Articles from Guitar Center

Guitar Center today named Jennifer Hatton President of Music & Arts, the company's school music division. Hatton brings nearly three decades of education sector leadership, most recently as Chief Growth Officer at Aramark Collegiate Hospitality, where she helped secure more than $240 million in new business partnerships and achieved a 98% account renewal and retention rate over the last 18 months. Her appointment positions Music & Arts to accelerate growth across its school music, rental, and lessons businesses.

Guitar Center today announced the return of Drum-Off, bringing back its national drumming competition in 2026 after nearly a decade. Starting May 1, drummers can step into any of Guitar Center’s 300 stores nationwide to record and submit an original three-minute on-camera audition video. Every store will feature a premium acoustic drum kit with simple, step-by-step instructions for submission. First launched in 1988, Drum-Off ran for 28 years and served as a proving ground for drummers for more than three decades, helping emerging talent gain recognition and advance their careers.

Guitar Center and the Tennessee Titans today announced a first-of-its-kind partnership centered at the Titans’ new Nissan Stadium in Nashville. The collaboration brings together two Music City institutions to create a new model for how music, sports, and technology come together at one of the newest venues in the country. As part of the partnership, Guitar Center is named Official Music Gear Retailer of the Tennessee Titans, and Audio Visual Design Group (AVDG), the company’s premium integration brand within Guitar Center Business Solutions, is an Official AV Integrator for the new Nissan Stadium.

Guitar Center today announced the launch of a new podcast series, Inside the Noise with Gabe Dalporto, featuring behind-the-scenes conversations with the artists, innovators, and industry titans shaping today’s music landscape. Hosted by Guitar Center CEO and lifelong musician Gabe Dalporto, the podcast delivers candid, wide-ranging conversations — covering everything from creative processes to the leadership, operations, and gear insights driving today’s music industry. The first three episodes from Season 1 drop today, with new conversations releasing weekly on all major streaming platforms.

Guitar Center, the largest musical instrument retailer in the U.S., has launched Rig Advisor, becoming the first music retailer to introduce an AI-powered shopping assistant directly onto the store floor. Now live in locations nationwide, Rig Advisor is a mobile-based tool that helps customers discover, compare, and explore gear in real time by prioritizing products available at that specific store location. It enhances the in-store experience by giving musicians an easy way to navigate options and make more confident decisions, whether they’re browsing solo or working with a store expert.