Corner Music

What Corner Music does

Corner Music is a privately held, family-owned musical instrument retailer founded in 1976 in Nashville, Tennessee. The company operates a single physical retail showroom at 3048 Dickerson Pike alongside a Shopify-powered e-commerce storefront at cornermusic.com that ships nationwide. Its product catalog spans electric and acoustic guitars, bass guitars, keyboards and synthesizers, drums and percussion, effects pedals, guitar amplifiers, studio and recording equipment, live sound gear, and other stringed instruments, drawing from premium brands such as Martin, Gibson, Fender, Eastman, Taylor, Boss, Marshall, Sennheiser, and Shure, with high-end items reaching $27,500.

The company monetizes through three primary revenue streams: unit-priced instrument and equipment retail sales (ranging from approximately $99 accessories to $27,500 collectibles), professional guitar repair services priced between $15 for a restring and $300 for a refret and setup, and commercial audio/video system design, installation, and maintenance for worship venues, entertainment spaces, corporate offices, and government facilities. Repair services are delivered by resident technician Jeff Marple, who brings 35 years of experience and a notable client roster including U2, John Frusciante, Dolly Parton, Hank Williams Jr., Alison Krauss, and Steve Winwood.

Corner Music's go-to-market is predominantly direct-to-consumer, with personalized in-store service for professional and aspiring musicians complemented by online ordering. It also engages select B2B clients such as ASCAP Nashville and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation for AV installations. The business is family-run, with founder Larry having passed operational leadership to his son Kirk. The company has earned 15+ Top Sales Awards from Music & Sound Retailer magazine, 10+ Best of Nashville awards from Nashville Scene readers, and holds Nashville's only Five Star Gibson Acoustic Dealership status.

Name

Corner Music

Legal name

Corner Music

Website

https://cornermusic.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Corner Music is a family-owned Nashville musical instrument retailer founded in 1976, selling premium guitars, basses, keys, drums, and studio gear via a single showroom and Shopify e-commerce store, with on-site guitar repair and commercial AV installation services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Musical Instrument Retail

NAICS

Musical Instrument and Supplies Retailers (459140)

akta.pro primary industry

Musical Instrument Retail (Guitars, Keyboards, Drums, Band/Orchestra) (CRALAEAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Instrument Accessories & Consumables Retail (Strings, Reeds, Sticks, Cables) (CRALAEAE), Pro Audio & Recording Equipment Retail (MI-adjacent) (CRALAEAC), Used & Vintage Musical Instruments Retail (CRALAEAH)

Keywords

• Musical instrument retail
• Guitar sales service
• Audio video installation
• Music equipment store
• Guitar repair services

Headquarters

HQ city

Nashville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Musical Instrument Sales: Retail sales of musical instruments including guitars, basses, keyboards, synthesizers, drums, percussion, and studio equipment. The store carries premium brands and specialty instruments with prices ranging from budget to high-end ($27,500 for rare collectibles).
2. Guitar Repair Services: On-site guitar repair services including setups, fret work, refrets, pickup installation, and custom wiring performed by veteran technician Jeff Marple with 35 years of experience.
3. Audio/Video Installation: Commercial audio and video system design, installation, and service for worship venues, entertainment spaces, and corporate facilities including ASCAP Nashville boardroom and Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Corner Music is a Nashville-based music retailer selling electric and acoustic guitars, keyboards and synthesizers, drums and percussion, effects pedals, amplifiers, studio recording equipment, pro audio and live sound gear, other stringed instruments (mandolin, ukulele), parts and accessories, used gear, and branded merchandise. The store also provides on-site guitar repair services staffed by veteran technicians and offers commercial audio/video system design and installation for venues, corporate offices, and government buildings.

Product overview

Corner Music is a physical and online music retail store operating since 1976 in Nashville, Tennessee. The company offers a curated selection of musical instruments and equipment across multiple categories including electric and acoustic guitars, bass guitars, keyboards and synthesizers, drums and percussion, effects pedals, guitar amplifiers, studio and recording equipment, live sound, pro audio, and other stringed instruments. The product portfolio spans major brands such as Martin, Gibson, Fender, Eastman, and many others, alongside complementary services including professional guitar repair (offered by veteran tech Jeff Marple) and custom audio/video system installation for commercial spaces. The store operates as an e-commerce platform powered by Shopify, serving both physical store customers at their Nashville location and online buyers worldwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Guitars Retail sales of electric guitars, acoustic guitars, bass guitars, 12-string guitars, left-handed guitars, and signature models from brands such as Gibson, Fender, Taylor, Martin, ESP, Gretsch, PRS, and Reverend. Targeted at professional, recording, and amateur musicians.
• Keys & Synths Retail sales of keyboards and synthesizers from brands including Moog, Korg, Roland, and Nord for studio and stage use.
• Drums & Percussion Retail sales of drum kits, electronic drums, hand percussion, and cymbals from manufacturers such as Pearl, Roland, DW, Zildjian, and Meinl.
• Effects Pedals Retail sales of guitar and bass effects pedals, multi-effects units, and pedalboard accessories from brands such as Boss, Electro-Harmonix, JHS, Eventide, MXR, and Chase Bliss.
• Guitar Amplifiers Retail sales of guitar and bass amplifiers and cabinets, including tube and modeling amps, from brands such as Fender, Marshall, Vox, Mesa/Boogie, and Two Rock.
• Studio & Recording Equipment Retail sales of studio microphones, audio interfaces, monitors, headphones, and recording accessories from brands such as Neumann, Universal Audio, Shure, AKG, Sennheiser, and Adam Audio.
• Pro Audio Equipment Retail sales of microphones, wireless systems, in-ear monitors, mixers, and signal processing from brands such as Sennheiser, Shure, Audio-Technica, JBL, and QSC for live and installed sound.
• Live Sound Equipment Retail sales of PA speakers, subwoofers, stage lighting, mixers, and cables for touring musicians, venues, and houses of worship.
• Other Stringed Instruments Retail sales of mandolins, ukuleles, banjos, and resonator instruments from brands such as Gibson, Martin, and Kala.
• Guitar & Bass Parts & Accessories Retail sales of guitar and bass parts including strings, pickups, bridges, tuning machines, picks, straps, cases, gig bags, stands, capos, cables, and maintenance supplies.
• Used Gear Pre-owned musical instruments, amplifiers, and equipment sourced, inspected, and resold by the store at varied price points for budget-conscious musicians.
• Merchandise & Apparel Branded apparel, hats, drinkware, gifts, and novelty items for musicians and fans.
• Guitar Repair Services On-site guitar and bass repair services including setup, fret work, electronics, hardware replacement, structural repair, refinishing, and restoration, performed by experienced technicians. Targeted at professional and amateur musicians.
• Audio & Video Installation Services Commercial audio, video, lighting, and control system design and installation services for worship venues, entertainment spaces, athletic facilities, corporate offices, and government buildings. Targeted at institutional and enterprise clients.

Named customers9 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Chicago Music Exchange: Specialty music retailer combining a brick-and-mortar showroom with a large e-commerce store, focused on new, vintage, and premium guitars and amps; closely mirrors Corner Music's curated, expert-driven, single-location-plus-web model.
• Gruhn Guitars: Nashville-based vintage and high-end guitar retailer with a deep professional-artist customer base; the most geographically and category-overlapping direct peer to Corner Music, particularly on premium acoustic and collectible instruments.
• Elderly Instruments: Long-standing independent musical instrument retailer based in Lansing, MI; matches Corner Music as a family-rooted specialty store carrying guitars, basses, amps, and accessories with strong repair service and national shipping.
• Wildwood Guitars: Specialty guitar retailer with a single Colorado showroom plus a strong e-commerce channel; directly comparable to Corner Music's model of curated premium-brand guitars with national online reach.
• Dave's Guitar Shop: Single-store specialty guitar retailer in La Crosse, WI with a robust e-commerce site; comparable to Corner Music in combining a physical showroom, online sales, and curated premium-brand inventory.
• Chuck Levin's Washington Music Center: Independent, multi-decade music retailer in the DC area combining instrument sales, repair services, and rentals; a strong functional analog to Corner Music's combined retail-plus-repair model.

Broad incumbents

• Guitar Center: National multi-store musical instrument retailer carrying the same core categories as Corner Music (guitars, basses, amps, drums, pro audio); comparable in product mix though broader in assortment and price tiers and structurally less focused on Nashville's professional artist community.
• Sam Ash: Long-running U.S. musical instrument retailer offering the same core categories (guitars, drums, keys, pro audio, accessories); broader incumbency footprint than Corner Music, but overlapping customer base of musicians and hobbyists.
• Sweetwater: The largest U.S. online retailer of musical instruments and pro audio gear; overlaps with Corner Music across guitars, amps, studio equipment, and accessories, but at vastly larger scale and with a national rather than local footprint.

Emerging players

• Reverb: Online marketplace for new, used, and vintage musical instruments with a strong Nashville seller base; competes directly with Corner Music's instrument sales and used-gear categories while operating as a marketplace rather than a single-store retailer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@cornermusic5057?si=7zVYfseAtfeAzs1E
• Facebookfacebook.com/CornerMusicNashville
• Instagraminstagram.com/cornermusic
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/corner-music-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Corner Music