SOMM - Society Of Music Merchants e.V.
Association
COMMITTEES
The committees of SOMM – Society Of Music Merchants e. V. play a central role in strategic direction and decision-making by bundling expertise, representing the interests of members and actively shaping the further development of the industry.
General meeting
The general meeting is the highest body of the SOMM – Society Of Music Merchants e. V. and meets once a year. This is where key decisions are made and the direction of the association for the coming year is determined.
Executive Board
The Executive Board leads the SOMM Society and ensures the implementation of the strategic goals. It consists of elected members and meets regularly to manage the work of the association and make important decisions.
The Executive Board comprises::
-
Jan Rickert (President), General Manager, KAWAI Europe GmbH
-
​Susanne Peters (Vice President); Managing Director, MUSIK MEYER GmbH​​
-
Alexander Meinl, General Manager, Roland Meinl Musikinstrumente GmbH & Co. KG
-
Christian Ruoss, Managing Director and Owner, Musikhaus Rudert GmbH
-
Hans-Peter Strohhäcker, Manager Sales & Marketing Germany, Yamaha Music Europe GmbH
-
Ralph Voggenreiter, Managing Director, Voggenreiter Verlag GmbH
(v.l.n.r.): Alexander Meinl, Hans-Peter Strohhäcker , Ralph Voggenreiter, Jan Rickert, Susanne Peters, Christian Ruoss
Specialist committees
The specialist committees are a crucial part of SOMM - Society Of Music Merchants e. V. They deal intensively with industry-specific topics and develop practical solutions. The experts from the affiliated member companies contribute their knowledge and experience to actively represent the interests of the members and drive the further development of the association. Through their work, the specialist committees provide valuable impulses for the positioning and initiatives of the association.
Compliance Committee
The Compliance Committee deals intensively with the legal and regulatory requirements that are relevant for the MI industry. It ensures that the association's members are always informed about current legal requirements and supports them in implementing compliance measures. The committee offers practical solutions and recommendations for action to minimize legal risks and make the industry more transparent and secure overall. With its work, the committee strengthens trust in the MI industry and promotes responsible and compliant business practices.
European Committee
The European Expert Committee holds a special position within SOMM – Society Of Music Merchants e. V., as it focuses specifically on political, economic and legal developments at European level that affect the MI sector. In collaboration with the European Soundmakers – Musical Instrument Confederation – this expert panel monitors and analyses relevant EU projects, legislative initiatives and market trends, and informs members about their implications. It is also actively involved in representing the sector’s interests at EU level, strengthens networking with European partner organisations and promotes the exchange of best practices. Through this focused work, the specialist committee ensures that the MI industry in Europe has a strong voice and can play an active role in shaping the European market.
​
Founding members of the European Soundmakers – Musical Instrument Confederation:
-
AVHN (Czech Republic)
-
CAFIM (Germany)
-
COMÚSICA (Spain)
-
CSFI (France)
-
DISMAMUSICA (Italy)
-
SOMM (Germany)
Committee for music retailers
The specialist committee for music retailers specifically addresses the needs and challenges of the music retail trade. It promotes the exchange of information and best practices among members and supports the trade with practical solutions. Its tasks include analyzing market trends, advising on legal and economic issues and developing strategies to promote the music retail trade (e.g. CulturePass). In addition, the committee brings the concerns of music retailers to the industry level, advocates fair framework conditions and a stable business environment and helps to develop innovative trading models. The specialist committee thus makes a significant contribution to strengthening and further developing the music retail trade in a changing market landscape.
Experts:
-
Mister Music Musikinstrumente GmbH (Reinhol Hettich)
-
Musik Klier KG (Alexander Klier)
-
Musikhaus Rudert GmbH (Christian Ruoss)
-
Musical Instruments Karl Danner GmbH (Karl Danner)
-
Pianohaus Trübger e. K. (Yvonne Trübger)
-
Rock Shop (Andreas Bernhard)
-
session GmbH & Co. KG (Udo Tschira)
Working Groups
Working groups are used for urgent and current issues that require quick and targeted processing. They consist of (external) industry experts who contribute their specialist knowledge to develop solutions or recommendations for action. These working groups work in a focused and efficient manner in order to respond promptly to developments and address short-term needs of the industry.