Show Business - The National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) has announced the final registration and exhibitor numbers for the 2011 NAMM Show. At show close, NAMM reported 90,114 registered attendees, a three percent increase from last year and representing a new attendance record for the 109-year-old show. International registration also experienced a two percent increase from last year to 10,400. Another sign of economic recovery in the industry, the association reported 1,417 exhibitors at this year's show, including 247 new exhibitors.

"The world's brightest minds and most innovative music companies came together in Anaheim for four amazing days of commerce, networking and learning," said NAMM president and CEO Joe Lamond. "After meeting with NAMM members from around the world, I am continually impressed and amazed at the resolve and optimism our industry has shown these past years and I believe that we are now on a path of recovery and future growth as more people of all ages and talent levels discover the fun and proven benefits of playing music."

Web Update - The producers of Broadway musical Spider-Man Turn Off The Dark have announced that they are going to postpone the press night of the show for a third time - pushing the opening back to 15 March. The show was originally scheduled to open on 21 December 2010 and was later moved to 11 January and then 7 February.

Michael Cohl, the show's lead producer, states: "Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark is 10 times more complicated to tech than anything else, and the preview schedule allows for only very limited rehearsal time (12 hours per week). We simply need more time to fully execute the creative team's vision before freezing the show. I picked a date in March that allows me to ensure that this will be the final postponement."

Bats Out Of Hell - Singers Meat Loaf and La Toya Jackson are among the stars vying to become Donald Trump's latest Celebrity Apprentice. Contenders for the US charity version of the show, hosted by the business tycoon, also include former teen idol David Cassidy and actor Gary Busey. Deaf Oscar-winning actress Marlee Matlin and singer Dionne Warwick have also signed up to appear. Poison singer Bret Michaels won the show last year.

(Jim Evans)


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