HMV used to be the superstar of the UK highstreet but this is no longer the case. The slumping number of HMV stores confirms this. Since 2010, the number of stores the music retailer owns declined dramatically from 293 to 131. The slashing of more than half of HMV stores had quite a lot to do with the fact that the retailer fell into administration in 2013 and was subsequently bought. Since then, things have not improved much for HMV. HMV under Hilco UK announced insolvency yet again in December 2018, bringing about more uncertainty and turbulence.
Leadership changes hand in entertainment retail
It is no secret that the market for physical music and entertainment media has been hit badly by the prevalence of digital formats. In the UK, online dominates entertainment retail sales by a large proportion. This trend is reflected in the leading names of the UK entertainment market. In 2017, Amazon ranked as the top retailer in this market ahead of traditional retailers such as HMV.
Is the physical music store still relevant?
As a traditional retailer, HMV may be struggling amidst the digital revolution in the way we consumer music and entertainment now, but the 98-year-old store is certainly not giving up the ghost. HMV was recently bought by Sunrise Records, the Canadian retailer who highlighted the value of HMV as a heritage brand in the UK. The rebranding of HMV is already underway with its new owner, yet whether it will stay relevant for music consumers remains to be seen.
Number of HMV stores in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2010 to 2017*
* Figures are combined from various sources, detailed as follows:
The 2010 and 2011 figures are taken from the HMV Group plc annual report and accounts 2011. The 2010 data refers to all HMV stores including international outlets. The 2011 figure is for UK stores (including Fopp brand stores).
The 2012 figure refers to the number of stores prior to HMV's administration in January 2013 (including Fopp brand stores), as published by The Centre for Retail Research and the Telegraph.
The 2013 figure is as of April 2013, following Hilco's acquisition of HMV. The figure displays the number of stores aquired by Hilco (including 9 Fopp stores) as published via various media sources.
The 2014 figure is as of August 2014, as published by the Telegraph and Guardian press sources.
The 2015 figure was published by Hilco, the restructuring firm who own HMV as of 2013 (exact date of publication not given).
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Companies House. (October 2, 2018). Number of HMV stores in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2010 to 2017* [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved December 02, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/510273/hmv-store-numbers-united-kingdom-uk/
Companies House. "Number of HMV stores in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2010 to 2017*." Chart. October 2, 2018. Statista. Accessed December 02, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/510273/hmv-store-numbers-united-kingdom-uk/
Companies House. (2018). Number of HMV stores in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2010 to 2017*. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: December 02, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/510273/hmv-store-numbers-united-kingdom-uk/
Companies House. "Number of Hmv Stores in The United Kingdom (Uk) from 2010 to 2017*." Statista, Statista Inc., 2 Oct 2018, https://www.statista.com/statistics/510273/hmv-store-numbers-united-kingdom-uk/
Companies House, Number of HMV stores in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2010 to 2017* Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/510273/hmv-store-numbers-united-kingdom-uk/ (last visited December 02, 2024)
Number of HMV stores in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2010 to 2017* [Graph], Companies House, October 2, 2018. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/510273/hmv-store-numbers-united-kingdom-uk/