Best Buy to Open In-Store Music Centers

Minneapolis Best Buy Co. Inc. will announce Tuesday that it plans to open as many as 85 music centers inside its stores by the end of the year and could add even more locations in the future, according to The Associated Press.

The in-store centers will use about 2,500 sq. ft. of retail space and feature approximately 1,000 different products with well-known brand names such as Fender, Gibson, Drum Workshop and Roland.

"We're not just extending the shelf space in the store, we're creating a designated area specifically for this experience," Kevin Balon, the company's VP of musical instruments, told The Associated Press. "And we're trying to create an authentic and genuine musical instrument store look and feel inside of Best Buy."

Best Buy's selection will include everything from accessories -- picks, sheet music and cases -- to high-end basses, guitars, keyboards and DJ equipment. Instruments will be housed in separate rooms, according to the report. The company also plans to offer group music lessons.

To date, 10 sites are already open, including five in California, two in Illinois and two in Minnesota.

A selection of the offerings will also be available online in early August.