Accustomed to formally opening trade within our industry each year, all eyes were focused on the NAMM Show in 2021 to return us back to some form of normality. However, as California continues to be locked down by the virus and hampered by possibly the worst wild fires in the state’s history, the organisers succumbed to the inevitable and cancelled the 2021 edition. In addition to announcing their ‘Believe in Music’ virtual event from 18 January, president Joe Lamond remains characteristically upbeat and driven in his quest to help MI and pro audio during its darkest hour.