Artist Relations Page

WHO TO CONTACT

There are several artist relations departments at Yamaha. Please answer the following two questions to determine the appropriate artists relations group you should contact.

Please tell us:

1. What instrument do you primarily play?

2. What type of music do you primarily play?

THE WORLD OF YAMAHA ARTIST RELATIONS

Next to building world-renowned products, the most important asset at Yamaha is its artists. These artists help make a two dimensional product come alive by validating its purpose through performance and association. These artists inspire many to be musicians and the connection between artist and product is critical. YCA has the proud distinction of managing more artist relationships than any other musical manufacturer in the world. Working with more than 3,500 artists and musicians, these artists range in popularity from the mega superstar to the budding talent just starting a career. These musicians shine across the spectrum of musical genres and their abilities are as unique as the vast and wonderful Yamaha product line.

This information will help you to determine your qualification to submit an application for endorsement and whom you specifically should contact regarding the type of support you require.

First, what you need to know about a Yamaha Artist Endorsement:

What does it mean to be a Yamaha artist?

Yamaha artists belong to a worldwide family of elite musicians that possess talent, which we at Yamaha are proud to expose globally.

Yamaha artists have the privilege of getting discounts on Yamaha products, as well as substantial discounts on thousands of related Yamaha musical products.
They are honored worldwide with our promise of service and support and are granted access to Yamaha custom shops in the U.S. and abroad.
They are offered presence on our Global Artist Website, have their writings published in our publications, and receive professional advice and career guidance.
They are part of a respected worldwide network of Yamaha staff and artists dedicated to quality in all aspects of music.
Some artists assist with product design.
All Yamaha performing artists have read and signed an artist agreement and agree to communicate with the Yamaha Artist Relations Department on a regular basis.
Yamaha produces publications and generates feature stories, which provide priceless public relations and marketing mechanisms for our artists by exposing their recordings and writings to millions.

What does Yamaha expect of its artists?

Yamaha expects artists to be active performers and / or teachers in the music industry.
Yamaha helps our artists obtain their instruments easily and we ask that our artists reciprocate by using our products consistently in the studio, on tour, and in clinics. Whatever and however a Yamaha artist performs, they do it with expression and are open to sharing with others the fact that they found their voice on a Yamaha instrument.
They should thank Yamaha for support and mention what model they play if given an opportunity during a clinic / recording / credits etc.
Yamaha expects to receive updates on artist's careers, such as new teaching appointments, recordings, publications, etc.
Most of all, we expect them to continue their careers as planned and include Yamaha as often as possible.

How will it affect my career?

The title "Yamaha Performing Artist" or "Yamaha Performing Artist/Clinician" may open many doors in certain fields. It conveys a certain amount of immediate credibility to many. We strive to keep our roster elite, containing only active, gifted and articulate musicians.

What limitations does Yamaha have in supporting its artists?

Yamaha does not pay artists to play its instruments. We are not a booking agency or management service. We offer sound advice and solid referrals, but it is incumbent on the artists to define and propel his or her own career.
Yamaha is not a record company, nor does it finance the recording or writing endeavors of its artists.
We cannot guarantee support, financial or otherwise when a Yamaha artist travels abroad. The type of event, the amount of advance notice and the destination determines the amount of support Yamaha is able to offer for educational events.
Yamaha rarely, if ever, uses artists in advertisements. We choose to promote our artists and their accomplishments in our own publications.
Yamaha does not pay artists to play gigs or concerts other than Yamaha events. Our resources are devoted to educational programs and events.

Will I get discounts on other Yamaha Products?

Although we are one large company, we are made up of different divisions. If a Yamaha artist expresses interest in purchasing a Yamaha instrument from another division, they will be offered support on a case-by-case basis. This is a privilege.

Application Process

If you have tried or currently play Yamaha instruments and know that they are your first choice of musical expression, you may consider applying for a Yamaha artist designation. It is necessary for a person to have an established career in the music industry if he or she wishes to be considered as a Yamaha artist.

A promotional package should include:

Current CD recordings
Recent photo
One-page performance bio
Resume
Bio/discography
Letter of intent including the following information:

Name, address, phone number(s), fax number(s), e-mail address, and group name.
Do you currently play Yamaha instruments? If yes, what models/series? If no, explain why you seek endorsement.
What kind of music are you currently playing?
Are you seeking endorsement from other instrument companies? If yes, what other companies are you contacting?
List any other musical instrument endorsements you may currently have. Also, please include your contact for each endorsement along with a number at which they can be reached.
List the retail music store and /or personnel with whom you correspond.
If you become a Yamaha artist at some level, what are your expectations of Yamaha? What is it specifically you are looking for from Yamaha?

If you are interested in support as an artist/clinician, you must also include:

One-page clinic outline
Videotape of a recently presented clinic
Information on your clinic fees

Once we receive your materials, we will respond as promptly as possibly. Most packages can take up to 4 weeks to review. Please be patient. These materials will not be returned to you.

OK, SO WHO DO I CONTACT?

There are several artist relations departments at Yamaha. Please click here to determine the appropriate artists relations group you should contact.

YAMAHA CORPORATE ARTIST AFFAIRS INC.
Chris Gero - Vice President

AR Responsibilities:

Piano - Pop, Contemporary, Jazz, New Age, Country, Christian / Gospel
Pro Audio Products
Commercial Audio Products
Digital Musical Instruments
Synthesizers
Recording Products
Portable Keyboard Products

Other areas of responsibility:

Corporate Concert Production
TV & Film and Stage Placement
Yamaha All Access Magazine development and production
Recording Industry Strategic Alliances
Tour and Festival and Event Sponsorship
Cartage House and Product Placement
Corporate Artist Website development and production

Developed three years ago, Yamaha Corporate Artist Affairs Inc. (YCAA) combines all artist related activities into one external, high-profile artist / product brand image. YCAA's primary function is the continued development of artist endorsements and the coordination of activities of the five other Artist Relations departments at YCA as a whole on the corporate level to better image Yamaha's premiere high profile artists worldwide.

YCAA solely manages the high profile relationships of such artists as: Paul McCartney, Elton John, Norah Jones, Alicia Keys, Sheryl Crow, Britney Spears, David Gray, Phil Ramone, Steve Winwood, Justin Timberlake, Randy Jackson and Vanessa Carlton to name a few.

As a full service concert production team, this very unique group has also developed and produced the largest artist concerts in Yamaha's 110-year history, including the 2003 tribute to Sir Elton John and the 2000 Millennium Michael McDonald tribute concert. Additionally, YCAA is responsible for the development and production of Yamaha All Access, the highly acclaimed Yamaha, artist branded magazine.

As important as the development of celebrity profiling through our products, YCAA oversees product branded opportunities through various placement platforms such as TV, film, cartage houses, tours, festivals and events. YCAA is also currently developing and managing Yamaha's new artist web site.

For ALL Considerations PLEASE SEND THE FOLLOWING AS IT APPLIES:

For consideration to be a Yamaha Artist:

Please Mail a Press Kit / Promo Pack to:

Ben James
Yamaha Corporate Artist Affairs Inc.
PO BOX 249
Franklin TN, 37065

A promotional package should include:

Endorsement application
Current CD recordings
Recent photo
One-page performance bio
Resume
Bio/discography
Letter of intent including the following information:

Name, address, phone number(s), fax number(s), e-mail address, and group name.
Do you currently play Yamaha instruments? If yes, what models/series? If no, explain why you seek endorsement.
What kind of music are you currently playing?
Are you seeking endorsement from other instrument companies? If yes, what other companies are you contacting?
List any other musical instrument endorsements you may currently have. Also, please include your contact for each endorsement along with a number at which they can be reached.
List the retail music store and /or personnel with whom you correspond.
If you become a Yamaha artist at some level, what are your expectations of Yamaha? What is it specifically you are looking for from Yamaha?

Once we receive your materials, we will respond as promptly as possibly. Most packages can take up to 4 weeks to review. Please be patient. These materials will not be returned to you.

For consideration for the following:

Corporate Concert Production
TV & Film and Stage Placement
Yamaha All Access Magazine
Recording Industry Strategic Alliances
Tour and Festival and Event Sponsorship
Cartage House and Product Placement
Artist Website Development and Production

Please Call or mail materials to:

Ben James
Yamaha Corporate Artist Affairs Inc.
PO BOX 249
Franklin TN, 37065
615-599-0800, 615-599-8265 (fax)

All Requests MUST include a letter of intent and a promo package (if applicable). Please include the specific nature of what you are requiring from Yamaha in your request. Once we receive your materials, we will respond as promptly as possibly. Most packages can take up to 4 weeks to review. Please be patient. These materials will not be returned to you.

YAMAHA GUITAR DEVELOPMENT, USA
Ken Dapron - Director

AR Responsibilities:

Acoustic and Electric Guitar
Electric Bass
Amps & Effects

Other areas of responsibility:

Custom Shop
Design & Development

The electric guitar market is an ever-changing pallet of fashion and attitude driven mostly by youthful music trends. The electric guitar is one of the only musical instruments that changes its look, functions and character of sound based on the most current music trend and the artists that drive those trends. As a USA based design team, our biggest challenge is to read into the timing of these trends, which can change almost over night. If our guitar designs dont meet the demands of our customers, we loose the opportunity to present our imaging and exposure with music retailers, consumers and artists.

The Yamaha Guitar Development facility is located in the heart of North Hollywood, California. This state of the art R&D center with a custom shop atmosphere is home to a dedicated and talented staff consisting of artist reps, designers and luthiers that interact daily with top guitarists and bassists from all over the world. Our relationships with these artists is our key to the passion, innovation and craftsmanship of our products. This YGD group is also responsible for artist endorsements (guitar products) and interacts daily with our marketing and design teams in North America, Japan and Europe.

For consideration to be a Yamaha Artist:

Please send a promotional package to:

Yamaha Artist Services, Hollywood
Attn: Mike Tempesta
Yamaha Guitars - Artist Relations
11049 Weddington Street
North Hollywood, CA 91601

A promotional package should include:

Current CD recordings
Recent photo
One-page performance bio
Resume
Letter of intent including the following information:

Name, address, phone number(s), fax number(s), e-mail address, and group name.
Do you currently play Yamaha instruments? If yes, what models/series? If no, explain why you seek endorsement.
What kind of music are you currently playing?
Are you seeking endorsement from other instrument companies? If yes, what other companies are you contacting?
List any other musical instrument endorsements you may currently have. Also, please include your contact for each endorsement along with a number at which they can be reached.
List the retail music store and /or personnel with whom you correspond.
If you become a Yamaha artist at some level, what are your expectations of Yamaha? What is it specifically you are looking for from Yamaha?

Once we receive your materials, we will respond as promptly as possibly. Most packages can take up to 4 weeks to review. Please be patient. These materials will not be returned to you.

BAND & ORCHESTRAL DIVISION
John Wittmann - Artist Relations & Education Manager

AR Responsibilities:

Brass
Woodwind
String
Percussion

Other areas of responsibility:

Our office is responsible for all Band & Orchestral Educational programs and artist support. We administrate the Yamaha clinic program, Yamaha Young Performing Artists, Sounds of Summer percussion camps and the Band & Orchestral Internship program.

Yamaha's Band and Orchestral Division is proud to have some of the finest musicians in the world representing all genres of music, including blues, classical, jazz and rock on our roster. Brass, woodwind, string and percussion instrumentalists are supported by our division. Yamaha artists appear everywhere from drum corps to symphony orchestras, jazz clubs to conservatories. Yamaha is dedicated to education and works to incorporate artists in our educational programs. They present clinics worldwide, appear with the Yamaha Young Performing Artists and instruct in our Sounds of Summer percussion camps. We link hundreds of artists with band directors and music students across the country.

Yamaha's wind, string and percussion instruments are a result of years of interaction between artists and designers. Yamaha has established a trusted dialogue with our artists and it is through this dialogue that the refinement of some of the best instruments on the planet exist. Artist involvement in product development, corporate representation and education is of highest priority to us. We are proud to support the artists who represent us day in and day out as they expose the credibility of our musical instruments. Yamaha artists worldwide take the title of "Yamaha Performing Artist" very seriously because they know that they represent an elite group of gifted musicians as well as the team of designers responsible for their instruments.

The office of Artist Relations and Education for the Band and Orchestral Division is located in the Bands of America National Headquarters in downtown Indianapolis, Indiana. It is here that we orchestrate the support of our artists in the United States and abroad.

Application Process

Please send a promotional package to:

Yamaha Corporation of America
Attn: Nicole Proctor
Artist Relations and Education Department
39 W. Jackson Place, Suite 150
Indianapolis, IN 46225

A promotional package should include:

Current CD recordings
Recent photo
Performance bio
Resume
Letter of intent including the following information:

Name, address, phone number(s), fax number(s), e-mail address, and group name.
Do you currently play Yamaha instruments? If yes, what models/series? If no, explain why you seek endorsement.
What kind of music are you currently playing?
Are you seeking endorsement from other instrument companies? If yes, what other companies are you contacting?
List any other musical instrument endorsements you may currently have. Also, please include your contact for each endorsement along with a number at which they can be reached.
List the retail music store and /or personnel with whom you correspond.
If you become a Yamaha artist at some level, what are your expectations of Yamaha?
As a Yamaha artist, how do you feel you can most positively affect peoples' perceptions of Yamaha, Yamaha sales and music education?

If you are interested in support as an artist/clinician, you must also include:

One-page clinic outline
Videotape of a recently presented clinic
Information on your clinic fees

Please allow 6-8 weeks for your application to be reviewed and know that these materials will not be returned to you.

YAMAHA ARTIST SERVICES, INC.
James Steeber - Director

AR Responsibilities:

Classical Piano

Other areas of responsibility:

The eleventh floor houses the Band and Orchestral Atelier, which features a full service custom instrument shop for professional players.
Classical artists/institutional support

Since its establishment in April 1987 in New York City, Yamaha Artist Services, Inc. has gained wide recognition for its exemplary service to the global performing arts community.

In its new quarters, Yamaha Artist Services, Inc. occupies two separate floors at 689 Fifth Avenue. The entire third floor is devoted to pianos, with an on-going selection of performance-ready CFIIIS concert grand pianos and Disklavier® reproducing grand pianos. This floor also features an artist lounge, a practice studio, a small stage, business offices, and a workshop for concert piano technicians. The main room showcases activities such as concerts, master classes, press events and web casts.

The piano salon offers a cutting-edge sound environment known as Yamaha Active Field Control. This sound processing technology can shape and correct room acoustics with amazing results, even allowing authentic simulation of other performing arts venues.

The eleventh floor houses the Band and Orchestral Atelier, which features a full service custom instrument shop for professional players. It offers virtuoso orchestral musicians unique customizations, quick repairs and previews of prototype professional instruments.

Adjacent to the Band and Orchestral facility is Yamaha Music Interactive (YMIA) a Yamaha subsidiary engaged in software and hardware content development, content distribution, publishing and e-commerce.

In addition Yamaha Artist Services, Inc. offers support designed to meet the unique needs of artists, artists' managers, performing arts organizations and educational institutions.

Application Process

Please send a promotional package to:

Yamaha Artist Services, Inc.
Attn: James Steeber - Director
689 5th ave, 3rd Floor
New York, NY 10022
Phone: 212-339-9995 ext.223
Fax: 212-339-9970

YAMAHA DRUM ARTISTS
John Wittmann - Artist Relations Manager

AR Responsibilities:

Acoustic and Electric Drums
Percussion

Other areas of responsibility:

Artist Marketing
Artist Tour Support
Artist Clinic Support
New Artist Development
Product Research and Development with artists

For over forty years, Yamaha Drums have received accolades from critics the world over, and, most important, from players in all musical genres. The Yamaha logo is a guarantee of sonic excellence, design savvy, and rugged durability. It is because of the pristine product that many drummers are drawn to Yamaha, but it is the personal, family feel that sustains artist loyalty. The truth is that the Yahama family is the envy of the drum business. Most Yamaha artists have spent their entire career playing nothing but Yamaha drums. This alone speaks volumes about the product: It is a matter of mutual respect between manufacturer and artist. Indeed, many artists feel it is a privilege to play Yamaha. More importantly, Yamaha feels it is an honor that drummers willingly choose and trust Yamaha as their musical voice.

Yamaha designs and handcrafts drums expressly for drummers. Yamaha often calls upon its roster of top drum artists to help shape, tweak and fine-tune the product. The result is a drum company with an amazing product that embodies living and breathing artist input worldwide. When an artist signs with Yamaha they become a part of an elite roster. It is the mission of Yamaha Drums to enhance natural talent with the best product and most consistent support. We know that our mission rings true if our artists feel they have a meaningful voice in our family.

We receive many applications for endorsements everyday, and we find that in most cases the applicants do not really understand why a drum company endorses an artist. Before you complete the endorsement application, we would like to explain why Yamaha Drums signs an artist to our roster. We think this may help you begin to understand the philosophy behind Yamaha Drums. After all, if you are seeking an endorsement with us, you should know what we are all about.

By its basic definition, when an artist "endorses" a product, that artist fully commits and swears by that particular product. In other words, that particular product is the best and only product that the artist will use.

From a business stand point, a manufacturer endorses an artist because that artist is popular enough to influence many drum consumers. Basically, a manufacturer signs an artist, so that the buying public will be influenced to buy more of their drums. In such a deal, both parties benefit:

The artist receives professional drum equipment that he believes is the best product to represent his musical voice. In addition, he receives the support needed in all relative circumstances.
The manufacturer receives more drum sales, due to the overwhelming amount of exposure and drum fans the artist influences.

Here are some of the considerations for most endorsements:

Personality, Loyalty and Talent
Television, studio, movie and video credits
Participation in high visibility tours
Other endorsements (such as cymbals, sticks, heads, etc.)
Teaching credentials from major university or education systems
Record sales approaching "gold" status or above
Currently playing Yamaha Drums

How do you get an endorsement from Yamaha Drums? In addition to the points listed above, we look a little more at each artist. Receiving a Yamaha Drums endorsement is being accepted into our family. We take great pride in our roster and are very selective about whom we allow in.

Popularity. As noted above, an artist's popularity is essential. Will the artist influence the buying public?
Yamaha Player. Does the artist already play Yamaha? We love signing artists who truly believe in our product and have already chosen Yamaha to represent their musical voice. There is nothing more respected than to hear that an artist turned down another drum company's endorsement offer because they would rather play Yamaha Drums and wait for an opening.
Personality & Loyalty. Each and every Yamaha artist has his own personality, but we are truly a family. Loyalty to and love of the Yamaha name is crucial; this is the foundation on which our family roster is built.
Talent. We uphold the quality of the many talented artists we have on our roster. We stand behind our roster and their musical abilities. We have more legends and longevity on our roster because of that.

Application Process

Please send a promotional package to:

Yamaha Corporation of America
Attn: Nicole Proctor
39 W. Jackson Place, Suite 150
Indianapolis, IN 46225

A promotional package should include:

Current CD recordings
Recent photo
Performance bio
Resume
Letter of intent including the following information:

Name, address, phone number(s), fax number(s), e-mail address, and group name.
Do you currently play Yamaha instruments? If yes, what models/series? If no, explain why you seek endorsement.
What kind of music are you currently playing?
Are you seeking endorsement from other instrument companies? If yes, what other companies are you contacting?
List any other musical instrument endorsements you may currently have. Also, please include your contact for each endorsement along with a number at which they can be reached.
List the retail music store and /or personnel with whom you correspond.
If you become a Yamaha artist at some level, what are your expectations of Yamaha?
As a Yamaha artist, how do you feel you can most positively affect peoples' perceptions of Yamaha, Yamaha sales and music education?