HONOLULU – In celebration of the recent announcement that Servco Pacific Inc. (Servco), would soon become the majority owner of Fender Musical Instruments Corporation (Fender), Servco is now offering all Hawaii students 50% off a 12-month subscription to Fender Play®, the iconic guitar brand’s online guitar, bass and ukulele learning app. Any interested student can sign up using their email address at fender.com/hawaii, and with the annual subscription will also receive 10% off Fender guitars, amps, and gear.
“We know there’s a strong correlation between arts education and improved literacy skills in the classroom,” said Mark Fukunaga, chairman & CEO of Servco, and co-chairman of Fender. “We hope that by reducing the barrier of entry to music education resources, we will be able to inspire a life-long passion for more local students.”
With more than 145k active paying users, Fender Play has solidified its position in the market as a leading e-learning platform for beginning guitar, bass and ukulele players. It’s the perfect tool for new players or people getting back into playing who want to learn new skills. On Fender Play, users receive guided learning paths; lessons with instructors; video on-demand; chord charts and tablature to reference; as well as targeted song selection to enhance learning, skills and exercise-based curriculum.
Last September, as part of its Centennial Service Campaign in 2019, Servco in conjunction with the Fender Play Foundation donated musical instruments and services valued at nearly $500,000 to 55 public schools across Hawaii. The donation of 2,000 Fender ukuleles, 750 Fender acoustic guitars, soft cases, and one-year subscriptions to Fender Play benefited over 8,500 local elementary through high school students.
Servco worked with Hawaii Department of Education to invite all public and charter schools to apply to receive musical instruments, with the primary requirement that the schools designate a teacher to implement and sustain a music curriculum during or after school. Servco and the Fender Play Foundation fulfilled 100% of the requests that were received.
Servco’s relationship with Fender began 34 years ago, when it was part of the small investor group that backed industry icon, Bill Schultz, in the buyout of Fender from CBS. Over 25 years later, Servco increased its ownership with the purchase of Weston Presidio’s stake in Fender. Through this acquisition, Servco sought to optimize the potential of this iconic music brand and in late 2012 selected TPG Growth as an equal partner in this journey. Last week, Servco announced it will acquire all of TPG’s Fender shares and secure a majority stake in the iconic music business. The acquisition is targeted to close in February 2020, subject to certain closing conditions.
For more information on Servco’s centennial celebrations, please visit www.servco.com/100.
About Servco Pacific
Servco Pacific Inc. is Hawaii’s largest privately held company with over $1.8 billion in annual revenues and 2,000 team members spanning Australia, Hawaii, and California. Founded in 1919 (as a two-car repair garage), Servco is now a diversified business with operations in automotive distribution & retail, car sharing, appliance distribution & retail, and venture and growth capital. Through our businesses, we help steward world-class brands including Toyota, Lexus, Subaru, Fender, Harley-Davidson, Hui, and General Electric. Servco is one of the Top 20 largest automotive dealer groups based in the U.S. and has been recognized as one of the “Best Places to Work in Hawaii” for 15 consecutive years. For additional information, visit www.servco.com.
About Fender Musical Instruments Corporation:
Since 1946, Fender has revolutionized music and culture as one of the world’s leading musical instrument manufacturers, marketers and distributors. Fender Musical Instruments Corporation (FMIC)–whose portfolio of brands includes Fender®, Squier®, Gretsch® guitars, Jackson®, EVH® and Charvel®–follows a player-centric approach to crafting the highest-quality instruments and digital experiences across genres. Since 2015, Fender’s digital arm has introduced a new ecosystem of products and interactive experiences to accompany players at every stage of their musical journey. This includes innovative apps and learning platforms designed to complement Fender guitars, amplifiers, effects pedals, accessories and pro-audio gear, and inspire players through an immersive musical experience. FMIC is dedicated to unlocking the power of musical expression for all players, from beginners to history-making legends.
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