What EMD Music SA does

EMD Music SA is a Belgium-based business-to-business wholesale distributor of musical instruments, accessories, and professional audio equipment. The company reports 60 years of industry activity and serves music retailers and dealers across Europe and North America; professional and amateur musicians, recording studios, and music schools are downstream user groups. Its operating infrastructure includes a head office in Brussels, a warehouse in Lembeek, Belgium, and a U.S. office and warehouse in Lavergne, Tennessee.

The catalog covers more than 19 branded product lines and approximately 5,000 products across acoustic and electric guitars, banjos, drums, percussion, amplification, professional audio, tuners, metronomes, strings, picks, instrument-care products, and replacement parts. The operational platform consists of supplier relationships, physical inventory, multi-region fulfillment, and an online catalog that can be filtered by brand, category, and country availability. The company is not presented as a unified software product, and no proprietary software architecture is disclosed.

EMD Music's commercial model is wholesale resale through unit pricing, with pay-as-you-go purchasing and no disclosed subscription or long-term contract layer. Products range from €5.79 clip-on tuners to €6,097 Tokai vintage guitars, with pricing shown in EUR and USD depending on region. The company reaches the market through its B2B distribution network, online catalog, organic social media, and participation in music-industry trade shows.

Name

EMD Music SA

Legal name

EMD Music SA

Website

https://emdmusic.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1965

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

EMD Music SA is a Belgium-based B2B wholesale distributor that supplies music retailers and dealers across Europe and North America with 19+ instrument and audio brands through Belgian and U.S. warehouses.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Musical Instrument Wholesale Distribution

NAICS

Musical Instrument and Supplies Retailers (459140), Musical Instrument and Supplies Retailers (45914)

SIC

Musical Instruments (3931)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

DJ & Performance Gear (Controllers, Turntables, CDJs, Mixers) (MPAIAJAC), Live Sound & Stage Equipment (PA Systems, Amplification, Monitoring) (MPAIAJAD), Audio Accessories & Consumables (Cables, Stands, Cases, Strings, Picks, Heads) (MPAIAJAF), Pro Audio & Recording Equipment Retail (MI-adjacent) (CRALAEAC)

Keywords

• Musical instrument distribution
• Wholesale music equipment
• B2B music distribution
• Pro audio equipment
• Guitar accessories distribution

Headquarters

HQ city

Brunelles

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

EMD Music SA is a B2B wholesale distributor of musical instruments and audio equipment, supplying approximately 5,000+ products from 27+ branded manufacturers to music retailers and dealers across Europe and the United States. The portfolio spans guitars (Crafter, Tokai, Admira, JN Guitars, Angel Lopez), percussion and drums (Remo, GoldTone, Stagg, Premier), professional audio equipment (StudioMaster, Laney, HH Audio, Carlsbro), and accessories (Augustine strings, Timber Tones picks, Zero Glide nuts, Seiko tuners, Stringjoy strings, Dr Liston's care products). Operations are run from a Belgian headquarters and warehouse plus a US warehouse in Lavergne, Tennessee, with over 60 years of industry experience.

Product overview

EMD Music SA operates as a B2B wholesale distribution company for musical instruments and audio equipment, not a unified software product. The company distributes products from 19+ branded manufacturers including guitars (Crafter, Tokai, Admira, JN Guitars), percussion/drums (Remo, GoldTone, Stagg, Premier), pro audio equipment (StudioMaster, Laney, HH Audio), guitar accessories (Augustine strings, Timber Tones picks, Zero Glide nuts), and general music equipment. With headquarters in Brussels and US office in Tennessee, EMD Music offers worldwide distribution and has been in operation for over 60 years. The portfolio spans approximately 5,000+ products across acoustic guitars, electric guitars, classical/nylon guitars, banjos, drums, pro audio equipment, tuners, metronomes, guitar care products, and spare parts.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Admira (Spanish classical and flamenco guitars) Spanish classical and flamenco guitar brand distributed by EMD Music to music retailers across multiple European countries and the USA.
• Angel Lopez (Guitars) Guitar brand distributed by EMD Music, offering hybrid nylon electric semi-acoustic guitars for music retailers.
• Aquila (Musical instrument strings) Music instrument brand distributed by EMD Music worldwide, including USA.
• Augustine (Guitar strings) Guitar strings and accessories brand distributed by EMD Music across Austria, Belgium, France, and Germany.
• Carlsbro (Amplification and audio equipment) British amplification and audio equipment brand distributed by EMD Music across Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, and the Netherlands.
• Crafter (Acoustic and electric guitars) Premium acoustic and electric guitar brand distributed by EMD Music across USA, Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Spain, and the Netherlands, including the Able series, LITE series, and various acoustic-electric models.
• Dr Liston's (Guitar care products) Guitar care products brand distributed by EMD Music worldwide, including luxury piano polish, guitar glaze, and cleaning products.
• Drumdots (Drum damping products) Drum damping products and drum accessories distributed by EMD Music worldwide.
• GoldTone (Banjos and guitars) Banjo and guitar brand distributed by EMD Music across multiple European countries, including Cripple Creek banjos, Mino travel guitars, and micro guitars.
• HH Audio (Audio equipment) Audio equipment brand distributed by EMD Music worldwide.
• Islander (Musical instruments) Musical instrument brand distributed by EMD Music worldwide.
• JN Guitars (Guitars) Guitar brand distributed by EMD Music worldwide, featuring the Asyla series acoustic guitars.
• Kuppmen Music (Carbon fiber drumsticks) Carbon fiber drumstick and percussion accessory brand distributed by EMD Music across USA and multiple European countries.
• Laney (Amplifiers and audio equipment) British amplifier and audio equipment brand distributed by EMD Music in USA, Austria, Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands, including guitar and bass amplifiers, PA systems, and audio equipment.
• Nady (Audio and musical equipment) Audio and musical equipment brand distributed by EMD Music worldwide.
• Nativo (Musical instruments) Musical instrument brand distributed by EMD Music worldwide.
• Premier (Percussion and drum equipment) Percussion and drum equipment brand distributed by EMD Music in the USA market.
• Remo (Drum heads and percussion) World-leading drumhead manufacturer brand distributed by EMD Music across Belgium, France, Ireland, Netherlands, UK, and USA, with over 1,200 products including drum risers and percussion accessories.
• Rossetti (Musical instruments) Musical instrument brand distributed by EMD Music in the USA market.
• Seiko (Tuners and metronomes) Guitar and bass tuner, chromatic tuner, metronome, and clip-on tuner brand (Seiko) distributed by EMD Music in Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, and the Netherlands.
• Stagg (Musical instruments and equipment) Extensive music equipment brand distributed by EMD Music worldwide, with over 1,700 products including guitars, drums, orchestral instruments, and accessories.
• Stringjoy (Guitar strings) Premium American-made custom guitar string manufacturer based in Nashville, Tennessee, distributed by EMD Music in the USA, including Brights, Foxwoods, Naturals acoustic strings, Signatures electric strings, Orbiters, Broadways, and bass strings.
• StudioMaster (Professional audio equipment) British professional audio equipment brand established in the 1970s, distributed by EMD Music, including mixing consoles, power amplifiers, PA systems, line arrays, and stage monitors, with 70+ products including the Club XS series mixers and Digitrack digital consoles.
• Timber Tones (Guitar picks) Luxury guitar pick and plectrum brand established in 2009, distributed by EMD Music worldwide, offering the largest selection of natural material guitar picks, eco-sourced from industry by-products, and sold in over 5,000 music shops globally.
• Tokai (Acoustic and electric guitars) Japanese guitar manufacturer founded in 1947, distributed by EMD Music in Belgium, Spain, Netherlands, and UK, specializing in vintage-style solid body electric guitars and acoustic guitars, including the Legacy, Vintage, and premium series (75+ products).
• Zero Glide (Nut systems for stringed instruments) Revolutionary nut system for stringed instruments distributed by EMD Music worldwide, combining the tone benefits of a zero fret with traditional nut adjustability, including slotted and unslotted replacement nuts and stainless steel frets for various guitar types.
• EMD Music B2B Wholesale Distribution Service B2B wholesale distribution service for musical instruments and audio equipment, offering 27+ branded product lines and worldwide logistics from warehouses in Belgium (Lembeek) and the USA (Lavergne, Tennessee), supplied to music retailers and dealers across Europe and the United States.

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

26 partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• AdmiracoreOthersSpanish brand specializing in classical and flamenco guitars, distributed by EMD Music across multiple regions including USA, Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Spain, Netherlands, and UK
• Angel LopezcoreOthersGuitar brand distributed by EMD Music, with products including hybrid nylon electric semi-acoustic guitars
• AquilacoreOthersMusic instrument brand distributed by EMD Music worldwide
• AugustinecoreOthersGuitar string brand distributed by EMD Music in Austria, Belgium, France, and Germany
• CarlsbrocoreOthersBritish music equipment brand distributed by EMD Music across Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, and Netherlands
• CraftercoreOthersPremium acoustic guitar brand distributed by EMD Music across USA, Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Spain, and Netherlands. Products include Able series, LITE series, and various acoustic-electric models
• Dr Liston'scoreOthersGuitar and instrument care products brand distributed by EMD Music worldwide, including luxury piano polish, guitar glaze, and cleaning products
• DrumdotscoreOthersDrum accessory brand distributed by EMD Music worldwide
• GoldTonecoreOthersBanjo and guitar brand distributed by EMD Music across Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Spain, Netherlands, and UK. Products include Cripple Creek banjos, Mino travel guitars, and micro guitars
• HH AudiocoreOthersAudio equipment brand distributed by EMD Music worldwide
• IslandercoreOthersMusic instrument brand distributed by EMD Music worldwide
• JN GuitarscoreOthersGuitar brand distributed by EMD Music worldwide, featuring Asyla series acoustic guitars
• Kuppmen MusiccoreOthersCarbon fiber drumstick brand distributed by EMD Music in USA, Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Netherlands, and UK. Products include carbon fiber drumsticks and drumrods
• LaneycoreOthersBritish amplifier and audio equipment brand distributed by EMD Music in USA, Austria, Belgium, Germany, and Netherlands
• NadycoreOthersMusic equipment brand distributed by EMD Music worldwide
• NativocoreOthersMusic instrument brand distributed by EMD Music worldwide
• PremiercoreOthersDrum brand distributed by EMD Music in the USA market
• RemocoreOthersWorld-leading drumhead manufacturer distributed by EMD Music across Belgium, France, Ireland, Netherlands, UK, and USA. Over 1,200 products including drum risers and percussion accessories
• RossetticoreOthersMusic instrument brand distributed by EMD Music in the USA market
• SeikocoreOthersGuitar and bass tuner brand distributed by EMD Music in Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, and Netherlands. Products include chromatic tuners, metronomes, and clip-on tuners
• StaggcoreOthersExtensive music equipment brand distributed by EMD Music worldwide. Over 1,700 products including guitars, drums, orchestral instruments, and accessories
• StringjoycoreOthersPremium guitar string manufacturer based in Nashville, Tennessee. American-made custom guitar strings distributed by EMD Music in USA. Products include Brights, Foxwoods, Naturals acoustic strings, Signatures electric strings, Orbiters, Broadways, and bass strings
• StudioMastercoreOthersBritish professional audio equipment brand established in the 1970s, distributed by EMD Music. Products include mixing consoles, power amplifiers, PA systems, line arrays, and stage monitors. 70+ products including the Club XS series mixers and Digitrack digital consoles
• Timber TonescoreOthersLuxury guitar pick manufacturer since 2009, distributed by EMD Music worldwide. Largest selection of natural material guitar picks, eco-sourced from industry by-products. Sold in over 5,000 music shops globally. Exhibits at MusikMesse Frankfurt and NAMM show
• TokaicoreOthersJapanese guitar manufacturer founded in 1947, distributed by EMD Music in Belgium, Spain, Netherlands, and UK. Specializes in vintage-style solid body electric guitars and acoustic guitars. Products include Legacy, Vintage, and premium series
• Zero GlidecoreOthersRevolutionary nut system for stringed instruments distributed by EMD Music worldwide. Zero Glide combines tone benefits of zero fret with traditional nut adjustability. Products include slotted and unslotted replacement nuts, stainless steel frets for various guitar types

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Hal Leonard Corporation: US-based wholesale distributor of musical instruments, print music, and accessories serving music retailers and educators globally. Directly comparable to EMD as a multi-brand B2B music products distributor with a similar long-tenured operating model.
• Korg USA Inc. US distribution arm of Korg, handling B2B and retail distribution of keyboards, guitars, pro audio, and accessories to US music retailers. Comparable to EMD as a multi-brand-affiliated distributor operating across instruments and pro audio categories.
• Thomann GmbH: Europe's largest music instrument retailer/distributor based in Germany, combining direct-to-consumer e-commerce with multi-brand distribution. Directly comparable to EMD as a European multi-brand music equipment platform.
• JAM Industries (now Exertis JAM): Canadian-headquartered B2B distributor of musical instruments, pro audio, and lighting equipment serving retailers across North America. Closest direct peer to EMD in multi-brand musical instrument distribution with a near-identical business model.

Others

• American Music & Sound (legacy AM&S / now defunct US operations): Former US-based pro audio and musical instrument distributor (parent of Carlsbro, Studioking, Laney USA among others) whose 2018 collapse reshuffled US distribution rights, several of which EMD or its brand partners absorbed. Structurally a direct historical peer in the same wholesale distribution niche.

Emerging players

• Fender Musical Instruments Corporation: Iconic US guitar and amplifier manufacturer that has aggressively built direct-to-consumer and dealer-direct distribution channels. Represents both a supplier relationship and a competitive threat as DTC distribution by-pass traditional wholesalers like EMD.

Broad incumbents

• Yamaha Music Europe: European distribution and dealer-support arm of Yamaha, serving music retailers across multiple European countries with instruments, pro audio, and AV products. Comparable scale and regional footprint to EMD's European operations but vertically integrated as a manufacturer.
• Roland Corporation US: US distribution and sales operation of Roland, distributing electronic instruments, pro audio, and music production gear to dealers. Overlaps with EMD on pro audio and accessory distribution but operates within a single major manufacturer's portfolio.
• Sweetwater Sound: US-based large music retailer and gear distributor with an extensive multi-brand catalog and strong dealer-style logistics operations. Comparable to EMD in product breadth across instruments, pro audio, and accessories, but operates as a primarily retail channel.
• Guitar Center Inc. Largest US specialty retailer of guitars, drums, pro audio, and accessories. Overlaps with EMD on the multi-brand music product range but sells direct to consumers at scale rather than via B2B distribution.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat2 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

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 EMD Music SA