By Beatrice Morandi
Photo by Beatrice Morandi
In 1921, His Master’s Voice (HMV) opened for the first time on London’s Oxford Street. The UK Gramophone Company, the umbrella organisation, later opened 141 HMV stores, employing about 2,500 people.
The success of HMV, which became a household name in the UK, was attributed to the quality of the music it offered, the opportunity for customers to listen to records before purchasing them, and the good relationship fostered between customers and employees. The company eventually expanded into selling DVDs, and online stores.
In 2011, the company decided to close down 40 of its shops due to a 20% fall in sales, due in part to the popularity of streaming services such as Spotify. Almost a decade later, in 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic forced the company to close its physical stores and online selling platforms. The reason: High rent made it impossible to keep the stores open.
End of an era
For all music and movie enthusiasts, the closing of HMV’s stores marked the end of an era. After 100 years, it seemed as if the doors of HMV’s stores were closed for good.
In 2022, Canadian philanthropist and billionaire Doug Putman acquired The Gramophone Company and launched new stores in various cities, including the first old HMV location on Oxford Street. This move was welcomed by 100,000 people in the UK, Ireland, and Scotland.
The shop sells vinyl, CDs, and DVDs and has dedicated its first floor to music gadgets. You can find various products, from t-shirts to cups and even Funko Pops – miniature reproductions or action figures made of PVC plastic.
These products have become popular among tourists looking for something other than music. Due to the increased demand, the shop has expanded its product range and attracts large crowds. You may need to decide which vinyl to buy quickly when you visit.
This concerns Paolo Bosco, 48, a quartet piano musician and a vinyl collector who always found HMV a great music shop before the new opening. “I believe that vinyl records can hold a special significance as a form of heritage, while compact discs can feel sterile and lacking in soul. Years ago, I used to go to HMV to listen to new releases and expand my collection.”
More effort needed
Bosco believes that HMV needs to put more effort into researching the products they sell. “I remember being able to speak with the store employees and receive helpful information about certain types of music, but that kind of quality service is no longer available,” he recalls.
“As a collector, it is disappointing to see the decline in the care given to the selection and sale of music.”
In a bustling city like London, several other music shops might be more specialised in providing an excellent selection of products, particularly for collectors or music enthusiasts. One such shop is Flashback Records, established in 1997 in Highbury and Islington. The store features two floors, one dedicated to DVDs and CDs and the other to vintage vinyl records. Customers are encouraged to take their time to listen to records and decide what they want to buy.
Mark Burgess, the CEO of Flashback Records, told Holloway Express that they focus on providing quality records, CDs, and DVDs while having friendly staff knowledgeable about all entertainment genres.
“Flashback Records primarily deals with second-hand products, whereas HMV’s stock is entirely new, catering to a different demographic. Flashback Records is more concerned with its core business, buying and selling quality music; hence, it cannot afford to dedicate more space to gadgets,” he said.
New target audience
According to Burgess, unlike HMV, the company’s target audience is not tourists or Shopping Centre customers.
With the new “pocket” vinyl record players much more affordable than the old ones, many people are looking for vinyl to buy and sell. But collectors are having difficulty because only shops sell good quality old vinyl; there’s been a selling increase, and many more singers and musicians are producing not only on music online platforms but also on vinyl.
As a result, everyone can now afford to buy newly released and old ones. But good quality is not only made from brand new records, it can also be found in small local markets, where knowledgeable salespeople can help you find the best products for your quality solo time.
As Bosco said, “Touching the disc gives value to the artist; life without music has no meaning, and those who sell music must know that sometimes, good attention to detail can help people with their own lives.”
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