Retailer / private label
UnclaimedHMV is a British music and entertainment retailer known for physical music, home video, games, merchandise and live-entertainment products.
Last updated October 12, 2026
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Overview
HMV is a British music and entertainment retail brand whose name derives from His Master's Voice, the trademark depicting the dog Nipper listening to a gramophone. The first dedicated His Master's Voice shop opened at 363 Oxford Street in London in 1921 under the ownership of the Gramophone Company, which had already used the image on sound equipment and had developed a His Master's Voice record label. Composer Edward Elgar took part in the opening ceremonies, establishing an association between the shop and Britain’s established musical culture. The Gramophone Company became part of Electric and Musical Industries, better known as EMI, in 1931. HMV initially operated as a specialist record retailer in London, expanding across the capital during the 1960s and throughout the United Kingdom during the 1970s. Its growth accelerated in the 1980s and 1990s, when large-format stores, prominent Oxford Street locations and international expansion made the brand one of the most visible music retailers in the English-speaking world. In 1986 HMV opened a major flagship at 150–154 Oxford Street, promoted at the time as the world’s largest record shop. The chain reached its 100th UK store in 1997 and later operated hundreds of locations. HMV’s corporate structure changed substantially in the late 1990s. In 1998, EMI and Advent International created HMV Media Group, separating the retail operations from EMI while combining them with the Dillons book business. The group subsequently acquired Waterstones and Ottakar’s, bought the Fopp music-retail brand, expanded into live music and experimented with digital services, social networking and cinema operations. HMV Group plc floated on the London Stock Exchange in 2002, but the business became increasingly exposed to competition from supermarkets, online retailers, digital downloads and streaming services. The group sold Waterstones in 2011 and divested its live-music assets in 2012. Falling sales and heavy financial pressure led to administration in January 2013. Hilco Capital acquired the UK retail business in April 2013, preserving a substantial part of the store estate and continuing the HMV name. The business returned to profitability after restructuring and remained a major UK physical-music retailer, even as its former flagship Oxford Street store closed and the company shifted toward smaller stores, online sales, vinyl records and a broader entertainment mix. HMV entered administration for a second time in December 2018. In February 2019, Canadian retailer Sunrise Records acquired HMV Retail Ltd. from Hilco. Sunrise immediately closed a number of high-rent locations but retained the HMV and Fopp brands and emphasized vinyl, collector products, popular music, film, television, games and merchandise. Hilco retained ownership of the HMV brand, while Sunrise became the principal operator in the United Kingdom and later announced international expansion plans. HMV returned to Ireland in 2023, announced entry into Belgium later that year, and announced a Canadian store-within-a-store concept in Toys “R” Us locations in 2024. Sunrise also announced a planned Dutch entry in 2025. In Japan, the HMV name is separately owned and operated by Lawson. Today, HMV’s positioning combines specialist music retail, pop-culture merchandise and physical media with the experience of browsing in a dedicated entertainment store. Its commercial strategy relies on vinyl’s resurgence, limited-edition and exclusive releases, pre-orders, signed products, fandom merchandise and the continuing appeal of physical ownership. The brand remains closely associated with music retail, but its scope extends across recorded music, films, television, games, books, accessories and memorabilia.
History
HMV’s history begins with the His Master's Voice trademark, created from Francis Barraud’s painting of Nipper listening to a phonograph. The Gramophone Company acquired the painting and trademark rights in 1899 and used the image on sound equipment. In 1909 it also applied the name to a record label. The company opened the first dedicated His Master's Voice retail shop at 363 Oxford Street, London, in 1921. The shop occupied a former clothing store, and Edward Elgar attended the opening. After a fire severely damaged the premises in 1937, the location was rebuilt and reopened in 1939, with Sir Thomas Beecham conducting the reopening ceremony. The Gramophone Company became part of EMI in 1931. HMV’s retail presence expanded in London during the 1960s and nationwide during the 1970s. The chain competed with Virgin Megastores and Our Price, but benefited from larger, newer shops and a strong specialist identity. In 1986, it opened a large Oxford Street flagship at 150–154 Oxford Street. During the 1990s the business expanded internationally, including an early US store in New York, and reached more than 320 stores. The chain marked its 75th anniversary in 1996 and opened its 100th UK shop in 1997. In 1998, EMI entered a joint venture with Advent International to create HMV Media Group. The transaction separated HMV’s retail activities from EMI while bringing Dillons into the group. Waterstones was then acquired and combined strategically with the group’s book-retailing operations. HMV Media floated as HMV Group plc on the London Stock Exchange in 2002. During the following decade, the group acquired Ottakar’s through Waterstones, bought Fopp after its 2007 administration, purchased former Zavvi stores, and invested in live music, digital downloads, social networking and cinema experiments. It also launched and relaunched the purehmv loyalty programme and introduced the Get Closer social-networking service, which was later closed. The group’s trading position deteriorated as consumers shifted toward online retail, digital downloads and eventually streaming. In 2011, HMV announced store closures and sold Waterstones. It sold the Hammersmith Apollo in 2012 and disposed of the remaining MAMA Group interests later that year. HMV entered administration in January 2013. Deloitte managed the process, while Hilco acquired debt from major creditors and ultimately bought the retail business in April 2013. The transaction preserved a substantial store network, though many shops and head-office positions were eliminated. Under Hilco, HMV returned to the market with a smaller and more focused operation. It moved its flagship back to the original Oxford Street site in 2013, closed the larger 150–154 Oxford Street store in early 2014, introduced a download service and relaunched its online shop in 2015. The business benefited from continued demand for physical music, especially vinyl, and was reported to have become the UK’s largest physical-music retailer in 2015. HMV’s second administration began in December 2018. In February 2019, Sunrise Records, founded by Doug Putman, acquired HMV Retail Ltd. Sunrise closed a group of locations, especially high-rent stores, but continued to operate HMV and Fopp. Its recovery strategy emphasized vinyl records, exclusive releases, collector products and the broader physical-entertainment market. Hilco retained ownership of the HMV brand. Sunrise subsequently pursued international growth, announcing HMV’s return to Ireland in 2023, Belgian expansion in 2023, a Canadian store-within-a-store model in 2024 and planned Dutch expansion in 2025. The Japanese HMV business remains separately operated by Lawson.
- 2019
Sunrise Records acquires HMV Retail
[1]Sunrise Records acquired the operating retail business after HMV’s second administration.
- 2015
Online shop relaunched
[1]HMV relaunched online sales of CDs, DVDs, Blu-ray discs and vinyl records.
- 2013
Hilco acquires HMV
[1]Hilco acquired the UK retailer after administration.
- 2011
Waterstones sold
[1]HMV Group completed the sale of Waterstones.
- 2007
Fopp acquired
[1]HMV acquired the Fopp brand and six profitable shops after Fopp entered administration.
- 2002
HMV Group plc floats
[1]The business became a publicly listed company on the London Stock Exchange.
- 1998
HMV Media Group formed
[1]EMI and Advent International created a joint venture containing HMV’s retail operations.
- 1986
Large Oxford Street flagship opens
[1]HMV opened a major store at 150–154 Oxford Street.
- 1931
Gramophone Company becomes part of EMI
[1]The Gramophone Company merged with Columbia Graphophone Company to form EMI.
- 1921
First HMV shop opens in London
[1]The first dedicated shop opened at 363 Oxford Street.
Products and positioning
A specialist, experiential entertainment retailer focused on physical music and wider pop culture, differentiated from general retailers through curated ranges, exclusive products, vinyl expertise, fandom merchandise and in-store discovery.
Physical music
Vinyl records
Vinyl is a central part of HMV’s post-2019 strategy. The range includes new releases, catalogue albums, reissues, box sets, coloured pressings and collector editions. Sunrise Records placed particular emphasis on vinyl as a way to attract specialist customers and benefit from renewed consumer interest in tangible music formats.
Physical music
CDs
HMV has historically sold CDs across mainstream, classical, soundtrack, jazz and specialist genres. Although the format has declined from its peak, CDs remain part of the retailer’s physical-music assortment and are commonly sold alongside vinyl, limited editions and pre-release products.
Home entertainment
Films and television
The retailer sells physical film and television releases, including DVDs, Blu-ray discs and selected premium editions. These products extend HMV beyond recorded music and support its role as a specialist destination for physical entertainment and popular culture.
Entertainment retail
Games and merchandise
HMV stores also carry video games, gaming-related products, music accessories and merchandise linked to film, television, anime, comics and other fandoms. This category gives the brand a broader pop-culture proposition and reduces dependence on recorded music alone.
Digital music · 2013
HMV digital
HMV introduced digital music services through partnerships with 7digital. The initiative included downloadable music and mobile applications, forming part of the group’s attempt to respond to digital competition and complement its physical retail business.
Marketing campaigns
- 2008purehmv relaunch
United Kingdom
HMV relaunched its loyalty proposition to strengthen customer retention and encourage repeat purchases.
Outcome. The scheme was later discontinued.
- 2008Get Closer
United Kingdom
HMV launched a social-networking service that allowed users to import their music libraries and interact with entertainment content.
Outcome. The service closed in 2009.
- 2003purehmv loyalty programme
United Kingdom
HMV launched a loyalty programme that awarded points for purchases, with rewards including vouchers, memorabilia and signed merchandise. The programme was later relaunched and subsequently discontinued.
Outcome. The programme was eventually closed.
Brand decisions
2023
International expansion beyond the UKStrategyBackground
Sunrise Records sought growth by extending the HMV format into additional markets.
Action taken
The operator announced a return to Ireland and planned entry into Belgium.
Aftermath
The announcements marked a renewed international phase for the brand.
2019
Sunrise Records acquisitionM&ABackground
HMV entered administration for a second time after continued pressure from online retail, supermarkets and digital consumption.
Action taken
Sunrise Records acquired HMV Retail Ltd. and retained the HMV and Fopp brands.
Aftermath
The operator closed a number of high-rent stores and refocused the business on vinyl, exclusives and broader entertainment merchandise.
2013
Hilco acquisition after administrationM&ABackground
HMV entered administration amid falling sales, debt pressure and competition from online and digital channels.
Action taken
Hilco acquired the operating retail business and retained a substantial store network.
Aftermath
The restructured retailer returned to trading and later reported renewed profitability.
2007
Acquire FoppM&ABackground
Fopp entered administration after operating a network of specialist music shops.
Action taken
HMV acquired the Fopp brand and six shops.
Aftermath
Fopp became part of HMV’s specialist retail portfolio.
1998
Separate HMV retail from EMIStrategyBackground
EMI reorganized its retail interests as the music market and retail landscape changed.
Action taken
EMI formed HMV Media Group with Advent International.
Aftermath
The new group later acquired Waterstones and was floated as HMV Group plc.
Recent events
Reported
HMV to close flagship Oxford Street store in March 2027[2]
HMV announced on 12 October 2026 that it will shut its flagship store at 363 Oxford Street in March 2027, a move affecting more than 50 staff. The company said its landlords had proposed doubling the rent and that it faced substantial renovation costs, making the shop commercially unviable. HMV said it is looking for a new site in London's West End, plans to transfer affected workers to its two other London stores and head office, and intends to maintain a significant presence in the capital.
Reported
HMV opens The Vault megastore in Birmingham[3]
HMV opened The Vault, a 25,000-square-foot megastore in Birmingham, on Friday, October 11, 2019.
Weekdays and relative dates follow the original report; their exact calendar dates have not been verified.
Sources4 sources
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