KBB Music

What KBB Music does

KBB Music is a privately held New Zealand specialty musical instrument retailer founded in 1888 as Kirk-Burnnand & Brown. Operating also under the Rockshop sub-brand and currently affiliated with the Webb Group (per the careers portal), the company runs 16–18 retail showrooms across both of New Zealand's islands — including Auckland (8 locations), Wellington, Hamilton, Tauranga, Napier, Gisborne, Christchurch, Dunedin, Nelson, Blenheim, and Queenstown — alongside a full-service e-commerce storefront at kbbmusic.co.nz with Click & Collect and nationwide delivery.

The company's product portfolio spans woodwind, brass, orchestral strings, pianos, keyboards, guitars, percussion, production gear, tutorial, and merchandise, with brands that include Kawai (including the exclusive New Zealand Shigeru selection centre), P. Mauriat (handmade saxophones), Jupiter, GEWA Maestro, Vic Firth, Suzuki, Nord, Roland, Marshall, and Casio Privia. Price points span from ~NZ$295 entry-level pBone plastic trombones to NZ$157,000 Shigeru concert grands. Service revenue comes from professional instrument rentals (recurring subscription) and two in-house professional repair locations staffed by internationally trained technicians with over 50 years of combined experience.

KBB Money's go-to-market is direct-to-consumer retail with B2B overlays: a dedicated Education team supports school music programs, while a House of Worship team serves religious institutions. Customers include music education institutions, professional musicians, hobbyists and beginners, and nonprofit cultural organizations such as NZ Opera and Auckland Philharmonia (supported via the 'We Support' community sponsorship initiative). Revenue is generated through one-time unit pricing across the SKU range, recurring rental subscriptions, professional repair services, gift card sales (36-month validity), and flexible finance via Zip and other providers, secured by Payment Express processing. Marketing reach runs through segmented email newsletters by instrument category, Facebook/Instagram (@kbbmusicnz), and onsite content plus community event sponsorship.

Name

KBB Music

Legal name

KBB Music

Website

https://kbbmusic.co.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

1888

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

KBB Music is a New Zealand specialty musical instrument retailer, founded 1888, operating 18 retail showrooms nationwide plus e-commerce, selling, renting, and repairing brass, woodwind, orchestral, piano, guitar, percussion, and production gear across consumer, education, and worship segments.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Musical Instruments Retail

NAICS

Musical Instrument and Supplies Retailers (459140)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Equipment Rental & Leasing (7350)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

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
• Brass woodwind instruments
• Piano keyboard sales
• Instrument rental services
• Music equipment repair

Headquarters

HQ city

Auckland

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices11 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Instrument and Equipment Sales: One-time product sales across multiple categories including woodwind, brass, orchestral strings, pianos, keyboards, guitars, percussion, and production gear. Products range from entry-level student instruments to professional-grade equipment.
2. Instrument Rentals: Flexible rental plans for musical instruments allowing customers to rent before buying or for temporary needs.
3. Repair Services: Professional instrument repair services at two in-house service locations with internationally trained technicians.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

KBB Music is a New Zealand-based musical instrument retailer that sells, rents, and repairs brass, woodwind, orchestral string, piano, keyboard, guitar, percussion, and production equipment. The company operates 16-18 retail stores across New Zealand alongside a national e-commerce website with delivery and Click & Collect services, supported by product specialists, dedicated Education and House of Worship teams, and two in-house professional repair service locations.

Product overview

KBB Music operates as a specialized retail music store combining e-commerce and 18 physical store locations across New Zealand since 1888. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio of musical instruments and equipment across 11 main categories: Woodwind (flutes, clarinets, saxophones, recorders, bassoons, oboes, harmonicas, reeds, mouthpieces), Brass (trumpets, cornets, flugelhorns, French horns, trombones, euphoniums, tubas), Orchestral Strings (violins, violas, cellos, double basses, harps), Pianos/Keyboards, Guitars (electric, acoustic, bass), Percussion (acoustic drums, electronic drums, cymbals, marching drums), Production (recording, live sound, DJ gear), and Tutorial/Merchandise. Key product brands include Kawai (acoustics, Shigeru grands, hybrids), P. Mauriat (handmade saxophones), Jupiter (winds), GEWA Maestro (cellos), Vic Firth (percussion), Suzuki (method books), Nord and Roland (keyboards/workstations), Marshall (amplification), and Casio Privia (digital pianos). Services include instrument rentals, professional repairs, price challenges, finance options, product protection plans, and expert consultation. The company positions itself as New Zealand's largest specialized brass, orchestral, and piano retailer.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• KBB Music Instrument Rentals Instrument rental service with flexible plans across multiple instrument categories, allowing customers to rent before committing to purchase or for short-term use. Targeted at students, beginners, and parents supporting school music programs.
• Instrument Repairs & Maintenance Professional instrument repair and maintenance service at two in-house service locations staffed by internationally trained technicians with over 50 years combined experience. Serves musicians and educational institutions needing repair, servicing, or restoration of brass, woodwind, orchestral, and percussion instruments.
• Rockshop & KBB Music Gift Vouchers Physical and electronic gift cards redeemable online or in-store at Rockshop and KBB Music locations, valid for 36 months from purchase.
• Kawai Acoustic & Digital Pianos Full range of Kawai pianos including entry-level E-series, mid-range K-series, premium Shigeru Grand Pianos, GX series, hybrid digital uprights, and NV5S with Millennium 3 action. Targeted at students, hobbyists, and professional pianists.
• P. Mauriat Saxophones Handmade saxophones from Taiwan combining traditional craftsmanship with modern technology, featuring models including Grand Dream, Le Bravo, and System 76 series. Targeted at professional and advanced saxophone players.
• Jupiter Woodwind Instruments Jupiter woodwind instruments including the JAS1150Q gold-lacquered Eb alto saxophone featuring Sona-Pure+ annealing. Targeted at intermediate to advanced students and professional woodwind players.
• pBone Plastic Brass Instruments Plastic brass instruments including trumpets, trombones, cornets, and bugles designed for beginners and students, making music education accessible and fun. Targeted at school music programs and beginner musicians.
• GEWA Maestro Series Cellos Professional-grade cellos ranging from student models to advanced instruments with premium materials including flamed maple and solid spruce tops. Targeted at advancing string students, teachers, and professional cellists.
• Azumi Professional Flutes Professional flutes featuring Britannia silver head and body configurations, open hole designs, and sterling silver lip-plate options for advanced players. Targeted at advanced flute students and professional flautists.
• Professional Keyboards and Workstations Range of professional keyboards and workstations including Casio Privia digital pianos, Nord Electro 6 and Stage 4 stage pianos, Roland Fantom workstations with ZEN-Core synthesis, and Novation FLkey MIDI controllers. Targeted at performing musicians, producers, and serious hobbyists.
• Guitars and Marshall Amplifiers Electric, acoustic, and bass guitars paired with Marshall amplifiers including the JTM45 Bluesbreaker, DSL series, Origin series, and acoustic guitar combos. Targeted at guitarists across all skill levels.
• Percussion Instruments and Accessories Acoustic and electronic drums, cymbals, Mapex marching drums (Contender and Qualifier series), Vic Firth orchestral percussion accessories including laminated birch snare drumsticks, persimmon sticks, signature artist models, and bass drum mallets. Targeted at percussionists, schools, and marching bands.
• Music Production and PA Equipment Music production gear including Mackie Thump series powered speakers, SRM-Flex portable column PA systems with wireless audio streaming, recording equipment, and DJ gear. Targeted at musicians, venues, schools, and producers needing live sound or studio capability.
• Suzuki Method Books and Tutorial Materials Comprehensive music education materials including Suzuki Violin School, Cello School, Piano School, Viola School, and Flute School method books with piano accompaniment CDs. Targeted at music students, parents, and teachers.

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• NZ OperaminorOthersKBB Music is proud to support NZ Opera and their initiatives, presenting, nurturing and preserving this artform as well as expanding opera's reach across communities. NZ Opera uses a Kawai Acoustic Grand in their practise space and rehearsals.
• Auckland PhilharmoniaminorOthersSupported through KBB Music's 'We Support' community initiative.
• Eliette's Music AcademyminorOthersSupported through KBB Music's 'We Support' community initiative.
• SmokeFree Tangata BeatsminorOthersCommunity music program supported by KBB Music through their 'We Support' initiative.
• Music HelpsminorOthersMusic therapy charity supported by KBB Music through their community sponsorship program.
• Raukatauri Music TherapyminorOthersMusic therapy center supported by KBB Music through their 'We Support' initiative.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Sweetwater: One of the largest musical instrument retailers in the United States, offering instruments, gear, and pro audio across multiple categories with strong in-house content, expert sales engineers, and a robust rental and finance offering. Highly comparable to KBB Music in scope, customer-centric specialist model, and omnichannel strategy.
• Thomann: Europe's largest online musical instrument retailer with an extremely broad catalogue, competitive pricing, and an integrated rental and used-gear marketplace. Directly comparable to KBB Music across all major instrument categories and represents the principal cross-border pricing pressure on NZ pricing.
• Sam Ash Music: Long-established US multi-store musical instrument chain offering instruments, gear, and lessons across all major categories. Closely comparable in heritage, multi-store physical presence, and broad multi-category assortment.
• Long & McQuade: Canada's largest chain of musical instrument stores with a nationwide retail footprint, instrument rental business, and education-focused programs. Closely mirrors KBB Music's combination of physical retail depth, rental services, and education segment focus.
• Andertons Music Co: Major UK musical instrument retailer combining a strong physical store presence with a large online channel and deep content (YouTube, demo videos) for guitars, keys, drums, and orchestral gear. Comparable to KBB Music across multi-category retail and customer engagement.

Regional players

• Better Music (NZ): New Zealand-based musical instrument retailer with a focus on acoustic and digital pianos, keyboards, and school music programs. Competes with KBB Music particularly in the piano and education verticals within NZ.
• Music Planet (NZ): New Zealand-based musical instrument retailer serving the same domestic market as KBB Music across multiple categories. Directly competes in the same geography and is the most obvious local competitor for both consumer and education customers.

Broad incumbents

• Guitar Center: Largest US musical instrument retailer with hundreds of stores, a lessons program, and broad pro audio coverage. Overlaps heavily with KBB Music's assortment and omnichannel motion but at vastly greater scale and with a wider portfolio.

Others

• Hal Leonard: World's largest music print publisher producing sheet music, method books, and educational materials. Comparable as a supplier of the Suzuki and other method book categories KBB Music retails, and as an ecosystem participant in music education.
• Kawai: Major Japanese acoustic and digital piano manufacturer whose Master Series and Shigeru Grand lines are the anchor of KBB Music's premium piano offering. Functions both as a key supplier partner and as a strategic enabler of KBB's category exclusivity.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/kbbmusic
• Instagraminstagram.com/kbbmusicnz
• Xx.com/kbbmusicnz
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kbb-music

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 KBB Music