Grand/upright piano market decline

Del Vento

Ralphiano before grand piano sales started to decline

Citation needed. The grand piano sales are a bit down in the USA, but AFAIK the worldwide market is booming (mostly due to a booming Asian population and their also booming wages).

MacMacMac

I wonder what you mean by "a bit"?

If you compare acoustic piano sales figures from pandemic 2020 with those of the prior year, then the drop in the US was 33% from what I've read.

But if you compare today's acoustic piano sales figures with those from a century ago (grand, upright, or both) it might seem that the market has nearly vanished.

Del Vento

MacMacMac If you compare acoustic piano sales figures from pandemic 2020 with those of the prior year, then the drop in the US was 33% from what I've read.

Citation needed.

MacMacMac But if you compare today's acoustic piano sales figures with those from a century ago (grand, upright, or both) it might seem that the market has nearly vanished.

Well, a century ago in the USA the piano was what the radio, television, smartphone and a plethora of other gadgets are today, so the comparison in that timeframe is not fair. Moreover, also the population (both numbers and education status) has greatly changed, and even so this second change is in the "opposite" direction of the previous one, I think it's still unfair.

I'd be interesting to see overall worldwide numbers for the last 20 years or so, but I've not been able to find them (only US ones and not super recent). @CyberGene or @David B perhaps we should split this subthread out?

HZPiano

Hello,

Del Vento Well, a century ago in the USA the piano was what the radio, television, smartphone and a plethora of other gadgets are today

In the last year or two, one very important discovery I have made is that my mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual states are an incredible lot livelier and healthier behind/with a (truly acoustical or as close as possible) musical instrument. Literally(!) better vibes and great stimuli for creativity in other areas of life.

(I do 'consume' my share of TV and smartphone as well, which sometimes have their own place and sometimes should better be traded for more evolutionary activities.)

Cheers and happy authentic vibes,

HZPiano

Hello,

Ha! This thread got split off the minute I was looking at it. How is that for a live(ly) forum 😀.

Cheers and happy acoustic talk,

Frédéric L

During World War II, Steinway made a rugged piano, the Victory, to be deployed on the front. I don’t think recent US deployment of army would be accompanied with such pianos.