ANAHEIM, Calif., Jan. 18, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) presented Wanna Play? Awards on the last day of its world-famous NAMM Show Jan. 16 to honor eight companies from outside of the music products industry that use music products in their television ads, helping to inspire people to make music.

The recipients of the 2010 Wanna Play? Awards are:

• Honda for its "The Van Beckons" TV ad
• Hertz for its "Journey On/Amy's Journey" TV ad
• Freecreditscore.com for its "Check It" TV ad
• Time Warner Cable for its "Band" TV ad featuring "The Mommyheads"
• Wonderful Pistachios for its "Get Crackin' " TV ad featuring Keyboard Cat
• Lexus for its "2011 Lexus IS: Music Track" TV ad
• American Express for its OPEN/Alto Music-Plum Card" TV ad
• Wheat Thins for its "Air Guitar Jam Session" TV ad

An Honorable Mention was awarded to NAMM Member companies GE Capital and Taylor Guitars, for their collaboration on a TV ad called "Invested in Taylor Guitars."

The Wanna Play? Awards are an extension of NAMM's Wanna Play? campaign, a public awareness initiative designed to inspire people of all ages to become active music makers, from taking lessons to purchasing their first instrument or software. NAMM recognizes major companies that have encouraged people to pursue—or perhaps revisit—their passion for playing an instrument through their promotion of products or initiatives.

For example, the American Express advertisement features a music product retailer who uses the Plum card to pursue his passion for putting instruments into the hands of his local community members so they can experience the benefits of making music.

In addition, Time Warner Cable features a real-life example of a band that has fun jamming together using an internet connection.

"The music products industry is grateful that so many companies from outside of our business are now using musical instruments and the coolness of playing them to sell everything from cars to pistachios," said Scott Robertson, director of marketing and communications, NAMM.

About NAMM

NAMM is the not-for-profit association that unifies, leads and strengthens the $17 billion international musical instruments and products industry. NAMM's activities and programs are designed to promote music making to people of all ages. NAMM is comprised of approximately 9,000 Member companies. For more information about NAMM or the proven benefits of making music, interested parties can visit www.namm.org or call 800-767-NAMM (6266).

SOURCE National Association of Music Merchants

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