ANTONIO FERRANTI
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ANTONIO FERRANTI
- …
Antonio
FerrantiStudent of life, music, business, and all things Italian.
President and co-owner, Proel North America
Founder, The 99 Group · NAMM Board of Directorsabout
The art of connection.
Bridging vision, craft, and humanity to turn potential into legacy.
Music has been my world for as long as I can remember. Business became my craft, and connection my art: Italian makers with American players, brands with artists, people with opportunities.
Today I lead Proel North America, build The 99 Group, and serve on the NAMM Board of Directors. Along the way I became a pilot, a winemaker and an author.
highlights
Still a student. Always a fan.
Show floors, stages, the factories where it’s made. The best part is always the people: artists, dealers and makers I keep learning from.
Stevie Wonder at the Dexibell booth
The NAMM Show 2023
Dexibell takes the stage
2017
Dorothea Taylor launches her signature snare
Music City Drum Show 2026
With Chad Smith
The NAMM Show 2012
Guitar Center in Rome
Italy 2023
With Ringo Starr’s drummer, Gregg Bissonette
PASIC 2022
Behind the kit at the Tamburo booth
PASIC 2021
With the drumming community
Nashville 2026
Keys to the Future
Proel headquarters, Italy 2019
Best in Show, on stage
The NAMM Show 2012
Presenting Dexibell
Sweetwater Performance Theatre 2018
Tamburo turns 35
The NAMM Show 2020
Roland red carpet
The NAMM Show 2016
Sound House at 25, on stage
Utah 2023
Proel headquarters
Sant’Omero, Italy
Proel World
The NAMM Show 2025
ventures
What I’m building.
President and co-owner
Italian instruments, pro audio and lighting for the U.S. and Canada. Since 2017, Proel North America has imported and built the territory for eight Italian brands.
founder
The 99 Group
I founded The 99 Group from a personal recognition: each of us is searching for something singular. The “one” may be different for each of us, but the search for something meaningful, excellent, and deeply fitting is shared.
California wine
Coming soon
signature work
With makers and artists
Pianote Prima
Produced from concept to delivery: the OEM work of The 99 Agency.
Dorothea Taylor signature snare
An artist’s signature snare with Tamburo, now at Guitar Center.
Dexibell’s breakout
An Italian brand’s breakout in North America: “2020, in particular, was a pivotal breakout year.” Music Inc., 2021
Keys to the Future
Bringing dealers and artists to Proel’s headquarters in Sant’Omero, Italy, May 2019.
speaking
On stage.
Keynotes, panels and classrooms on the business of music, from the store floor to where the industry is heading.
On stage in Italy, 2023
topics
01 How the industry works
02 Where demand is moving
03 AI across the music industry
04 Tariffs, import and export
05 Artists, creators and the buyer
06 Careers: your way in
appearances
2027
Jan 26–30
The NAMM Show
Anaheim, California · Upcoming2026
Oct 7
CSUN, MUS 580
Northridge, California · SpeakerJul 18–19
Music City Drum Show
Nashville, Tennessee · ExhibitorJul 1
Sweetwater sales meeting
Fort Wayne, Indiana · PresenterMar 21–25
MTNA National Conference
Chicago, Illinois · ExhibitorJan 20–24
The NAMM Show
Anaheim, California · Exhibitor2025
Mar 19–22
NASMD Convention
New Orleans, Louisiana · ExhibitorMar 15–19
MTNA National Conference
Minneapolis, Minnesota · ExhibitorJan 21–25
The NAMM Show
Anaheim, California · Exhibitor2024
Apr
NASMD Convention
Bonita Springs, Florida · ExhibitorMar 16–20
MTNA National Conference
Atlanta, Georgia · ExhibitorJan 25–28
The NAMM Show
Anaheim, California · Exhibitor2023
Jun
Caleb Chapman concert
Italy · On stageMay
NASMD Convention
La Quinta, California · ExhibitorApr 13–15
The NAMM Show
Anaheim, California · ExhibitorFeb
Sweetwater
Fort Wayne, Indiana · PresenterJan
Caleb Chapman’s Sound House, 25th anniversary
Utah · On stage2022
Dec 20–23
The Midwest Clinic
Chicago, Illinois · ExhibitorNov 9–12
PASIC
Indianapolis, Indiana · ExhibitorJun 3–5
The NAMM Show
Anaheim, California · Exhibitor2021
Nov 10–13
PASIC
Indianapolis, Indiana · Exhibitor2020
Jan 16–19
The NAMM Show
Anaheim, California · Exhibitor2019
Jun 21–22
Sweetwater GearFest
Fort Wayne, Indiana · ExhibitorMay 13–14
Keys to the Future
Proel headquarters, Sant’Omero, Italy · HostJan 24–27
The NAMM Show
Anaheim, California · ExhibitorCrane students and faculty at The NAMM Show, 2026
boards and advisory
A seat at the table.
Board of Directors
NAMM
The National Association of Music Merchants
Mentor
NAMM Young Professionals
NAMM’s community for people under 40
Advisor
The 99 Agency
Sales, marketing, business development, OEM and AI for emerging brands
Investor
The 99 Fund
Small investments in startups and off-the-beaten-path projects
Former board member
Retail Print Music Dealers Association
RPMDA, printmusic.org
Former board member
Percussion Marketing Council
Home of PlayDrums.com
collaborations
Emerging brands and emerging artists grow together.
Stevie Wonder
Los Angeles, 2018. At the Dexibell booth, NAMM 2019, 2023 and 2024
Brian Culbertson
Dexibell on stage · Live from Detroit
Dorothea Taylor
Tamburo artist, PASIC 2022 · In Spinal Tap II (2025)
Lang Lang
Alfred Music, 2015
also on stage
Earth, Wind & Fire’s Philip Bailey and Myron McKinley on Dexibell. Edo Tancredi, Tamburo artist, drumming for Andrea and Matteo Bocelli.
on screen
Dorothea Taylor in Spinal Tap II: The End Continues (2025). Myron McKinley on Dexibell for Pause the World for Peace, live from Times Square and streamed worldwide (2023). Stevie Wonder’s visit to the Dexibell booth at NAMM 2024, on YouTube.
point of view
01
Growth follows creators.
02
What AI can’t replace: taste, trust, relationships and responsibility.
03
The best way to grow is to help others grow.
my story
Where it started.
My mother and father came to America from Italy, and they brought their love of music and the arts with them.
Music isn’t an extra. It’s how a family keeps its culture, and its joy, alive.
connecting the dots
Onondaga Music
Retail
VIP Music Distributors
Wholesale
FJH Music
Marketing
Alfred Music
Sales
Roland
Piano division
Proel North America
President
The 99 Group
Founder
full career
pilot
“Flying requires precision and adaptability – skills I try to bring to my roles in the music industry.”
Music & Sound Retailer, Final Note, 2021
life
To see the world, things dangerous to come to, to see behind walls, draw closer, to find each other, and to feel. That is the purpose of LIFE.
LIFE’s motto, from The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
press
Music & Sound Retailer
Five minutes with Antonio Ferranti
Music Inc. Magazine
Breakout sales
Music & Sound Retailer
Five minutes with Antonio Ferranti
Musical Merchandise Review
Keys to the future
NAMM Oral History
A conversation with Antonio Ferranti
Music & Sound Retailer
Final note
Music & Sound Retailer
The Music & Sound Retailer visits Italy
Musical Merchandise Review
All the world’s a stage
Proel North America
Earth, Wind & Fire’s keyboard legends choose Dexibell
blog
March 3, 2025February 4, 2025December 15, 2024More Postswork with antonio
Let’s talk over coffee.
Speaking, boards, partnerships, consulting or press: tell me what you have in mind, and I’ll get back to you.
newsletter
© Antonio Ferranti. All Rights Reserved.
The 99 Group · The 99 Agency · The 99 Press · The 99 Fund · Roast 99 Coffee · XCIX.music