People only just learning what HMV actually stands for after 103 years

23 June 2024 , 14:56

413 0

MAIN People only just learning what HMV actually stands for after 103 years

For collectors of beloved vinyls, tapes and later CDs, the launch of HMV was certainly music to people's ears.

The record store opened its doors for the first time in 1921. The music and entertainment retailer has seen stars as huge as Mariah Carey, Girls Aloud and more, turn up to do signings at it's flagship Oxford Street store over the decades it was the go-to place to collect everything from rock n roll vinyls, to Friends' boxsets in the 1990s.

After the mass closure of the lionshare of its stores, as of 2024, it is currently online for customers in the UK, Ireland, Japan and Belgium. It even has concessions at Toys R Us in canada. Although the store has been etched in people's history for years - even the most avid music lovers have questioned what HMV actually stands for - 103 years on.

READ MORE: 'I divorced my husband 48 hours after marrying him - his prank was humiliating'

People only just learning what HMV actually stands for after 103 years tdiqridqriqztprw

People only just learning what HMV actually stands for after 103 years (Adam Gerrard / Daily Mirror)

The retailer's acroynm stands for His Master's Voice. It's a title of a painting by artist Francis Barraud of Nipper when he was listening to the phonograph.

People only just realising what HMV stands for as stores set to reopen across UK

Hmv came at the right time indeed - the dawn of the gramaphone in the 1890s. The Nipper, gramaphone and master's voice motif were used as early as 1899 in a photo advert appearing in 'The Boy's own Paper' - a London weekly papaer back then.

The expansion grew quickly and by the 1930s, HMV sold radio and television sets and radiograms. The original HMV shop was damaged by fire in 1937, but qwas rebuilt and reopned two years ater by Sir Thomas Beecham.

As the decades rolled on, adn the hits rolled in, HMV firmly established itself as the go-to plaace for records, with stores across the country. In the 1970s it doubled in size, and eventually became the country's leading specialist retailer. However in 1976, it faced stiff competition from Virgin Megastores and also from Our Price, launched in 1972.

It was all big business for HMV, which showed it's unwavering popularity when they opened its flagship new shop at 150-154 Oxford Street in 1986. The big openeing was attended by Sir Bob Geldof and the late Michael Hutchence.

HMV's rise to the top, happened almost as quickly as it's demise. Technology meant fans were now streaming their favourite shows and music, which spelt the beginning of the end for the iconic brand.

In January 2013 the company - which had more than 4,000 staff and 2383 outlets - went into administration. Sunrise Records took over running it - with its founder Doug Putman planning on focusing on vinyls to secure a market turnaround.

But in 2019, the store closed after becoming unprofitable amid rising business rates and dwindling footfall.

People only just learning what HMV actually stands for after 103 years

Fans were devastated when HMV folded (Getty Images)

Good news was the flagship site returnd, with a plan to try and fend off the competition from cheaper online retailers and streaming services.

The company said they've got an 'evolved retail concept', ready to stock pop culture merchandise, vinyl, film, TV, and music technology - which is good news for the high street.

HMV planned to bring the new format, called HMV Shop, to 24 new stores and 14 existing sites by the end of 2023. For now, fans are holding onto their HMV discs, tapes and vinyls as valuable collector's items and treasured memories of the past.