Korg President interview.

[Mr_SamDoogie]

I saw this on LinkedIn didn't know him before nor payed any attention until now.

https://msretailer.com/joe-castronovo-p ... g-usa-inc/

[sani]

What amazes me personally:
He doesn't play an instrument. I admit, I don't know much about business and how corporations work, but I'd expect that the director of a musical company which produces keyboards, knows how to use and play them. He mentions Steve Jobs. I wonder, would the iPhone or the Mac be what it is if Jobs didn't use it?

[burningbusch]

What amazes me personally:
He doesn't play an instrument. I admit, I don't know much about business and how corporations work, but I'd expect that the director of a musical company which produces keyboards, knows how to use and play them. He mentions Steve Jobs. I wonder, would the iPhone or the Mac be what it is if Jobs didn't use it?

He is the president of Korg USA which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Korg Inc (HQ Japan). The business is largely distributing Korg products throughout USA and Canada.

"Korg USA is the official US distributor of Korg, VOX, Blackstar, Spector, Tanglewood, Cole Clark, Crush, Sakae, Waldorf, Right On!, Sequenz and Stay products and offers customer service and product support to customers that purchased these products in the United States. Korg USA is also the official Canadian distributor of Blackstar, Spector, Cole Clark and Right On! products and offers customer service and product support to customers that purchased these products in Canada."

I don't know where the US-based Korg R&D (developers of the Kronos, OASYS, Wavestate, Wavestation etc.) fits into the corporate structure.

Busch.

[GregC]

I saw this on LinkedIn didn't know him before nor payed any attention until now.

https://msretailer.com/joe-castronovo-p ... g-usa-inc/

Korg is HQ'd in Japan.

Korg USA is 1 of 20 world wide distributors.

An interview with Mr Kato would be more interesting.

https://www.korg.com/jp/corporate/englishinfo/

[burningbusch]

Korg is HQ'd in Japan.

Korg USA is 1 of 20 world wide distributors.

Korg USA is a wholly-owned subsidiary just like Korg UK, Korg Italy, Korg Vietnam and a few more. Korg USA has the R&D group which has designed numerous products. When Korg purchased the company that became Korg UK they also got the rights to VOX. Korg Italy makes the arrangers and keyboards like the SV1/2. Korg Vietnam has at least one factory where many products are manufactured. Yes, the all act as distributors in their respective countries. There are of course independent distributors throughout the world.

https://www.korg.com/us/corporate/profile/

Busch.

[megamarkd]

What amazes me personally:
He doesn't play an instrument. I admit, I don't know much about business and how corporations work, but I'd expect that the director of a musical company which produces keyboards, knows how to use and play them. He mentions Steve Jobs. I wonder, would the iPhone or the Mac be what it is if Jobs didn't use it?

Dave Smith doesn't play either, but loves designing ways to mess with audio frequencies to create cutting edge electronic instruments. I guess that is still closer to the product than being a veteran in the business world. And also DSI/Sequential are a way smaller operation than any of the "Big Three" Japanese synth companies.

[Mr_SamDoogie]

I've learned to read about Korg culture as a place of inspirational internal instrumental barter and musical depth coming together from their world wide offices ,details of their product fascinated and baffled me. Hearing you guys been in it for years is envious experience this company's growth through their product.

I think that Steve Jobs comparison just about right someone overseeing and providing guidance for great products and services , yeah well don't have to play themselves someone vision drives the market.

I had no clue all those distribution brands where part of Korg.

[iowagold]

korg pres
well this can be a good thing!!
he leaves all the design up to the teams!!
and is all biz!!
he is not like jobs or the others where they are an owner operator style of biz..
management can be just that!!

although I would love to see him take a few classes in music!!
then maybe a walk in the music developers shoes might help with decisions in the board room!!

and understand why to spend $25k on relocation of a knob might be a good way to go!!

he may have a good grasp on this!!
time will tell!!
and it all depends on his dev teams!!

[burningbusch]

korg pres
well this can be a good thing!!
he leaves all the design up to the teams!!
and is all biz!!
he is not like jobs or the others where they are an owner operator style of biz..
management can be just that!!

although I would love to see him take a few classes in music!!
then maybe a walk in the music developers shoes might help with decisions in the board room!!

and understand why to spend $25k on relocation of a knob might be a good way to go!!

he may have a good grasp on this!!
time will tell!!
and it all depends on his dev teams!!

Again we're talking about KorgUSA which largely functions as a distributor and product decisions are made in Japan (with a few exceptions). The only development team he could possibly be in charge of would be Korg R&D which is based in California (KorgUSA is New York-based). I don't know if Korg R&D reports to NY or Japan. Recently, Dan P remarked that the original Wavestate prototype was 5-octaves. It was HQ's (Japan's) decision to make it three.

Busch.

[Sharp]

ecently, Dan P remarked that the original Wavestate prototype was 5-octaves. It was HQ's (Japan's) decision to make it three.

Shame they didn’t offer both options. Personally I’d prefer to spend the extra money to get the 5 octave version.

Regards
Sharp.

[GregC]

[

Again we're talking about KorgUSA which largely functions as a distributor and product decisions are made in Japan (with a few exceptions). The only development team he could possibly be in charge of would be Korg R&D which is based in California (KorgUSA is New York-based).

I don't know if Korg R&D reports to NY or Japan. Recently, Dan P remarked that the original Wavestate prototype was 5-octaves. It was HQ's (Japan's) decision to make it three.

Busch.

Korg is an interesting co in terms of operation.

In general, I follow the $ on how product or business decisions are made.

Possibly, the CA R & D group [ which I admire] or team gets a budget for the year and for projects. Since the products are sold word wide for the most part, Korg Japan likely initiates funding. Thats the classic top down. with more management layer from Korg USA in NY.

[danatkorg]

Recently, Dan P remarked that the original Wavestate prototype was 5-octaves. It was HQ's (Japan's) decision to make it three.

Hi Bill! I'm not sure what you're thinking of there, but that sounds like a misunderstanding.