I've just seen the story (BBC News) that HMV is go in to administration. One of the Big Four accountancy firms will run the business and seek a buyer for the company.
Ironic that whilst I read this story I was listening to an album that I had downloaded for free on Spotify Premium. Only started doing that yesterday. And I'm a an analogue addict with over 800 LP's. I don't have any mp3 files.
Nor did I buy a Mars bar when I saw them for sale at the HMV flagship Oxford Street Store.
Okay the paradigm for the music business has changed but surely it should have 'stuck to the knitting' more and not deviated so much from it's core market. Selling video games, do me a a favour !
I was though reassured to see a decent selection of vinyl.
I recall an article in the Telegraph from December that argued that if the record companies and suppliers took over HMV then their fortunes would be intertwined and so help HMV get back to health. Or get back in the groove to use the obvious pun.
I'm sorry but I don't buy the argument that touring income can compensate for reduced sales of recordings.
Wel,l as usual, I will get on the tube tomorrow with my HMV nipper DJ bag on my shoulder.
Posted on: 15 January 2013 by analogmusic
I strongly feel HMW was managed by people who are not capable of the job
that's why it is facing these troubles.
I hope the next owner has a strong management team and fires these lot.
Posted on: 15 January 2013 by GraemeH
Originally Posted by GraemeH:
His Master Vanishes.....A total lack of imagination on the directors part in my view. It has been a terrible shop for years with such limited stock. So much more could be made of the download culture in a public place to share knowledge.....
GH
I'm amazed It's lasted the two years since I posted the above. Should have been put down then and at least the staff might be back in employment by now. G
Posted on: 15 January 2013 by hungryhalibut
I read an article today that said HMV are responsible for sales of 38% of physical music - CDs I suppose. That seems an amazing volume for a shop that seems basically useless as a music source.
But useless or not, HMV and Jessops will leave big holes on many high streets. And thousands more on the dole.
Posted on: 15 January 2013 by Cbr600
Did I hear on the tv tonight that the CEO of HMV has only been in post for 4 months and came from Jessops ?
If so, then that's very unfortunate news, and be careful of his next company !
Posted on: 15 January 2013 by TomK
On line they were fine. I bought plenty of cds/dvds/bds and their prices were always competitive. But in store stock up here was shocking and prices were silly.
Soon there'll be no reason to go into town of a Saturday afternoon. HMV, Virgin and Borders were my first ports of call, Tower having gone long ago.
Sad days but their stores were a disgrace in recent years.
Posted on: 15 January 2013 by Ron Brinsdon
Like TomK and many other members, I have bought plenty of items online simply because of bargain prices. Last saturday I took a gift voucher into HMV in Worcester and came out with nothing. Not a single item, no CD, no DVD, no books, nothing. My original thought was that there would be at least a Beatles vinyl album or two left over from Christmas but there was not. OK, to be fair there were lots of CD's but none that I REALLY wanted as opposed to "wouldn't mind giving it a listen" Now had I wanted a game, I would have been spoiled for choice.
Instead I went about 400 yards to an independent record store ("Rise") and could have spent my entire years pocket money on new vinyl alone. Long may the indies continue.
I am offering a numbered, limited edition HMV voucher, Nipper artwork, mint- , first pressing for £12 instead of £25 if anyone is interested.......................could be collectable one day!
Thanks for the good times HMV
Ron
Posted on: 20 January 2013 by Andy1912
In Aberdeen our main independent (One-Up) has also just announced it is closing too. In a few weeks the only place anyone will be able to buy and browse CDs in real-life (as against online) will be in the supermarkets.I had a chat with one of the owners of the indie the other day who said the council have tried to be helpful by keeping rates static but they were facing a £40K repairs bill for the building this year (from the council) before even thinking about turnover issues. I asked him if he wasn't reconsidering with HMV closing (here it is always very busy) but he thought it would be even tougher due to that because the distribution network would likely collapse (and the network bulk buy and thereby keep prices down to some extent). You would guess sooner or later shop rates will have to come down and then perhaps some small independents may return, but I suspect that may be a few years away.....
There will be one small vinyl (only) shop left here once the dust has settled, which hopefully may buck the trend.....
Posted on: 20 January 2013 by warwick
I went in to HMV Oxford Street on Tuesday night. Was nice to see it busy with a mixed crowd. I didn't really have any spare cash but browsed for an hour any way. I saw Love's album 'Forever changes' at £3. Heard it on Spotify already so bought it. Highlight was all the bargains (£4-6) in the jazz section, much less than what I'd have to pay to get them on second hand vinyl.
Now I realise that putting popcorn beside movies makes sense. But not in the classical music room beside a display of Glen Gould CD's !
Was great to see a good selection of vinyl. So I will return in a week when I will have some money to burn.
My trip to the Woodgreen (Haringey, north London) branch echoed the experiences of others who've been to the smaller branches. I wanted to check out the selection of tablets as I intend to buy one in a week or so. All they had was an unknown brand reduced to £70. Was though heartening to see the display of 3 Beatles remastered LP's. Sadly it was of the 3 albums I already have. Otherwise I'd have paid up.
Posted on: 20 January 2013 by Donuk
It's all very sad. We now seem to be losing all our big outlets in York. Borders went a while back.. Just a couple of second hand and independents now, as far as I know.
The problem, it seems to me, is that these large record stores, that used to stock nearly everything, have had to diversify too much. Now selling DVDs, a bit of vinyl, T-shirts, iPods, books and God knows what.
The jazz CD sections only contain stuff like "The best of Duke Ellington" "The essential Louis Armstrong." Rarely containing anything interesting.
I think back to the 80s when I used to live near Oxford. The centre was a wonderland of really large record shops - Our Price, HMV, Virgin Megastore. You could come home with something rare and exciting after a day's browsing. Now it is browsing online.
Don, dark downtown York
