The Music People

What The Music People does

The Music People is a wholesale distributor and manufacturer of music and professional audio equipment, founded in 1979 in Berlin, Connecticut and operating as a subsidiary of Exertis | Jam since 2020. The company runs two core brand divisions: TMP-Pro, which distributes over 200 pro-audio, video, lighting, and accessories brands (including Shure, Sennheiser, Audio-Technica, Bose Professional, JBL, QSC, Yamaha, and others) to music retailers and sound contractors, and On-Stage, which designs and manufactures over 700 proprietary music-instrument accessories and stands. The product portfolio spans live/installed sound, microphones, lighting and DJ, MI accessories, recorders/players, and studio/podcasting categories.

The company generates revenue through B2B hardware sales via direct dealer relationships and a B2B e-commerce platform (tmppro.com) that requires authenticated dealer login for pricing. It serves over 1,500 accounts annually — including music retailers, professional sound contractors (notably some of the largest in the US), and professional audio businesses — and supports performers in 80 countries. Pricing is dealer-tier and not publicly disclosed; list prices on the website are reference-only.

Go-to-market is channel-led: the dealer login system, dedicated sales-rep account management, and a comprehensive brand directory on the website constitute the primary commercial surface. The company has been consistently ranked in the Music Trades top-100 global suppliers and has been recognized regionally with a 2013 Family Business Award (Hartford Business Journal) and a 2021 Top Workplace designation (Hartford Courant, its fourth such award).

Name

The Music People

Legal name

The Music People

Website

https://musicpeopleinc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The Music People is a B2B wholesale distributor and manufacturer of music and professional audio equipment, operating the TMP-Pro distribution division (200+ brands) and the On-Stage manufacturing division (700+ accessory SKUs), serving 1,500+ dealer and sound-contractor accounts across 80 countries as a subsidiary of Exertis | Jam.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Pro-Audio Equipment Distribution

NAICS

Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing (3343), Musical Instrument and Supplies Retailers (45914)

SIC

Musical Instruments (3931), Wholesale-Electrical Appliances, Tv & Radio Sets (5064)

akta.pro primary industry

Instrument & Pro Audio Retail (Online/Brick-and-Mortar) (MPAIAJAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Musical Instruments (Acoustic & Electric) (MPAIAJAA), DJ Equipment & Electronic Music Gear Retail (CRALAEAD), DJ & Performance Gear (Controllers, Turntables, CDJs, Mixers) (MPAIAJAC)

Keywords

• Pro audio distribution
• Music instrument accessories
• Professional sound equipment
• Audio video lighting wholesale
• Music retail supply

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Distribution of Pro-Audio Equipment: B2B distribution of professional audio, video, lighting equipment and accessories to music retailers and sound contractors. Carries over 200 pro-audio brands through their TMP-Pro division.
2. Music Instrument Accessories Manufacturing and Sales: Manufactures and supplies music-instrument accessories and stands under the On-Stage brand, with over 700 products in their catalog.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

The Music People is a wholesale distributor and manufacturer of professional audio, video, lighting equipment, and music-instrument accessories. Through its TMP-Pro division it distributes over 200 pro-audio brands to music retailers and sound contractors, while its On-Stage brand designs and manufactures more than 700 music-instrument accessories and stands sold through the dealer channel.

Product overview

The Music People operates two brand divisions: On-Stage (designer, manufacturer, and supplier of over 700 music-instrument accessories and stands) and TMP-Pro (distributor of over 200 pro-audio, video, lighting, and accessories brands). The company serves music retailers and sound contractors with a comprehensive portfolio spanning Live/Installed Sound equipment, Lighting/DJ products, Microphones, MI Products/Accessories, Recorders/Players, and Studio/Podcasting gear. On-Stage focuses on accessories while TMP-Pro distributes professional equipment from major brands to support performers and contractors worldwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• On-Stage: Designer, manufacturer, and supplier of music-instrument accessories and stands, offering more than 700 products.
• TMP-Pro

Products and services

• On-Stage Brand (music-instrument accessories and stands) In-house designed and manufactured line of more than 700 music-instrument accessories and stands, including instrument stands, microphone stands, speaker stands, racks, cases, and studio furniture. Sold to music retailers and dealers for resale to performers, studios, and musicians.
• TMP-Pro Pro-Audio Distribution Wholesale distribution of over 200 pro-audio, video, lighting, and accessories brands, including Shure, EV, Telex, AKG, Tascam, Sennheiser, Crown, Atlas Sound, Audio-Technica, Yamaha, Bose Professional, JBL, QSC, and others. Supplies authorized dealers, music retailers, and professional sound contractors worldwide.
• Live / Installed Sound Equipment Professional audio equipment category for live performances and fixed installations, comprising amplifiers, assisted listening systems, headphones, intercom systems, mixers, personal monitoring, signal processors, speakers, and stage systems. Distributed to sound contractors and pro-audio dealers for project deployment.
• Lighting / DJ Equipment DJ and professional lighting solutions category including DJ controllers, cases, headphones, mixers, and architectural through stage lighting fixtures. Distributed to music retailers, lighting specialists, and sound contractors.
• Microphones

Quantifiable outcome

• Serving performers in 80 countries
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 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

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Exertis | JamcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2020In 2020, The Music People joined forces with Exertis | Jam, North America's leading distributor of musical instruments, pro-audio, pro-lighting, and consumer electronics. This acquisition positioned The Music People as part of a major North American distribution network. The Music People operates under the Exertis | Jam business umbrella while maintaining their On-Stage brand manufacturing and TMP-Pro distribution operations.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• American Music & Sound: American Music & Sound distributes pro-audio and MI brands to retailers and contractors in North America. It competes head-to-head with TMP-Pro on many of the same vendor lines and dealer accounts in the pro-audio channel.
• Full Compass Systems: Full Compass is a US-based pro-audio, lighting, video and musical instrument distributor serving contractors, retailers and integrators. It is one of TMP-Pro's closest direct competitors, offering a similarly broad multi-brand catalog to dealer and contractor accounts.
• ADI Global Distribution: ADI Global is a large wholesale distributor of low-voltage AV, security and pro-AV products to dealers and integrators. It shares the B2B distribution model and contractor customer base with TMP-Pro, particularly in installed-sound and pro-lighting categories.
• AVAD: AVAD is a US distributor of custom installation AV, lighting and pro-AV products to integrators and contractors. It is a near-direct competitor to TMP-Pro for installed-sound and contractor accounts, with a comparable catalog and dealer relationship model.
• Exertis | Jam: Exertis | Jam is the parent of The Music People and itself a leading North American distributor of musical instruments, pro-audio and pro-lighting. As the acquiring entity and umbrella brand, it shares the same B2B distribution model, vendor portfolio and customer base as TMP-Pro.

Emerging players

• Westlake Pro: Westlake Pro is a pro-audio retailer and AV integrator serving studios, post-production facilities and contractors. It overlaps with TMP-Pro's installed-sound and studio/podcasting categories, particularly with sound contractor and professional audio buyers.

Broad incumbents

• Sweetwater: Sweetwater is a leading online retailer of musical instruments and pro-audio equipment with deep sales-engineer relationships. It is downstream of TMP's distribution model but shapes dealer and end-customer expectations for service, selection and pricing across the MI/pro-audio channel.
• Guitar Center: Guitar Center is the largest US specialty retailer of musical instruments and pro-audio gear. While primarily a downstream retailer rather than distributor, it represents the same end-market demand that drives TMP's dealer customers and competes for the same consumer wallet.
• B&H Photo Video: B&H is a major US retailer of pro-audio, video and music production equipment. While broader than TMP's MI focus, it competes for the same end-customer purchases of microphones, headphones, mixers and recording gear that flow through TMP's dealer network.

Others

• Hosa Technology: Hosa Technology is a manufacturer of cables and audio accessories sold through music and pro-audio retailers. It overlaps directly with TMP's On-Stage accessory category and TMP-Pro's distribution of third-party accessory brands, making it both a potential vendor and adjacent competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/TheMusicPeople.Inc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-music-people-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries2 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 The Music People