Hickey's Music Center

Name

Hickey's Music Center

Legal name

Hickey's Music Center

Website

https://hickeys.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Musical Instrument and Sheet Music Retail

NAICS

Musical Instrument and Supplies Retailers (459140), Sporting Goods, Hobby, Musical Instrument, Book, and Miscellaneous Retailers (459)

SIC

Retail-Hobby, Toy & Game Shops (5945)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Sheet Music & Music Books Retail (CRALAEAB), Educational Music Products Retail (Method Books, Exam Prep, Classroom Instruments) (CRALAEAJ), Instrument Rentals & Leasing (Band/Orchestra Programs) (CRALAEAG), Instrument Repair, Maintenance & Luthier Services (CRALAEAF), Instrument Accessories & Consumables Retail (Strings, Reeds, Sticks, Cables) (CRALAEAE)

Keywords

• Musical instrument retail
• Sheet music sales
• Instrument rental services
• Instrument repair services
• Music education programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Ithaca

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Musical Instrument Sales: Retail sales of musical instruments including brass, woodwinds, strings, percussion, guitars, and pianos. Both in-store and online purchasing options.
2. Sheet Music and Books: Extensive catalog of sheet music, method books, and educational materials for all instruments and skill levels.
3. Accessories and Supplies: Music stands, metronomes, tuners, cases, strings, and other musical accessories.
4. Instrument Rentals: No-hassle rental plan for musical instruments, available online with Peace of Mind Warranty and Double Discount Purchase Plan.
5. Instrument Repairs: Professional repair services for woodwind, brass, string, fretted, percussion, and electronic instruments.
6. Music Lessons and Rock School: In-person music lessons with teachers and rock school programs for various skill levels.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Hickey's Music Center is a multi-channel music retailer and education provider selling musical instruments, sheet music, and accessories through a brick-and-mortar store in Ithaca, NY and an e-commerce website shipping nationwide within the Lower 48 states. The company also offers instrument rentals, professional repair services for woodwind, brass, string, fretted, percussion and electronic instruments, in-store music lessons, and a Rock School music education program. Specialization in NYSSMA and other contest sheet music, plus a partnership with Ithaca College School of Music, Theatre and Dance, anchors a deep resource library of educational and competition materials.

Product overview

Hickey's Music Center is a multi-channel music retailer and education services provider offering an extensive catalog of sheet music publications, musical instruments, and related accessories. The core offerings include sheet music and publications across all instrument categories (band, orchestra, chamber, vocal, piano, guitar, jazz, pop), physical musical instruments (woodwinds, brass, strings, percussion, guitars, keyboards), complemented by services such as instrument rentals, repairs, music lessons, and Rock School programs. Additional offerings include sound and studio equipment, used instruments, electronic gift cards, and contest music specifically for NYSSMA and other competitions. The company operates primarily as an e-commerce platform with physical store presence in Ithaca, NY.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sheet Music & Publications Extensive catalog of sheet music for all instrument types covering band, orchestra, chamber, vocal, piano and organ, guitar, jazz, and pop music, organized for individual purchase by musicians, students, and educators across skill levels.
• Musical Instruments Retail sale of physical musical instruments including woodwinds, brass, strings, percussion, guitars, ukuleles, pianos, keyboards, and digital pianos, sold both in-store and online to students, hobbyists, and professional musicians.
• Instrument Rentals Rental program for musical instruments including trumpet, trombone, and other band instruments, with Peace of Mind Warranty and a Double Discount Purchase Plan that lets renters apply payments toward eventual purchase.
• Instrument Repairs Professional in-house repair services for woodwind, brass, string, fretted, percussion, and electronic instruments, performed by trained technicians to maintain and restore instruments for students, hobbyists, and professionals.
• Music Lessons In-person private and group music lessons staffed by faculty instructors covering multiple instruments, with open registration and direct contact for prospective students of varying skill levels.
• Rock School Rock music education program offering ensemble-based instruction in rock music for students, with online registration and direct contact for enrollment.
• Sound & Studio Equipment Home and project recording studio equipment including microphones, headphones, speakers, audio interfaces, mixers, and related cables, sold to musicians, students, and home recordists through the e-commerce catalog.
• Electronic Gift Cards Digital gift cards redeemable online or in-store at Hickey's Music Center, sold in $25, $50, $100, and $250 denominations with no expiration date and no additional fees.

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Ithaca College School of Music, Theatre and DancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHickey's Music Center maintains a close relationship with Ithaca College, specializing in Ithaca College texts and educational materials. The company's website features a link to Ithaca College School of Music, Theatre and Dance. This partnership positions Hickey's as the preferred music retailer for college students and faculty.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• JW Pepper: Large US sheet music retailer serving school music programs, choirs, and ensembles with deep educational catalog and contest/competition support. Closely comparable to Hickey's sheet music and NYSSMA contest specialization, but at national scale.
• Woodwind & Brasswind: Specialty online retailer of band and orchestra instruments, accessories, sheet music, and rentals targeted at students and educators. Directly comparable to Hickey's NYSSMA/education-focused catalog and rental program.
• Washington Music Center: Regional musical instrument retailer with full sales, rental, repair, and lesson services for band, orchestra, and pro audio customers. Comparable to Hickey's full-stack service model within a similar regional niche.
• Music & Arts: US specialty retailer focused on band and orchestra instruments, rentals, repairs, and music education — serving schools, students, and educators. Closest direct comparison to Hickey's school-band-focused model, with national scale that Hickey's lacks.
• Bill's Music House: Mid-Atlantic music retailer offering instruments, rentals, repairs, and lessons with strong band/orchestra education focus. Comparable to Hickey's multi-service retail + education model in a similar regional footprint.
• Shar Music: Online specialty retailer focused on string instruments, sheet music, accessories, and rentals serving students, educators, and ensembles. Comparable to Hickey's on sheet music depth, string instrument rental, and education-oriented catalog.
• The Juilliard Store: Sheet music and instrument retailer affiliated with a leading music school, carrying scores, method books, and accessories. Comparable to Hickey's institutional (Ithaca College) partnership model and educational materials focus.

Broad incumbents

• Sweetwater: One of the largest US online retailers of musical instruments, pro audio, and accessories with strong education/band-program focus. Directly comparable to Hickey's on instrument and accessory e-commerce, but at vastly greater scale and breadth.
• Sam Ash Music Stores: Long-standing US musical instrument retail chain selling instruments, accessories, and pro audio across multiple stores and online. Comparable to Hickey's on full-line instrument and accessory retail, with a national footprint and broader brand portfolio.
• Guitar Center: National multi-store musical instrument retailer carrying guitars, band/orchestra instruments, and pro audio, plus lessons and repairs. Comparable across Hickey's instrument retail, lessons, and repair services, with much larger store footprint and scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/hickeysmusic
• Facebookfacebook.com/Hickeysmusic
• Instagraminstagram.com/hickeysmusic

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Hickey's Music Center