Piano sales plunge as interest fades
Interest among kids falls as distractions rise, industry experts say.
Recent figures show U.S. piano sales have plunged to between 30,000 and 40,000, down from the 1909 peak of more than 364,000 pianos sold,
If piano sales are any indication, the pastime of tickling the ivories is quickly dwindling in the United States.
Technology, expense, and the lack of interest among children have caused the decline, especially recently, according to local industry experts.
“The piano business is pretty tough and it’s a lot tougher than it used to be,” said Rick Dustin, owner of Kincaid’s Is Music in Springfield.
Dustin said his store has changed significantly as a result.
“Six or 10 years ago, the entire front portion of this store was filled with pianos, maybe 60 or 70 pianos on display, and we don’t have that now,” said Dustin.
There are now fewer than 10 pianos on display in Kincaid’s.
Recent figures show U.S. piano sales have plunged to between 30,000 and 40,000, down from the 1909 peak of more than 364,000 pianos sold.
“I hate to say it, but the piano doesn’t have the same position in the fabric of American households that it once did. I think we are seeing that now manifested in sales not being quite as good as they used to be,” Dustin said
His wife, and business partner, Debbie Dustin, pointed to mobile phones, video games, and social media distractions as the biggest factors for the decline in playing the piano.
Longtime piano teacher, composer, and author, Anna Blackwell, 86, of Springfield, agrees.
“There are so many distractions. When you go anywhere, all you see is children with their little telephones texting and typing,” Blackwell said.
B.H.A. Piano Center president Bob Royer admits that interest in piano playing is down among children, but he said his business is thriving thanks to an online presence.
“We sell a lot of pianos. Overall, the market may not be as strong for new pianos, but used piano sales are going strong,” said Royer.
Royer said B.H.A.’s web presence has expanded the company’s territory, and they do many more sales regionally and out of state. “The piano is not going away, but piano dealers in small towns are going away,” Royer said.
Many smaller dealers don’t want to sacrifice showroom space to large pianos and don’t want to mess with the hassle of delivering pianos, said Royer.
“It’s makes me sad. Local piano stores are hurting because it’s easier for parents to spend $70 to $100 on an electronic keyboard. If the child doesn’t take to it, then it’s better than spending thousands of dollars on a piano,” Blackwell said.