Thalia Capos Retools For Medical Gear

With experience in the medical device field, founder Chris Bradley puts his shop into service for pandemic fight.

Bay Area accessories maker Thalia Capos is retooling to build a simple but potentially life-saving device to help medical teams caring for critical COVID-19 patients. In addition...

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Editorial Archive

Brian T. Majeski
Editor
Music Trades

Brian's monthly editorials have been part of Music Trades for more than three decades, offering informed commentary on issues of the day while exploring the music industry's connections to everything from environmental law to the moon landing. The complete collection is now online.

2020

JANUARY: Amazon Challenges Distribution Model With New Initiative
FEBRUARY: Is Business Success Really More Elusive Than Ever?
MARCH: The "Cloud" And What It Means To The Industry
APRIL: The Coronavirus, Chaos Theory, And Its Industry Impact
MAY: Finding Glimmers Of Hope In A Dark Time
JUNE: The Music Industry In The Pandemic
JULY: Finding Opportunity In Crisis
AUGUST: Is History More Or Less Bunk?
SEPTEMBER: Court Ruling Raises Questions About Amazon & Reverb
OCTOBER: The Music Industry After 6 Months Of COVID

2019

JANUARY: A Gray Market Problem In The Making?
FEBRUARY: Why Is It Cool To Be Gloomy?
MARCH: Selling Direct... Who Really Makes The Decision?
APRIL: The Industry's Unsung Heroes
MAY: Lack Of MAP Clobbers European Retail
JUNE: Drop-Shipping Gets More Complicated
JULY: Hard Choices In China Trade Dispute
AUGUST: Messy Reality Upends The Best Laid Plans
SEPTEMBER: Woodstock, Apollo 11, And The Music Industry
OCTOBER: A Tribute To The Industry's Guitar Heroes
NOVEMBER: David vs. Goliath: The Industry Takes On CITES!
DECEMBER: Cratering Camera Sales Create New Competitors

2018

JANUARY: A "Glass Half Full" Assessment Of The Industry
FEBRUARY: A Biblical Explanation Of Industry R&D
MARCH: What Was Hot At The NAMM Show
APRIL: What The Sales Data Doesn't Show
MAY: How To Improve Your Survival Odds
JUNE: The Art Of The Deal
JULY: Two Cheers For Sales Tax Reform
AUGUST: In A Perpetual State Of SNAFU
SEPTEMBER: Follow Hippocrates On Trade Policy... "First Do No Harm"
OCTOBER: Will Used Guitars Devastate The Market?
NOVEMBER: The Debt We Owe To The Steinways
DECEMBER: The Risks Of Using Third-Party Sales Platforms

2017

JANUARY: Cheer Up, Things Are Always Desperate
FEBRUARY: When It Comes To Trade, First Do No Harm
MARCH: Rosewood And Why Trust In Government Is Low
APRIL: A Proven Formula For Growth
MAY: Ikutaro Kakehashi, An Inspired Life
JUNE: Dire Predictions Signal Emerging Opportunity
JULY: Calculating The Cost Of New CITES Regulations
AUGUST: There Is No Such Thing As A Typical Store
SEPTEMBER: Celebrating An Amazing Ecosystem
OCTOBER: When The Guitar Was Really Dying!
NOVEMBER: Is Google Bad For The Music Industry?
DECEMBER: We Really Are The World!

2016

JANUARY: Making God Laugh With Our Limited Grasp Of The Future
FEBRUARY: Dealing With The World As It Is, Not As You'd Like It To Be
MARCH: The Baskin Robbins Effect Dampens Enthusiasm At NAMM
APRIL: What's Holding Us Back?
MAY: A Business Model Unique To The United States
JUNE: "Best Practices" Aren't All They're Cracked Up To Be
JULY: New Forms Of Retail Spell The End Of "Average"
AUGUST: We Have Met The Enemy And He Is Us!
SEPTEMBER: News Flash... There Is No Music Industry
OCTOBER: Keep Calm & Carry On... There's Still Life In The Guitar Business
NOVEMBER: Friend Or Foe... Taking Stock Of Amazon & eBay
DECEMBER: When Bipartisanship Isn't So Good

2015

JANUARY: The Most Musical Nation... Something To Be Thankful For
FEBRUARY: Following The Tenth Commandment
MARCH: Thinking The Unthinkable
APRIL: Creating A Positive Aura And Other Timeless Truths
MAY: Scaring Talent Away From School Music Programs?
JUNE: Fact Or Fiction, Has Business Really Gotten Harder?
JULY: The Federal Marching Band Of Music Regulators
AUGUST: Henry Ford And Steve Jobs... Retail Revolutionaries
SEPTEMBER: Martin Guitars Not "Made In The USA?"
OCTOBER: Is Bigger Still Better?
NOVEMBER: Reflections On Our 125th Year
DECEMBER: Beware Of Outsized Gross Profits

2014

JANUARY: Why Steve Jobs Would Have Wanted You To Go To NAMM
FEBRUARY: Seven Minutes That Transformed The Industry
MARCH: Paul Ash (1929-2014): A Catalyst For Positive Change
APRIL: What's Holding Back Music Products Sales?
MAY: Bain Capital And Guitar Center, A Tale Of Unmet Expectations
JUNE: Why Market Domination Is Elusive
JULY: Jail Time For Bits Of Oyster Shell And Some Lost Paperwork?
AUGUST: Missionary Zeal... What Successful Retailers Have In Common
SEPTEMBER: The Biggest Thing At NAMM? Five Girls With Guitars
OCTOBER: What Ancient Greeks Can Teach Us About Success In The Music Industry
NOVEMBER: A Forecast That Was 80 Years Too Late, Or "Close, But No Cigar"
DECEMBER: We Are The World... Reviewing The Industry's Global Scope

2013

JANUARY: Secrets To A Long And Happy Corporate Existence
FEBRUARY: Does Your Store Provide A Mini-Vacation?
MARCH: Kakehashi And Smith Join The Pantheon Of Great Innovators
APRIL: Adding Perspective To A "Numerical Portrait"
MAY: Brick-And-Mortar's Unlikely Champion
JUNE: One Cheer For The "Marketplace Fairness Act"
JULY: The Shifting Definition Of A "Music Store"
AUGUST: A Thank You To Those Who Drive Industry Progress
SEPTEMBER: Music Education Or Botox... Make A Choice!
OCTOBER: Why Are Girls Turned Off?
NOVEMBER: Unheralded Progress In Making Music More Accessible
DECEMBER: Government Bullies Pick On Defenseless Piano Teachers

2012

JANUARY: Thoughts On The Future Of Retail
FEBRUARY: A Word Of Thanks
MARCH: Add Value Or Adios!
APRIL: A Glass Simultaneously Half Full And Half Empty
MAY: Music Trades Goes Global
JUNE: The Early Stages Of A Retail Revolution
JULY: Rethinking The Conventional Wisdom
AUGUST: How To Succeed In Spite Of A Tough Economy
SEPTEMBER: Sending A SWAT Team To Collect On A Parking Ticket
OCTOBER: Why Can't They Leave Us Alone?
NOVEMBER: Why School Music Shines In A Less Than Bright Economy
DECEMBER: The Only Thing We Have To Fear Is Fear Itself

2011

JANUARY: An Optimistic Outlook.... Have We Gone Nuts?
FEBRUARY: Thoughts On How To Be A Survivor
MARCH: Painful Past Is A Prelude To A Brighter Future
APRIL: What Makes A Trend, And The Shrinking Of Retail
MAY: Rx For School Music
JUNE: "The Law Is An Ass!"
JULY: How To Measure Success
AUGUST: How Retail Evolution Confounds Even The Best Pundits
SEPTEMBER: Apple Retail Stores And The Value Of Scarcity
OCTOBER: Will Washington Outlaw Guitars?
NOVEMBER: Steven Jobs, The Entrepreneurial Spirit, And The Music Industry
DECEMBER: Unbelievable Antics In Washington D.C.

2010

JANUARY: Where Do You Go To Find Your Enthusiasm?
FEBRUARY: You Could Be a Criminal And Not Even Know It
MARCH: The Problem With Following A Trend Line
APRIL: A Real Silver Lining In The Clouds
MAY: Man Versus Machine
JUNE: The Reason This Industry Is Different
JULY: A Little Story Long Ago With A Surprise Ending
AUGUST: The Internet Isn't The First Retail Revolution
SEPTEMBER: Washington Slows The Economic Recovery
OCTOBER: More Ways Than Ever To Appeal To Customers
NOVEMBER: 120 Years Of Industry Coverage
DECEMBER: What Future Catastrophes Are We Creating Today?

2009

JANUARY: When Assumptions Go Out The Window
FEBRUARY: The Lipstick Effect And Other Bits Of Good News
MARCH: The Seeds Of A Recovery Are Present
APRIL: The Leave No Employee Behind Act
MAY: A Fearless Forecast We'll Stand Behind
JUNE: Harassed By The FTC
JULY: Some Things Never Change, Some Things Do
AUGUST: Held Hostage By The Whim Of Consumers
SEPTEMBER: The Importance Of "Animal Spirits"
OCTOBER: Les Paul's Special Place In The History Of Music
NOVEMBER: Launch A Class Action In Four Easy Steps
DECEMBER: Not With A Bang But With A Whimper

2008

JANUARY: A Proven Way To Grow The Market
FEBRUARY: The Music Industry's "X" Factor
MARCH: The Evidence Doesn't Justify The Pessimism
APRIL: Stop Chasing After More Customers
MAY: What Kids Really Want
JUNE: If This Trend Continues...
JULY: Small Details, Big Pay Days
AUGUST: There Is No Such Thing As "The Economy"
SEPTEMBER: Eternal Truths And Passing Crises
OCTOBER: Good Fortune Favors The Prepared
NOVEMBER: Henry Steinway And Industry Commitment
DECEMBER: The Dangers Of "Net Never" Terms

2007

JANUARY: If This Trend Continues...
FEBRUARY: You May Have More Leverage Than You Know!
MARCH: Forget About The Trends, You're On Your Own
APRIL: Where Are All The First-Time Buyers?
MAY: The Industry Pays For An FTC Fishing Trip
JUNE: Here's One Promo Idea That's Guaranteed To Work!
JULY: The Biggest Market You've Never Heard Of
AUGUST: In Search Of A New Retail Formula
SEPTEMBER: Thoughts On Why Things Always Get Better
OCTOBER: Finding The Bright Spot In The Guitar Market
NOVEMBER: Pushy Salespeople And Other Urban Legends
DECEMBER: Why You Should Forget The Economy

2006

JANUARY: China, The NAMM Show, And Are You Serious?
FEBRUARY: What Is Customer Service?
MARCH: Mass Merchants And Risk
APRIL: How The CIA Goofed And The Value Of A Free Press
MAY: NAMM Gives You A New Chance To Be Heard
JUNE: Mike Kovins And Why This Business Is Special
JULY: A Zero-Sum Game
AUGUST: How To Get 500,000 Hours Of Labor For Free!
SEPTEMBER: Opinion Research And The Summer NAMM Show
OCTOBER: Focus & Control: Lessons From Brook Mays
NOVEMBER: Bill Schultz And The Meaning Of Leadership
DECEMBER: Instrument-Borne Bacteria... Is It Really A Threat?

2005

JANUARY: Where To Go For The Answers
FEBRUARY: Six Sigma For Dummies
MARCH: The Korean Wrecking Crew
APRIL: We Were All Wrong
MAY: Of Big Macs And Guitar Strings
JUNE: Time For New Tactics In Promoting School Music?
JULY: The Limits To Size
AUGUST: Sales Tax And Simple Fairness
SEPTEMBER: Times Are Tough, So What Else Is New?
OCTOBER: Why Smart Guys Sometimes Look Dumb
NOVEMBER: Music And Insurance, Strange Bedfellows
DECEMBER: Following The Lead Of Others

2004

JANUARY: "Be Prepared," Go To The NAMM Show
FEBRUARY: The Industry's Higher Purpose
MARCH: The Failure Of Zero-Sum Analysis
APRIL: Solve One Problem, Cause Another
MAY: How Big Was The "Beatle Boom?"
JUNE: Is Wal-Mart A Real Threat?
JULY: World Trade And What It Means To You
AUGUST: Should Generic Products Command A Price Premium?
SEPTEMBER: Is Amazon.com A Freeloader?
OCTOBER: This Is Your Father's Guitar
NOVEMBER: The More Things Change...
DECEMBER: What The Election Results Really Mean

2003

JANUARY: Looking For The Pony
FEBRUARY: The Ultimate Mom & Pop Operation
MARCH: When Old Habits Collide With Self Preservation
APRIL: What The Numbers Reveal
MAY: Try Watching The Nature Channel
JUNE: A Never-Ending Crisis
JULY: Instead Of Making Excuses
AUGUST: Unique Selling Propositions
SEPTEMBER: The Steinway Story
OCTOBER: Remembering Vito Pascucci
NOVEMBER: Watch What You Wish For
DECEMBER: Lacking The Confidence To Price Fairly

2002

JANUARY: Do The Math... Go To NAMM
FEBRUARY: Reasons For Optimism
MARCH: The Rise Of China
APRIL: The Industry Scorecard
MAY: Missing Inflation
JUNE: Don't Forget The Fun
JULY: Genichi Kawakami R.I.P.
AUGUST: Will It Deliver As Promised?
SEPTEMBER: Theft, Pure & Simple
OCTOBER: Looking Outside For Help
NOVEMBER: Why Smart People Fail
DECEMBER: The Industry's Highest Margin Retailer

2001

JANUARY: Internet Woes
FEBRUARY: 100 Years Of Progress
MARCH: Brick And Mortar Gets New Respect
APRIL: Who Knows Anything?
MAY: Why Bad News Sells
JUNE: An Innovator Stumbles
JULY: Are Prices Too Low?
AUGUST: Do MAP Policies Work?
SEPTEMBER: People Make The Difference
OCTOBER: Mute In The Face Of Terror
NOVEMBER: Who We Are
DECEMBER: A Good Time To Reassess

2000

JANUARY: Going Forward Looking Backward
FEBRUARY: Can Technology Teach?
MARCH: Does It Really Change Everything?
APRIL: NAMM Makes Good On A Promise
MAY: We're For "None Of The Above"
JUNE: How A Great Company Tanked
JULY: Internet Myths
AUGUST: Giving Credit Where it's Due
SEPTEMBER: Follow The Money!
OCTOBER: Politicians In Their Place
NOVEMBER: Where To Find The Answers
DECEMBER: America... The Most Musical Nation

1999

JANUARY: Where To Go For Answers
FEBRUARY: Someone Is Really Wrong!
MARCH: Are Baby Boomers Losing It?
APRIL: Going Against The Grain
MAY: Helicopters And The Internet
JUNE: Can't We All Just Get Along?
JULY: Whipsawed By Wall Street
AUGUST: Missing The Mark By A Mile
SEPTEMBER: What Happened To Manny's?
OCTOBER: Musician's Friend Financial Mess
NOVEMBER: Are Dealer Agreements Dead?
DECEMBER: Are Trade Shows Necessary?

1998

JANUARY: Do Co-op Programs Decrease Retail Profitability?
FEBRUARY: Is the Music Industry Really Different?
MARCH: Just Say No
APRIL: Show Us The Numbers
MAY: Justifying A Retail Margin
JUNE: A Golden Age
JULY: Industry Threats Revisited
AUGUST: Going The Distance
SEPTEMBER: "External Forces" Did It!
OCTOBER: Fighting The Last War?
NOVEMBER: Planning For The Worst
DECEMBER: Size Isn't Everything

1997

JANUARY: Finding Some Answers
FEBRUARY: New Year's Resolutions
MARCH: Do The Numbers Add Up?
APRIL: Putting Data To Work
MAY: Will They All Be Happy?
JUNE: Do Those Milk Ads Work?
JULY: What's Going On Out There?
AUGUST: Do Category Killers Kill?
SEPTEMBER: Explanations Are On The Way
OCTOBER: Like Selling Tennis Racquets With No Tennis Courts?
NOVEMBER: Ethical Lawyers, Honest Politicos & Service Oriented Retailers
DECEMBER: Sex, Drugs, Rock & Roll... And School Music

1996

JANUARY: The Rules Are Changing
FEBRUARY: Legalized Extortion
MARCH: On Wal-Mart And Focus
APRIL: Knowledge Is Power
MAY: Forget The Long Range Plans
JUNE: On Being A Contrarian
JULY: The Guitar Center Deal
AUGUST: The Human Factor
SEPTEMBER: Do Customers Really Shop?
OCTOBER: Local Dealers R.I.P.?
NOVEMBER: A Few Thoughts On Service
DECEMBER: Outperforming The "BPI"

1995

JANUARY: Disloyal Customers & The NAMM Show
FEBRUARY: Moving Ahead In Good Times
MARCH: Do Consumers Need Protection?
APRIL: Why So Little Cheering?
MAY: Familiarity Breeds Contempt
JUNE: Forget The Magic Bullet
JULY: Suppliers In The Dust!
AUGUST: Finding Which Way Is Up?
SEPTEMBER: The Mackie Parable
OCTOBER: Beware Of Doomsayers
NOVEMBER: Do You Compete With Idiots?
DECEMBER: Why Buy Through The Mail?

1994

JANUARY: Thoughts On The Limits Of Technology
FEBRUARY: The Danger Of Wishes That Come True
MARCH: The Industry's Delivery System
APRIL: You Can't Pay Salaries With Market Share
MAY: The World's Best Retailers
JUNE: NAMM, MTV & The Value Of Foot Soldiers
JULY: The Top 200 And The Elusive Competitive Edge
AUGUST: Public Sentiment Shifts In Our Favor
SEPTEMBER: Retailing In The Information Age
OCTOBER: The Sales Tax Dilemma
NOVEMBER: The Scarcity Of Quality
DECEMBER: Hyperbole Followed By Disillusion

1993

JANUARY: Want to Be Taken Seriously? Better Show Up In Anaheim!
FEBRUARY: Associations In Perspective
MARCH: The Good Old Days... They Were Lousy
APRIL: Industry Sales Data Offers Good News
MAY: Why Music Products Never Die
JUNE: Bill Clinton, The Feds, And Music
JULY: Can Technology Save Us?
AUGUST: Small Is Beautiful
SEPTEMBER: Looking For Those 10% Ideas
OCTOBER: Will National Standards Help?
NOVEMBER: Are M.I. Retailers Stupid?
DECEMBER: Is Industry Growth Overrated?

1992

JANUARY: Skipping NAMM Is False Economy
FEBRUARY: The Pessimists Won't Prevail... Prepare For Great Things In '92
MARCH: The Power Of Joint Action And Changes Afoot At NAMM
APRIL: Down Markets Are Not Without Opportunity
MAY: Light At The End Of The Tunnel
JUNE: Opportunity Amidst Chaos
JULY: Dealing With Mail Order
AUGUST: The Top 100 Revisited
SEPTEMBER: You Get What You Pay For
OCTOBER: Good Fortune Favors The Prepared
NOVEMBER: Are We Really Facing A Crisis?
DECEMBER: The Winds Of Change Are Blowing

1991

JANUARY: No National Answer, But Plenty Of Local Solutions
FEBRUARY: Video Games Revisited
MARCH: Summer NAMM R.I.P.
APRIL: Profitable Revelations From The Auto Industry
MAY: Leo Fender, R.I.P.
JUNE: Techo-Marvel Or Techo-Flop... How To Tell The Difference
JULY: Flouting Nature's Laws
AUGUST: The Impulsive Music Maker
SEPTEMBER: Time To Recast NAMM As An Industry Association?
OCTOBER: Looking For Growth? It's All In The Details
NOVEMBER: How Much Can A Supplier Do To Make Dealers Profitable?
DECEMBER: Could We Survive With Government Help?

1990

JANUARY: Music Trades At 100
FEBRUARY: New Year's Resolutions For Profit
MARCH: Where To Find Customers
APRIL: The More Things Change...
MAY: Living With A Cyclical Business
JUNE: Moving Into The Mainstream
JULY: NAMM Heads For New York
AUGUST: Looking Forward To The Next 100
SEPTEMBER: There May Be A Free Lunch
OCTOBER: Servants Of Music
NOVEMBER: You Have To Measure Well Before You Can Build Anything
DECEMBER: Why The Economy Matters Less Than You Think
CENTENNIAL ISSUE: The Music Industry's Century-Long Drama

1989

JANUARY: Control Your Own Destiny... Start Teaching Today
FEBRUARY: Who's To Blame For Poor Retail Profits?
APRIL: Should The Show Be A Day Longer?
JUNE: Attend The NAMM Show!
JULY: Music Education... An Introduction To Work
AUGUST: Reevaluating NAMM's Summer Show
SEPTEMBER: NAMM's Praiseworthy Rule Change
NOVEMBER: Why Is The Music Industry Like Two Men In A Lifeboat?
DECEMBER: Sound The Alarms... The Industry's Got A Problem

1988

JANUARY: How To Handle High Prices
FEBRUARY: A Trade Show Driven Business
MARCH: The Importance Of Attitude
APRIL: The Forgotten Customer
MAY: Git Down To Atlanta
JUNE: Are We Giving Away The Store?
JULY: How Many Shows Do We Need?
AUGUST: Why Price Advertising Works
SEPTEMBER: The Good Old Days Weren't So Great
OCTOBER: MIDI Magic Meets Market Realities
NOVEMBER: Why The Experts Are Usually Wrong
DECEMBER: Why You Should Attend The Winter Market

1987

JANUARY: The Industry's Best Buy!
FEBRUARY: Supply & Demand In Sync
MARCH: Is Discounting Dead?
APRIL: The Individual's Vital Role
MAY: Why You Should Attend NAMM!
JUNE: Music Trades' Poll Proves Two NAMM Shows $$ Effective
JULY: Our Debt To Alfredo Flores
AUGUST: NAMM's Exceptional Credit Manual
SEPTEMBER: Sales Training—It Works
OCTOBER: Who Will Control Your Business?
NOVEMBER: Hope For The Best... Prepare For The Worst
DECEMBER: Prescription For Progress—Attend Winter NAMM!

1986

JANUARY: New Year's Resolutions For Profit
FEBRUARY: NAMM's Welcome Initiative
MARCH: Rebuilding The U.S. Music Industry
APRIL: The Three Commandments Of Promotion
MAY: The Grey Market Blues
JUNE: Ending 90 Years Of NAMM Secrecy
JULY: What To Do With NAMM Profits
SEPTEMBER: Is Mail Order Retailing A Crime?
OCTOBER: Painful Anecdotes
NOVEMBER: A Few Thoughts On Pricing
DECEMBER: A Recruitment Film, Standards, & Other 10% Solutions

1985

JANUARY: The End Of An Era... Conglomerates Leave The Music Business
MARCH: Big Brother Is Watching... Don't Play Games With Sales Tax
APRIL: Coping With A Retail Revolution... Look To The Giants For Direction
MAY: Prescription For Profit... The June NAMM Expo
JUNE: How NAMM Can Best Serve The Entire Music Industry
JULY: Keep The NAMM Show In Chicago
AUGUST: Stalled Worker State Stifles China Music Industry
SEPTEMBER: Don't Judge Suppliers By Their Dealer Agreements
OCTOBER: The Human Side Of MIDI
NOVEMBER: Is Your Sales Staff Cutting It?
DECEMBER: Plan For A Profitable Show

1984

FEBRUARY: NAMM Votes Down AMC Marketing Plan
MARCH: Retail Salespeople... The Hope Of The Industry
APRIL: Managing Technology For Profit
MAY: Plan For A Profitable NAMM Show
JULY: Uncharted Industry Growth... Why Reality Is Better Than Statistics
SEPTEMBER: M.H. Berlin... A Tribute To 50 Years Of Leadership
OCTOBER: Consumer Shows... Industry Blessing Or Blight?
NOVEMBER: Where Is The Economic Recovery Anyway?
DECEMBER: Exploiting The Potential Of Portables

1983

FEBRUARY: A New Era In Dealer/Supplier Relations?... Changing FTC Laws
APRIL: How To Earn A Profit... Full Service Is The Key
MAY: Prescription For Profit... Attend The NAMM Expo
JULY: A Solid Recovery On The Way
AUGUST: How To Start A Studio... Help From NAMM
SEPTEMBER: A Mutual Partnership... Dealers & Manufacturers
OCTOBER: What Does The U.S. Public Think Of Organs? NAEKM's New Study Offers Some Answers
NOVEMBER: There Is More To Selling Than Cutting Price

1982

DECEMBER: Prescription For Profit... The Winter Market