The 2024 SEMA Motorsports Parts Manufacturers Council (MPMC) concluded another highly successful Media Trade Conference (MTC), held January 30 – February 1, at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Anaheim, Calif.
The event facilitated hundreds of private in-person meetings, where motorsports parts manufacturers and media established valuable connections.
Following are highlights from the event.
Valuable Relationships Forged for Business Growth
A total of 80 manufacturers took part in over 40 private, 30-minute meetings with media over the three-day event. Manufacturers discussed their newest product lines, important company updates, and the latest industry trends, while media collected editorial content to share with their audience.
Trent McGee, Director of Marketing at Centerforce Clutches, shared what he values most about the event:
"It gives me the opportunity to see how media is evolving. It's been fun to watch the influencer industry mature and grow. What was something I wouldn't have given a second thought to seven or eight years ago, I'm now really paying attention to and following these guys more closely. Even if they're not working with our product directly, it's all part of education and staying ahead of things."
McGee's first Media Trade Conference was 10 years ago.
From the media side, KJ Jones, Senior Producer at HOT ROD Magazine, shared why he continues to return to the event. "It's the one-on-one time; the 30 minutes you have to sit with manufacturers to discuss projects and ways that we can work together." Jones has attended the Media Trade Conference for 19 years.
His thoughts were echoed by Brian Havins, Director of Content and Consumer Marketing at Power Automedia: "The most valuable thing is being able to talk to people and tell their stories, see what they need from us, and hear what messages they want to get out, so we can execute that and get it out to our readers."
Steve Turner Recognized with Robert E. Petersen Media Award
Steve Turner of Promedia Events and Publishing, and NMRA, was honored with the MPMC Robert E. Petersen Media Award during the Media Trade Conference Happy Hour. The award acknowledges individuals who have made significant contributions to the motorsports parts manufacturing segment of the aftermarket, or to the MPMC itself.
Event Relocation Announced
The MPMC announced that the Media Trade Conference will relocate to Orlando, Fla., in 2025.
Brian Bohlander, Chair of the MPMC, expressed that the move will help bring together additional East Coast media, new media outlets and content creators, and, potentially, international media.
"Next year's Media Trade Conference will be right in the middle of several major motorsports events happening in Florida in late January," Bohlander said. "This should encourage more media and manufacturers that are already sending representatives to those events to participate in the Media Trade Conference."
In addition to private meetings, the event will continue to provide participants with opportunities to further their connections through networking events scheduled throughout the week.
To learn more about the Media Trade Conference, visit www.sema.org/mtc.