It depends on the meaning of "going forward".

Personally I find that arranger popularity tends to regional, both in the context of a single country and the world in general, but I will limit most of my views to my area.

Here in Atlantic Canada, which has tremendous sales in the more traditional musical instruments (guitars, piano-acoustic and digital, violin, wind instruments etc.) and has a history steeped in many kinds of music, as diverse as jazz to Celtic, arrangers (and arranger sales) are alive and very well. The general view towards music is very open-minded, and progressive, while still embracing traditional music.

We heavily support arranger keyboards; promotion and education in regards to these instruments is paramount to their success, and the profits from these instruments tend to be higher than the other keyboards such as digital pianos, organs and synths.

In my experience, sales of Yamaha arrangers have increased, and, even during the recession, they remained at a very healthy level. Recently, on our own Synth Zone, we see several members buying new TOTL arrangers.

In my area, Atlantic Canada, we provide demonstrations, clinics, follow-up clinics, and other forms of promotion and education, so the market is very healthy.

If I expand a bit, arranger sales are also higher in certain parts of Europe, usually those which have a more open-minded view regarding instruments, and music education.

Arrangers are not a "dying market", and sales have slowly been increasing each year, in my experience.

Bottom line?

If you are in the business of selling arrangers, then you owe it to yourself, and the instrument, to provide clinics and promotions that will make the potential customer aware of how powerful, versatile, and FUN this amazing instrument is to the contemporary keyboard player.

Ian