{
  "id": 13360975,
  "title": "Guitar Center is dropping its ban on playing ‘Stairway to Heaven.’ It’s part of the CEO’s big turnaround plan",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/10/guitar-center-is-dropping-its-ban-on-playing-stairway-to-heaven-its",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-10-10T07:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Fortune",
    "slug": "fortune",
    "url": "https://fortune.com/2026/10/10/guitar-center-ceo-gabe-dalporto-turnaround-community-stairway-to-heaven/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Guitar Center, the once-bankrupt music retailer, is easing its ban on playing \"Stairway to Heaven,\" as part of CEO Gabe Dalporto's strategy to revitalize the company. Dalporto, a music enthusiast by training, believes in the importance of in-person shopping experiences for musicians of all skill levels. The CEO is restoring the retailer's focus on serious musicians, reducing the inventory of beginner-friendly guitars and increasing the sales of higher-end instruments. Guitar Center's turnaround has resulted in 10 consecutive quarters of sales growth, with annual revenue reaching $2.6 billion in 2025. The company is also expanding its offerings to include DJ equipment, keyboards, drums, and recording studio gear, as well as strengthening its second-hand guitar business. Guitar Center is striving to create a community-centric shopping experience, hosting open mic nights and competitions, and removing the ban on playing \"Stairway to Heaven\" to foster a welcoming environment for all musicians.",
  "summary": "The big box chain wants to feel more like your neighborhood indie guitar store.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}