HMV

It has been suggested that List of international HMV operations be merged into this article. (Discuss) Proposed since January 2024.

It has been suggested that HMV Ireland be merged into this article. (Discuss) Proposed since February 2024.

Sunrise Records and Entertainment Limited

HMV logo used at physical shops since 2021, featuring Nipper and the gramophone
The HMV Shop at Trinity Walk in Wakefield
Trade name	HMV
Company type	Subsidiary
Industry	Music & film retail
Founded	20 July 1921; 102 years ago (20 July 1921)
Headquarters	London, England, UK
Number of locations	119 shops (as of April 2023[update])
Area served	United Kingdom Ireland Belgium Japan Canada
Key people	Neil Taylor (CEO) Phil Halliday (managing director)
Products	Music film television merchandise technology video games books
Owner	Sunrise Records (United Kingdom, Canada, Ireland and Belgium)[a] Lawson (Japan)
Number of employees	1,600 (as of 2019[update])[1]
Subsidiaries	Fopp
Website	HMV.com

HMV is a music and entertainment retailer, founded in the United Kingdom in 1921. As of February 2024, it is currently operating in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Japan and Belgium, as well as having concessions at Toys "R" Us locations in Canada.^[2]

The retailer's acronym stands for His Master's Voice, the title of a painting by Francis Barraud of Nipper listening to a phonograph.^[3] The retailer was opened by the Gramophone Company on London's Oxford Street in 1921.^[4] In 1998, it was divested from EMI (successor to the Gramophone Company), to form what would become HMV Group plc.^[5] In August 2007, HMV bought rival retailer, Fopp.^[6]

In April 2013, HMV was bought by Hilco UK for an estimated £50 million after falling into administration.^[7] In February 2019, JD Sports acquired the HMV brand, with the Canadian retailer Sunrise Records operating the HMV shops under license.^{[citation needed]} The brand also exists in Japan, but under separate ownership.^[8]

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