SAN DIEGO — Taylor Swift is not scheduled to appear this week during the 2025 NAMM Show at the Anaheim Convention Center, although she did perform at several earlier editions — between 2004 and 2008 — for San Diego’s Taylor Guitars ,whose instruments she often plays at her concerts.

But at the start of a recent San Diego Union-Tribune interview, NAMM CEO/President John Mlynczak would neither confirm nor deny the possibility of Swift making a surprise appearance at this year’s edition of the NAMM Show (short for the Carlsbad-based National Association of Music Merchants). It is the world’s largest annual trade show for manufacturers and retailers of musical instruments, equipment, technology, sound, lighting and recording gear.

“Oh, my gosh! It’s so funny (you ask). With artists, you never know who’s going to be there,” Mlynczak said. “We’re hearing a lot of buzz regarding big artists this year. With a lot of artists, their schedules are always fluid so we really only find out that (same) day if they’re coming. “

Asked 40 minutes later if the odds of Swift showing up at the 2025 NAMM Show had increased during this interview, a chuckling Mlynczak replied: “Same odds. We’ll know about a second before we get the text to have VIP security ready on site.”

Either way, there won’t be a lack of major artists at this year’s expanded NAMM Show and its affiliated events, which take place Tuesday through Saturday and will be one day longer than last year’s edition.

Close to 200 bands and solo artists from around the world will perform. The star-studded list includes Jon Batiste, Jacob Collier, Jack White, CeCe Winans, 2024 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee Peter Frampton, and other musicians whose names have not yet been disclosed.

“Music instrument and gear companies want to influence their retailers, and you do that by hearing the products live in the hands of amazing artists,” Mlynczak said. “So, we’ve made a conscious effort that the artists we have on our main stage and who are demonstrating new products at the show are absolute A-listers.”

Frampton is just one of the award-winning artists who will be featured at Wednesday’s invitation-only NAMM Global Media Day. He’ll be followed Thursday by veteran solo star and White Stripes band co-founder Jack White, who will perform and be honored at Thursday’s NAMM Tec Awards.

Also on Thursday, gospel music vocal great Winans will headline NAMM’s annual “Night of Worship” concert on the outdoor Yamaha Grand Plaza Stage. Batiste — who won five Grammy Awards in 2022, including for Album of the Year — will perform Friday night on the same stage.

Saturday, the show’s closing day, will see 30-year-old English musical polymath Collier perform at NAMM’s Grand Rally for Music Education.

While admission to these performances is limited to NAMM members, one of the most notable concerts of the weekend is open to the public.

The She Rock Awards, which was launched in 2013, will hold its 2025 edition Saturday night in the Anaheim Hilton’s Pacific Ballroom. It will be hosted by former San Diego guitar wiz Jennifer Batten and violinist Lindsey Stirling, who are both set to perform. So are the musician honorees, which include Samantha Fish, Amanda Palmer, Paula Cole, Christina Perri, and others. Tickets are available at: sherocksawards.com.

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