Welcome to SOMM – the first inter-trade organization  for the music instrument and components industry! 

The Society of Music Merchants is primarily a forum for all those who are interested in playing music. Our organization recognizes the need for sustained efforts to shape a society that is marked by an openness to the musical arts. We seek to make a contribution by supporting and representing active musicians - as well as those who would like to be - in all business, political and social matters.

As a classical inter-trade organization, we consider ourselves to be partners is communication. We put the interests of our members first and represent these on behalf of in-house or external groups and institutions. Our members are the character-builders of this industry and we strive both to support these activities and to make them public. For the good of the music industry and our members we have formulated the following strategy:

1. Growth
   We support the spread of active music making.
2. Development
   We seek to popularize  the making of music through the extensive use of existing medias as well as those that are developing.
3. Support
   We aim to strengthen all relevant institutions and are building a sustainable position within the music industry.
4. Learn more about the advantages of becoming a member of our community here: Membership

We are … a strong community!

As the Society of Music Merchants, our goal is to live up to our name. In persuing the fundamental ideas of a "community," we see ourselves as a an advocacy group in which each member must also realize subjective duties that are subordinated to the overall goals of the society. As members of our community the businesses that deal in the manufacturing, trading and marketing of music instruments and component adhere to the following standardized philosophy:

As an actively integrated and innovative special interest group of the music industry (music instruments and components), we are beholden  to this industry and to certain other- also public - organizations. Our policy is to support the active making of music with all of the means at our disposal. Our policies are beholden to the background, the target group and the cultural environment of our members.

Our history

The Society of Music Merchants incorporated was founded in February 2005 from the Verband der Vertriebe für Musikinstrumente in Deutschland (Society for the Distribution of Music Instruments in Germany) which it also replaced. Since November 16th 2005, SOMM has been run by an appointed business manager who is responsible  - together with an elected board -for the duties and goals of the organization.