HMV

HMV is an international music and entertainment retailer, founded in 1921. The brand is owned by Hilco Capital^[1] and operated by Sunrise Records, except in Japan, where it is owned and operated by Lawson.^[2]

The inaugural shop was opened on London's Oxford Street by the Gramophone Company, who had already established the His Master's Voice symbol on their sound equipment, and from 1909, as its own record label.^[3] In the 1960s, HMV became a chain across London, and expanded nationwide in the 1970s. It expanded internationally in the mid-1980s, and opened its 100th UK shop in 1997.^[4]

In 1998, the retail operations were divested from EMI (successor to the Gramophone Company), to form what would become HMV Group plc.^[5] In 2007, HMV bought rival retailer, Fopp, as well divesting its Japanese business.^[6][7] In April 2013, HMV was rescued by Hilco Capital for an estimated £50 million after falling into administration.^[8] In February 2019, the Canadian retailer Sunrise Records rescued 100 of the 127 HMV shops from Hilco after a second administration, but with Hilco retaining ownership of the HMV brand.^[9]

In May 2023, Sunrise Records announced HMV would return to Ireland, followed by an announcement in November 2023 that it would also enter the Belgian market.^[10][11] In February 2024, Sunrise Records announced HMV would re-enter the Canadian market as a store-within-a-store concept within Toys "R" Us locations.^[12]

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