Steinway Musical Instruments
| Company type | Private (since 2013) |
|---|---|
| Industry | Musical instruments |
| Predecessor | Selmer Industries, Steinway Musical Properties |
| Founded | 1995 |
| Fate | Acquired by Paulson & Co. (2013) |
| Headquarters | Astoria, New York , United States |
Area served | Worldwide |
| Products | Pianos, brasswinds, woodwinds, string instruments, percussion |
| Owner | Paulson & Co. |
Number of employees | 1,700 |
Steinway Musical Instruments, Inc. is an international conglomerate specializing in the production and marketing of musical instruments, with its headquarters located in Astoria, New York, United States. Established in 1995 through the consolidation of Selmer Industries and Steinway Musical Properties—the latter being the parent company of Steinway & Sons—the company was publicly listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol LVB from 1996 until 2013. In 2013, it transitioned to private ownership following acquisition by the private equity firm Paulson & Co..
The corporation’s strategy focuses on acquiring and integrating well-known musical instrument brands along with their manufacturing operations. Notable acquisitions include the flute manufacturer Emerson Flutes in 1997, piano keyboard producer Kluge in 1998, and Steinway Hall in Manhattan in 1999. In 2000, it expanded by purchasing United Musical Instruments, which was subsequently merged with The Selmer Company in 2003 to create the subsidiary Conn-Selmer. The portfolio further grew with the acquisition of wind instrument maker Leblanc in 2004 under Conn-Selmer.
Steinway’s product lineup covers a broad spectrum including pianos, brasswinds, woodwinds, string instruments, and percussion. Its collection of brands features leading industry names such as Steinway & Sons pianos, Bach Stradivarius trumpets, C.G. Conn French horns, Leblanc clarinets, King trombones, Ludwig drums, and saxophones and woodwinds under the Selmer brand. Additionally, it holds exclusive distribution rights within the U.S. for wind instruments from Selmer Paris and saxophones from Yanagisawa.
Serving a diverse clientele that includes professional musicians, hobbyists, students, orchestras, and educational organizations worldwide, Steinway operates through a comprehensive network of dealers. The company employs around 1,700 individuals across 11 manufacturing sites located in the United States and Europe, complemented by contract manufacturing partnerships in Asia. This extensive global presence supports its significant share within the musical instrument market and fuels continued expansion.
History
- May 1995: Acquisition of Steinway Musical Properties by Selmer Industries; Steinway Musical Properties is the parent company of Steinway & Sons.
- July 1996: Selmer Industries rebranded as "Steinway Musical Instruments".
- August 1996: Completion of Steinway Musical Instruments’ initial public offering (IPO).
- January 1997: Purchase of Emerson Flutes.
- December 1998: Acquisition of Kluge Klaviaturen, a manufacturer specializing in piano keys.
- March 1999: Acquisition of Steinway Hall in New York City, a renowned piano showroom featuring a concert hall.
- November 1999: Acquisition of O.S. Kelly Company, a producer of piano plates.
- January 2000: Purchase of Pianohaus Karl Lang, an authorized dealer for Steinway pianos.
- September 2000: Acquisition of United Musical Instruments, a wind instrument manufacturer.
- January 2003: Formation of Conn-Selmer through merging The Selmer Company with United Musical Instruments.
- August 2004: Acquisition of G. Leblanc, a wind instrument manufacturer and distributor.
- May 2008: Purchase of ArkivMusic, an online retailer specializing in classical music.
- September 2013: Acquisition by private equity firm Paulson & Co..
Current products
The company manufactures instruments under the following prominent brands:
- Pianos:
- Steinway & Sons – high-end pianos targeting the luxury segment
- Boston – intermediate-level pianos
- Essex – beginner-level pianos
- Brasswinds:
- Bach – trumpets, cornets, flugelhorns, and trombones
- Conn – horns, flugelhorns, cornets, trombones, trumpets, tubas, sousaphones, and saxophones
- Holton – French horns, cornets, trombones, and trumpets
- King – brass instruments for marching bands and other brass varieties
- Prelude – entry-level brass and woodwind instruments manufactured in China
- Woodwinds:
- Strings:
- Glaesel – violins, violas, cellos, and double basses produced in China
- Scherl & Roth – string instruments manufactured in China
- Wm. Lewis & Son – Chinese-made string instruments
- Percussion and drums:
- Other:
- Listen: Life with Music & Culture – magazine publication
- Rousseau – mouthpieces for woodwind instruments
- Steinway & Sons Label – record label
Discontinued products
- Brasswinds:
- Benge – trumpets, piccolo trumpets, and trombones
- Cleveland
- Martin – trumpets and trombones
- Woodwinds:
- Artley
- Avanti – flutes
- Emerson – piccolos and flutes
- Galway Spirit Flutes – flutes
- Noblet
- Normandy