ITSPmagazine Music, Machines, and the Myth of Replacement — What NAMM 2026 Reveals About the Future of Music | The NAMM Show 2026 Event Coverage — Day 1 Observations | On Location with Sean Martin and Marco Ciappelli
Show Notes
The first day at NAMM 2026 opens in the only way it can: loud, imperfect, and unmistakably human. Forklifts roll by, sound systems compete for attention, and instruments are already being pushed to their limits. This episode captures that moment before the show floor officially opens, when ideas are raw and expectations are still forming.
Sean Martin, host of Music Evolves, and Marco Ciappelli, host of Redefining Technology and Society, use this Day 1 conversation to ground the week in a bigger question: what role does technology actually play in music right now? Not as a replacement for creativity, but as a set of tools shaped by the people using them.
The discussion cuts through familiar narratives about automation and generative systems by pointing directly at what is happening on the floor. New products are being introduced, but very little of it is framed as machines making music on their own. Instead, the focus is on musicians performing, experimenting, and expressing themselves through instruments that blend analog craft with digital capability.
From acoustic guitars rooted in century-old designs to hybrid instruments that invite unconventional inputs like wood, metal, or physical objects, the message is consistent. Innovation does not erase musical tradition. It extends it. The instruments change, the interfaces evolve, but the act of creation remains human-driven.
The conversation also reflects on how easily fear can creep into discussions about new tools. At NAMM, that fear feels misplaced. Artists are not stepping aside. They are leaning in, learning new techniques, and pushing boundaries in ways that still require skill, memory, timing, and emotional intent.
This episode sets the tone for the rest of the week. NAMM is not about machines replacing musicians. It is about musicians deciding what they want to do next, using whatever tools help them say it more clearly.
Guest
Marco Ciappelli, Co-Founder, ITSPmagazine and Studio C60 | Website: https://www.marcociappelli.com
Host
Sean Martin, Co-Founder at ITSPmagazine, Studio C60, and Host of Redefining CyberSecurity Podcast & Music Evolves Podcast | Website: https://www.seanmartin.com/
Resources
The NAMM Show 2026 is taking place from January 20-24, 2026 | Anaheim Convention Center • Southern California — Coverage provided by ITSPmagazine — Follow our coverage: https://www.itspmagazine.com/cybersecurity-technology-society-events/the-namm-show-2026
The NAMM Show 2026: https://www.namm.org/thenammshow/attend
Music Evolves: Sonic Frontiers Newsletter | https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/7290890771828719616/
Keywords
sean martin, marco ciappelli, namm 2026, namm show, music, musicians, instruments, creativity, technology, innovation, event coverage, on location, conference
More From Sean Martin
More from Music Evolves: https://www.seanmartin.com/music-evolves-podcast
Music Evolves on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnYu0psdcllTRJ5du7hFDXjiugu-uNPtW
Music Evolves: Sonic Frontiers Newsletter | https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/7290890771828719616/
On Location with Sean and Marco: https://www.itspmagazine.com/on-location
ITSPmagazine YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@itspmagazine
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