Kathy Peck is nothing short of a National Treasure.... She has been busy helping all people from all walks of life about issues they are having with hearing..... She started her Non Profit Organization H.E.A.R. Hearing Education and Awareness for Rockers. in 1988 and has been going non stop ever since... Making Custom Ear Plugs and Custom Monitors for her clients.... She also supplies many of the Bay Area music venue's and rehearsal studio's with ear plugs for their patrons... It is always a pleasure to interview Kathy because she is a great source of information... This month Kathy Peck and H.E.A.R. will be in the lobby of the Anaheim Convention Center for Winter N.A.M. M. If you are not aware of all the good that Kathy Peck and H.E.A.R. do read this interview... If you plan on attending N.A.M.M. this month be sure to find the H.E.A. R. booth in the main floor lobby. of the Convention Center... I hope you enjoy the interview....

Thanks so much for doing this interview Kathy... For new readers can you give the readers a quick history lesson about H.E.A.R. and its purpose?

My all-girl band ‘The Contractions’ opened for Duran Duran at Oakland Coliseum during their MTV video shoot concert tour in the 80s. For that particular show I felt that our punk rock trio needed to have more power, so I borrowed a friend’s giant bass cabinet stack, prepared to pump out a wall of sound at the concert. Little did I know that was the day my whole world would turn upside-down and my hearing damage would become permanent. It was this experience than led me to become a cofounder of H.E.A.R.®

H.E.A.R.® Hearing Education and Awareness for Rockers, is a Non-Profit Organization 501 (c) (3) –Est. in 1988 with the support of founding donor Pete Townshend of the Who.

H.E.A.R. is dedicated to the prevention of hearing loss and tinnitus among musicians, sound arts professionals, other music industry professionals and all music fans. With the support from the music and medical industries, foundations and individual donors, H.E.A.R. is helping to raise awareness of the real dangers of repeated exposure to excessive sound levels from music and noise.

In 1989, Pete Townshend of The Who came to the rescue of our fledgling 501c (3) nonprofit organization. As a founding donor, Pete helped H.E.A.R. launch what has become an international grassroots cause for hearing health for musicians and music fans. H.E.A.R. now offers H.E.A.R.® Partners referrals to audiologists and ear doctors around the country who can help musicians with their hearing concerns. You can visit (www.hearnet.com) for specialists in your area or contact H.E.A.R. at hear@hearnet.com for appointments in the San Francisco Bay Area. Our educational outreach programs include H.E.A.R./Listen Smart DVD series workshop and outreach programs to high schools, music and sound arts institutes, music conservatories, music conferences and conventions, music camps, workplace and others.

When H.E.A.R. began in 1988, there were few options for musicians to protect or enhance their hearing during performance. That has changed. H.E.A.R. has had the privilege to work over the years with many great inventors of music hearing products such as Etymotic Research, commercial developer of Musicians Earplugs, Future Sonics, the inventor and commercial developer of the Ear Monitor system for live music performances, and other outstanding music-hearing protection and music-hearing enhancement in-ear monitor companies like Westone, Ultimate Ears, Shure, Sensaphonics, Mack’s HEAR Plugs and others.

Like sun glasses for the your eyes, hearing protection for your ears while performing or listening to loud music or other noise to prevent hearing loss and tinnitus (ringing in the ear) should be just as excepted. Especially now since music hearing protection is so readily available and allows for clarity of sound as well as protection.

Musicians Earplugs are the quality unique custom made earpieces of choice for performing musicians. The Musician Earplug is a custom fit canal-style earplug that is virtually unnoticeable. The flat attenuation characteristics allow the wearer to hear accurately but at a safer volume. They can be ordered with a choice of either ER 9, 15, or 25 dB filters that lower the damaging sound frequencies with clarity of sound. H.E.A.R. and its H.E.A.R. Partner audiology network also make custom impression molds for Custom In-Ear Monitors (IEM) for live performances, studio recording and high fidelity listening. Some of H.E.A.R.’s clients include the San Francisco Symphony, San Francisco Opera Orchestra, Circus De Soiel, Expressions, The San Francisco Conservatory of Music, Metallica, Black Keys and many others.

HEAR MUSICIAN PLUGS/IEMS https://www.facebook.com/HEARnetOfficial/photos_stream

Inexpensive Ready-fit Mack’s HEAR Plugs are an easy way to protect the ears without sacrificing sound quality. The soft flanges enable maximum comfort, while the firm stem allows fast, easy insertion. They are available through HEARNET.COM shop site: http://www.hearnet.com/shop/index.shtml

Tell us how H. E. A.R. first became involved with NAMM?

H.E.A.R. has been involved with NAMM for over 20 years. We were the first organization to introduce and give out hearing protection and provide hearing resources on the show room floor for music industry professionals. Introducing both Musicians Earplugs and In Ear Monitors.

Can you give the readers a brief history about NAMM is all about?

The National Association of Music Merchants, commonly called NAMM in reference to the organization's popular NAMM trade shows, is the not-for-profit association that promotes the pleasures and benefits of making music and strengthens the $17 billion global music products industry. NAMM association—and NAMM trade shows—serves as a hub for people wanting to seek out the newest innovations in musical products, recording technology, sound and lighting. NAMM's activities and programs are designed to promote music making to people of all ages.

The Model for Industry Growth—The History

Before there was an industry or an association, there was a belief...in music. That belief led to a vision: NAMM envision a world in which the joy of making music is a precious element of daily living for everyone; a world in which every child has a deep desire to learn music and a recognized right to be taught; and in which every adult is a passionate champion and defender of the right. That vision led to a mission: To strengthen the music products industry and promote the pleasures and benefits of making music.

More than a century later, that vision and mission have attracted a growing, thriving worldwide community of thousands of deeply passionate, talented companies that make, buy and sell the instruments that allow millions of people to make music. That community is called NAMM, the trade association of the international music products industry.

The NAMM Show is one of the largest music product trade shows in the world, founded in 1901. It is held every January in Anaheim, California, USA, at the Anaheim Convention Center. Its only major competitor is the Musik Messe in Frankfurt.

NAMM is a trade-only business show catering to domestic and international dealers and distributors, and the product exhibits are an integral part of the show, allowing the dealers and distributors to see what's new, negotiate deals and plan their purchasing for the next 6 to 12 months. Only employees of the exhibiting manufacturers and/or NAMM member retailers and distributors are allowed to attend, along with credentialed members of the press. Exhibitors are allotted a specific number of badges based on the square footage of their booth.

The acronym NAMM originally stood for the National Association of Music Merchants, but has evolved from a national entity representing the interests of music products retailers to an international association including commercial, reseller members, affiliates and manufacturers.

When did NAMM expand to doing a Summer NAMM?

Summer NAMM happens from the offshoot of the growth of Winter NAMM in the 1990.

Can you tell the readers where Summer NAMM is held?

Summer NAMM, takes place in July in Nashville, TN, at the downtown Nashville Convention Center. The smaller Summer NAMM is approximately one quarter the size of the NAMM Show in January and focuses more on industry meetings and professional development courses than products. Recent reports indicated that the Summer NAMM show has suffered from declining attendance, as it has been cycled between Nashville, TN, Austin, TX and Indianapolis, IN during successive years.

Do you go to both locations?

H.E.A.R. has exhibited at both locations for many years.

A few years back you were celebrated with an award during NAMM tell us about that?

I was honored with the NAMM Believe in Music Award for my decades of work with H.E.A.R. and interviewed for the NAMM Oral History Library and among the first 200 honorees of NAMM’s Women in Music Industry. http://www.namm.org/library/oral-history/kathy-peck

Had they told you in advance that this was going to happen or did it happen at the spur of the moment?

I was alerted that the President of NAMM Joe Lamond would be coming to H.E.A.R.’s booth at NAMM to bestow the award to me. I also had the opportunity to be interviewed by Marty Garcia, President and Inventor of Ear Monitors (IEMs) (www.futuresonics.com) and long time supporter of H.E.A.R. for my NAMM Oral History interview.

How does it feel to get so much respect for all your hard work from your peers?

It was a real rewarding opportunity for me to understand the how H.E.A.R. message of hearing awareness has influenced the music industry, as well as, the hearing health industry. Musicians Earplugs and In Ear Monitors for musicians and music listeners are now part of the music industry culture.

It seems to me that NAMM gets bigger each year... Do you feel that way also?

NAMM is big. It is a wonderful experience if you are fortunate to be able to attend. But, Attendance at NAMM trade shows is restricted to owners, suppliers, employees, endorsed artists and visitors of NAMM Member companies. NAMM's Membership is comprised of companies that make, buy and/or sell musical instruments and products.

At this year NAMM you and H.E. A. R. will be showing a film is I correct? Tell us about that?

H.E.A.R. is up to several projects this year at 2013 NAMM.

Jan 24-27, 2013 --- The NAMM Show in Anaheim, CA will be highlighted by collaborative hearing conservation efforts between NAMM® and H.E.A.R.® by providing Mack’s Earplugs in the bins around the entire trade show floor and lobby areas. And at H.E.A.R. booth # 2005 –lobby, we will be providing hearing health help, hearing protection and custom ear impressions for Musicians Earplugs and IEMs.

Jan 25, 2013- at the 28th Annual The TEC AWARDS at the Anaheim Hilton H.E.A.R.’s founding donor, the legendary Pete Townshend of the Who, will be presented the coveted Les Paul Award. H.E.A.R. is a charitable beneficiary of the TEC Awards along with the House Ear Institute, SPARS and many other charities.

Jan 26-27, 2013 - During The NAMM Music Educators Days, H.E.A.R./ Listen Smart DVD produced by Dan Beck and directed by Pamela French will be airing at the NAMM Foundation Lounge (Anaheim Hilton 2nd level, California Ballroom A/B, 9 AM-5 PM)

About H.E.A.R. DVD, “Listen Smart: Safely Handling the Power of Sound,” the Cine Golden Eagle award-winning “rockmentary” produced by Dan Beck (HAMF) and directed by Pamela French that features Ozzy Osbourne, Metallica, Moby, Cyndi Lauper, Debbie Harry and others designed to create awareness about noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL), and encourage safer practices when consuming high decibel sound. To learn more about H.E.A.R. and Listen Smart Program for music schools, to find music hearing protection or, an audiologist in your area, log onto http://www.hearnet.com.

Jan 26, 2013 – 2n Annual MTD4Lyfe Family Reunion Benefit Concert for MusiCares and H.E.A.R. at JT Schmid’s Resturant 7:30 PM. (MTD Basses NAMM Booth 5868)

H.E.A.R. continues working together with the NAMM organization and the TEC Awards Foundation, as they have for many years, to help promote the importance of hearing health issues. “We are noticing a real improvement in awareness through these efforts and I am very pleased on behalf of H.E.A.R. to be able to contribute, in support of both the organizers and the attendees, for what we expect will be an outstanding NAMM show and TEC Awards again this year. There truly is a wonderful change in the way musicians, sound engineers, music industry professionals, music students and music fans care for their hearing, but more needs to be done. It is our pleasure to continue our great relationship with NAMM®, TEC AWARDS, and Pete Townshend to further help people protect themselves from hearing damage as well as, to save whatever amount hearing they may have – even if any loss has already occurred. "

NAMM also attracts some huge names in the music industry can you tell us a few that you have met?

Many artists come to NAMM. Pete Townshend, Flea, Boosty Collins, Ginger Coyote, Stevie Wonder, Kiss, George Clinton, Steve Vai, Tommy Lee, Billy Sheehan, Craig Chaquico, JayZ, Ozzy, Neil Young, Pearl Jam, Paul McCartney, Bruce Springsteen, Robbie Robertson, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, David Byrne, Steve Miller, Lindsay Buckingham, Meat Loaf, Prairie Prince, Sting, Brian Wilson, Herbie Hancock, Peter Gabriel, Taylor Swift, Jack Black, Carlos Reyes …You name the artist they probably have been at NAMM. It’s always a show. However you need to be invited by a NAMM member to come. It is a closed industry event to the public.

Can you tell us some of your personal highlights from attending NAMM?

H.E.A.R. was presented with the I Believe in Music Award in 2008 by NAMM president Joe Lamond. Me…Kathy Peck was interviewed for NAMM’s Oral History and was inducted as one of the first 200 women in the music industry.

Do you have any important Internet addresses you would like to share with the readers?

H.E.A.R. websites
Web: www.hearnet.com
Facebook: HEARnetOfficial
Twitter: hearnetdotcom

Tell the readers who will be attending this year NAMM where the H.E.A.R. booth will be?

H.E.A.R. Booth 2005 Lobby level at the Anaheim Convention Center. Looking forward to a photo opt at the TEC Awards with Pete Townshend. It’s been 25 years since we first met and Pete gave H.E.A.R. its founding donation.

On an average how many people do you treat or have a consultation with while at NAMM?

Hundreds of people stop by the H.E.A.R. booth it has become a very active and popular booth at NAMM. We provide custom ear impressions for Musicians Earplugs and In Ear Monitors (IEM) as well as information on hearing loss and tinnitus, hearing protection and hearing help referrals. It’s a real marathon for meeting people in the music industry.

Any last words for our readers.

In the words of H.E.A.R supporter the late great Ray Charles “Hearing is Precious. Please Take Care of It.

Ray Charles Audio H.E.A.R. PSA:
http://www.hearnet.com/about/HEAR%20PSAs%202001-%20HiFi%20(160k)/Ray%20CharlesHEARpsa160.mp3