Reference guide
Guitar and Music-Making Statistics
Useful, dated figures on guitar, music products, and the wider American music-making economy. Every statistic below links directly to its original source.
Last updated August 25, 2026
At a glance
A reliable starting point for stories about guitars and music making.
Guitar straps sit within a much larger world of instruments, accessories, live performance, and people learning to make music. This page brings together the most useful public figures we could verify from industry and government sources.
Each number is dated because the underlying sources measure different things in different years. For the full context, use the source link beside the statistic.
$20 billion
Estimated annual global music-products sales in 2024
This figure covers instruments, accessories, pro audio, recording products, and related equipment.
Source: NAMM, “An Introduction to the Music Products Industry,” October 25, 202438%
U.S. fretted-instrument growth over the 10 years through 2024
NAMM identifies fretted instruments as one of the industry’s strongest long-term product stories.
Source: NAMM, “Industry Insights: Key Takeaways From the 2025 Global Report,” September 25, 2025Nearly $200 million
U.S. retail sales for guitar pedals in 2024
NAMM reports steady growth in the category, supported by hobbyist interest and accessible price points.
Source: NAMM, “Industry Insights: Key Takeaways From the 2025 Global Report,” September 25, 2025$1.59 billion
U.S. pro-audio sales in 2024
The category grew 3.3% as demand for live music helped support audio equipment sales.
Source: NAMM, “Industry Insights: Key Takeaways From the 2025 Global Report,” September 25, 2025$1.17 trillion
U.S. arts and cultural economic activity in 2023
The Bureau of Economic Analysis includes supporting industries such as musical-instrument manufacturing in this broader measure.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Arts and Culture, 2023 data release4.2%
Share of U.S. GDP represented by arts and cultural activity in 2023
In inflation-adjusted terms, arts and cultural activity grew 6.6% in 2023.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Arts and Culture, 2023 data releaseNearly 5.4 million
Americans working in arts and cultural industries
The National Endowment for the Arts reports this current employment figure from 2023 arts and cultural production data.
Source: National Endowment for the Arts, national arts and culture facts5,304
Free U.S. Make Music Day events in 2024
Concerts, jam sessions, and group lessons rose 10% from the prior year.
Source: NAMM Foundation and Make Music Alliance, Make Music Day 2024 results145
U.S. communities with Make Music Day celebrations in 2024
The number of local chapters was 28% higher than in 2023.
Source: NAMM Foundation and Make Music Alliance, Make Music Day 2024 results175
Music-products companies involved in Make Music Day 2024
Participating companies hosted, sponsored, or organized events across the country.
Source: NAMM Foundation and Make Music Alliance, Make Music Day 2024 resultsMethodology and sources
How to use these figures.
This is a source roundup, not a survey conducted by Southwest Distinctions. The figures are reproduced as reported by the named source, with the original publication or data year stated beside each one. Industry totals, retail sales, event counts, employment, and economic-output measures are not interchangeable.
Primary public sources used here are the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis and the National Endowment for the Arts. Guitar and music-products figures come from NAMM, the trade association for the music-products industry.
Cite this page
Southwest Distinctions. “Guitar and Music-Making Statistics.” Updated August 25, 2026. https://swdistinctions.com/guitar-and-music-statistics.
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See the guitar straps behind the numbers.
Southwest Distinctions makes custom leather guitar straps in Gold Canyon, Arizona, with the fit, leatherwork, and beadwork chosen around the instrument and player.