move the event from the busy, pre-holiday time to the more manageable summer months.

"May has been identified as the best month for kicking off in-store related promotions that also tie into the summer tour schedules," said Billy Cuthrell, PMC marketing and promotions advisory board member. "IDM will become the starting point, connecting all the programs, instead of just an annual one-month campaign. It now extends through our Vans Warped Tour Lesson Lab program, Percussion In The Schools and other educational connections.”

The new IDM program aims to reach beyond the music industry through targeted Internet marketing to create excitement about drumming and drive new drumming customers into their local music retailers. Through targeted internet marketing and on the redesigned PlayDrums.com, the PMC will encourage want-to-be drummers to visit participating retailers to get a free bag of giveaways and enter to win the PMC's Drum Roadie for a Day.

Retailers can register online to become an International Drum Month retailer. Beginning in mid-April, registered stores will be sent a stand-up PoP International Drum Month display and member "swag bags" for customers visiting the store.

The all-new PlayDrums.com will launch April 15.