In the music world the NAMM Show (National Association of Music Merchants) in Anaheim, California is a big deal as it is where a lot of the new gear gets announced. It is for the trade rather than consumers and I have never been, but a fried of mine works in that world and he has been a few times. I am looking out for what is new in drums as that is my musical focus these days. Previously I was more into guitar and there will be plenty of that gear there too.
I get a lot of my music gear news from Music Radar who cover all aspects. Gear News is another site that covers similar ground.
A while ago I bought the Yamaha EAD10 that is a drum recording studio in a box that can do all I really need. It has been around for a while and people were expecting a new version. Now there is the EAD50. It seems to offer more inputs and outputs as well as more physical controls. The EAD10 uses its own microphones and trigger with the option to add more triggers. The EAD50 can add more microphones so I assume you could use it to fully mic up a drum kit for live work and recording. It is looking like it will be significantly more expensive at around 1500 £/$/€, so I may not be upgrading for now.
The Roland CR-78 was one of the earliest drum machines and was used by musicians like Phil Collins, Blondie and Hall & Oates. Behringer brought out a clone of it recently, but now Roland have their own software version so you can get those retro beats.
If you prefer hardware then Roland had already released the TR-1000 that replicates their other classic beat boxes. It is not cheap, but then the original boxes command crazy prices. I do find it crazy that people want the technology of 40 years ago, but then it defined the sound of many genres. Mean while guitarists still want tube/valve amplifiers.
Back in the physical drums world, PDP have a totally acrylic kit that you can see through. Even the hoops that would normally be metal are transparent. That would look cool if you mounted lights inside. Prices are not too crazy at around £2500 for a kit or £350 for the snare. In the drum world that is mid-range.
For a more premium and traditional snare Slingerland have their Radio King. This is a company dating back about a century. A lot of drum companies have been around for a while and some cymbal brands go back several centuries.
These are a few things that caught my eye. I may not be rushing out to buy them, but I like to know what is new. I have most of the gear I need to make the music I want, but we musicians like our toys. I will also look at recording equipment, microphones and other things I could use. I am always interested when someone comes up with something totally new.
I know is into music apps and he has been posting about lots of those with demonstrations. I do want to play more with that side this year to see what they can offer me.
Rock on!