Musician's Friend
| Founded |
1983 |
| Headquarters |
931 Chevy Way
Medford, Oregon 97504 |
| Key people |
Robert Eastman (Founder - Retired)
Craig Johnson (CEO)
Steve Zapf (Executive Vice President of Marketing) parent = Guitar Center |
| Industry |
Music retail |
| Website |
musiciansfriend.com |
Musician's Friend is an American retailer of musical instruments and music gear. The company is based in Medford, Oregon, with a 702,000 sq ft (65,200 m2) distribution center in Kansas City, Missouri, and contact centers in Draper, Utah, Kansas City, Missouri and South Bend, Indiana.
Along with a rock-oriented catalog, the company publishes speciality catalogs and websites for niche markets. Woodwind & Brasswind and Giardinelli specialize in band and orchestral instruments, LMI and Lyons provide classroom music products, and Inspirational Pro A/V supplies audio and video products to the house-of-worship market.
Musician's Friend employees currently answer all inquiries as well as ship products for musiciansfriend.com, guitarcenter.com, music123.com, musician.com, privatereserveguitars.com, LMI, and giardinelli.com from its Draper, Utah contact center and Kansas City, Missouri warehouse. The company also owns harmonycentral.com.
History
Musician's Friend was founded in 1983 by Robert and Deanna Eastman, who eventually relocated the company's headquarters from San Diego, California to a dairy barn in Southern Oregon. Robert was joined by brother-in-law Al Dinardi, and the company grew rapidly.
Musician's Friend was purchased for $50 million by Guitar Center in 1999 and is a wholly owned, independent subsidiary. Robert Eastman remains as CEO and serves on the Guitar Center Board of Directors.
In 2005, Musician's Friend purchased the popular musician community website Harmony Central. Harmony Central provides free articles, reviews written by musicians, and discussion forums. Music industry author Craig Anderton is the Editor-in-Chief.
In February 2007, Musician's Friend purchased the Indiana-based company Woodwind & Brasswind (WWBW) after the latter declared bankruptcy. Musician's Friend's sister companies include GuitarCenter.com, Music 123, LMI, Lyons, Giardinelli, Musician.com, Private Reserve Guitars, Guitar Sale and Harmony Central.
In December 2008, Musician's Friend was named Best Online Guitar Store by Acoustic Guitar magazine in its 2008 Player's Choice Awards.[1]
On November 5 2009, Musician's Friend announced they are closing the Kansas City call center. The Salt Lake City call center will remain open.
References
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