London-Based TNAG Acquires Nashville’s Cotten Music Center

Pictured (L-R): Kim Sherman, Ben Montague, Robert J. Montague.

London, England-based company The North American Guitar (TNAG) has acquired Nashville’s Cotten Music Center, making it their primary location in the United States. Founded by Richard Cotten, Cotten Music Center has been in the Nashville music community since the early 1960s.

Cotten Music Center is located at 434 Houston Street, Ste. 131, in Nashville. Kim Sherman, who has been co-owner of the shop for the past 23 years, approached the father and son owners of TNAG Ben and Robert Montague in February of this year. The Montagues founded TNAG in 2010.

“I have admired the way The North American Guitar has grown to be such a well-respected shop worldwide in just under a decade. Cotten Music reached a point in our business where we needed additional support, and Ben’s passion for our preservation, in combination with the reputation that he and his father have built with TNAG, made for a wonderful friendship and partnership, which also made the transition easier” said Sherman, now managing partner of TNAG Nashville. “We are so grateful for Ben’s understanding of Cotten Music’s legacy and are happy to be operating business as usual at The North American Guitar.”

“As our online presence grew and sales steadily increased in the American market, we knew that opening a second location in the States would be necessary and timely, but that finding the right partner would be a challenge,” said Ben Montague, CEO of The North American Guitar. “When we learned that Cotten Music Center was seeking the support and alignment of a larger brand, we were elated because we’ve admired and supported the brand from afar for years. We feel privileged to assume ownership and approval from our dear friend Kim.”

July 2019 marked the official change in ownership and name of Cotten Music Center to The North American Guitar + Cotten. Sherman continues to run and advise the brand from the brick and mortar location in Nashville, Tennessee, which has since been updated to reflect the look and feel of the brand’s flagship location in London.

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Jessica Nicholson

Jessica Nicholson serves as the Managing Editor for MusicRow magazine. Her previous music journalism experience includes work with Country Weekly magazine and Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) magazine. She holds a BBA degree in Music Business and Marketing from Belmont University. She welcomes your feedback at jnicholson@musicrow.com.

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