Hal Leonard and Tycoon Percussion Expand Distribution Deal
MILWAUKEE - Hal Leonard Corporation and Tycoon Percussion are "shaking up" their distribution arrangement. Starting at the 2014 NAMM show, Hal Leonard will be the exclusive US distributor for the entire Tycoon line - hundreds of products from this highly regarded manufacturer of hand percussion.
Headquartered in Thailand with US operations in Ontario, California, Tycoon Percussion produces bells, bongos, cajons, castanets, claves, congas, djembes, maracas, shakers and more. It is the only hand percussion company that wholly owns and operates its manufacturing facility. The two companies have worked together since June of 2012, when Hal Leonard began distributing a few dozen of Tycoon's bestsellers to select MI accounts.
Ivy Yu, general manager of Tycoon, comments, "Hal Leonard has done an extraordinary job of getting our products into music stores, so we're broadening the scope of our relationship with them, both in terms of retailers and products. We're thrilled that they will exclusively handle our US distribution so we can concentrate on our core functions - R&D, artist relations, and worldwide marketing and branding."
She continues, "With their fantastic sales team, top-notch customer service and centrally located warehouse, they are the best distributor in the MI industry, bar none."
In light of the Tycoon distribution expansion, Hal Leonard will be restructuring its sales staff, developing a new, dedicated group to handle drum and percussion accounts.
Doug Lady, Hal Leonard senior VP of sales, says, "Tycoon products provide both high quality and great value, thanks to their in-house manufacturing and factory-direct pricing. Best of all, they offer a variety of products to appeal to many types of customers - everything from an egg shaker that a kid can buy on impulse, to student-oriented percussion instruments, to a beautiful, authentic djembe or cajon that might catch the eye of gigging and professional percussionists looking to expand their palettes."
As interest in hand percussion continues to grow, so does the need for such instruments in schools, churches, studios and on stage. Hal Leonard has been ramping up its publishing of instructional books and DVDs for hand percussion players, educators and drum circle facilitators.
Lady comments, "Dealers can now merchandise Tycoon instruments alongside Hal Leonard how-to titles, and we're even planning bundle packs to capitalize on our partnership. This is a win-win for everyone involved, and a great way to reach a limitless new market of music enthusiasts."
Celebrating more than 30 years in business, Tycoon will unveil an impressive selection of products at NAMM, including new cajons and a line of Brazilian mallet instruments - surdos, pandeiros and tamborims. You can check out these products at the Tycoon booth, #3570 in Hall D, and pick up their 2014 catalog.
About Tycoon Percussion
Entrepreneur Stephen Yu established Tycoon Music Co. Ltd. in 1983 as the first and only guitar manufacturing facility in Thailand. The company soon became a significant OEM guitar manufacturer in markets throughout Europe, Asia, and South America. In the mid-1990s, there was growing demand for hand percussion instruments around the world, and not enough quality products were being supplied. After making significant investments in R&D, Yu's company began manufacturing hand percussion products on an OEM basis in 1996.
The company's products quickly gained a reputation for quality and value among customers, and Yu launched the Tycoon Percussion brand soon thereafter. In 2006, the company created Premium Sound, Inc. (later renamed Tycoon Percussion USA, Inc.) to act as its US-based division, handling distribution and sales, plus global marketing, product development and artist relations. Today Tycoon Percussion is highly respected throughout the world as a leading manufacturer of percussion products.