There was a sad inevitability about HMV going in to receivership, as it was announced last night that the administrators have taken control of the business. This has been a protracted affair, going back as far as 2007, but finally it looks as if the famous dog and wind up gramophone logo are about to depart the high street for good. The iconic dog has patrolled our high streets for as long as we can remember and we will miss that little dog called “Nipper” like one of our own family pets!!

It’s not simply that all generations have grown up with the HMV dog and gramophone logo, either as a sign or shop fascia on the high street or as the “His Master’s Voice” vinyl record label for older generations. The truth is that HMV has been close to our hearts through the powerful emotions evoked by music, as a brand synonymous with music production and retail since 1921. In other words, HMV ( His Master’s Voice ) began by soundtracking the Charleston Dance era in the “Roaring Twenties” and has been with us ever since!! However it was not until the next social and cultural boom, the “Swinging Sixties”, that HMV really developed their presence on the high street.

Throughout the 1970s, HMV continued to expand, doubling in size, and became the UK’s leading specialist music retailers. It faced new competition, however, from Virgin Megastores, established in 1976, and Our Price, established in 1972. Along with Woolworths and WH Smiths, these five national music retail giants ruled the high street, supported by thousands of independent record shops in towns and cities the length and breadth of this green and pleasant land. But every dog has it’s day, and Nipper is no different. Having devoured struggling Fopp for lunch in 2006, by 2008 the writing was on the wall for HMV as it’s closest competitor Zavvi ( formerly Virgin Megastores ) folded and went into receivership.

Somehow brave old Nipper limped on for another four years into old age ( 91 in human years, never mind dog years!! ), but now the time has come for the kind Deloitte’s vet to put him out of his misery. For every generation who grew up with vinyl and then CDs, this is a sad moment as the last music retail presence leaves the high street. However the truth of the matter is that for a long time now CDs and DVDs have been much cheaper bought online through Amazon and digital downloads put the final nail in HMV’s coffin!! Sad, but in business as in evolution, you either adapt or die…….RIP HMV

You can re-create and re-live the era of buying vinyl records & CDs from HMV, Woolworths, WH Smiths, Our Price & Virgin, by ordering your favourite song in a vinyl or CD format; single, album or album cover; framed and mounted as a picture disc souvenir. You can also personalise it with an inscribed / engraved plaque…… 

ORDER NOW…….. www.myfirstrecord.co.uk/

Also available – the DVD of your favourite film or TV programme framed with a personalised engraved plaque  ORDER NOW… www.myfirstrecord.co.uk/

Framed vinyl records, framed CDs and framed DVDs with a personalised plaque, make unique presents or original gifts for a special celebration  ie a Wedding ( Wedding First Dance Song ), an Engagement Party ( Our Song ), a House Warming Party ( New Home ), a 21st, 30th, 40th, 50th, 60th Birthday ( How about the No1 song on the day of birth? ), a Silver, Ruby or Golden Wedding Anniversary, Father’s or Mother’s Day or Valentine’s Day!!  THE PERFECT PERSONALISED PRESENT!!