The HMV Demise.
It was inevitable, really. I’m not going to pretend to be a business expert but, from what I understand, the company has been wilting miserably over the past couple of years, because in a wwworld where it is far more convenient to digitally download your movies and music and even games, HMV was never going to make it too far into the 21st century. Which makes me quite sad.
I guess what makes me sad is not the fact that a nationwide company has gone bust (although I do feel for the ~4000 extra people who are about to find themselves jobseeking!), but the reason why it no longer has a future. I think it’s pretty damn clear: we no longer want to buy physical copies of our music. Which, if you ask me, is a great shame. Isn’t there something just so special about owning your favourite album physically, being able to gaze at its casing and insides for hours, caressing the booklet…. Oh, is that just me?
Joking aside though; what I almost fear is the prospect of our children not having the opportunity to experience listening to the songs on an album in their meant order; perhaps taking their favourite album along on a roadtrip and blasting out its entirety whilst meandering through meadows, with rainbows in cyan skies… The somewhat exaggerated point I’m making here is that physical copies of albums bring joy to a listener’s ears! What’s a measly £0.79 MP3 track in comparison to a “2-CDs-for-£10” offer? I’ll tell you what it is: unsatisfying. Where am I supposed to buy fuel for my CD-shelf? Of course, we have Amazon and Play.com and a myriad of other online retailers. But it’s not the same. You can’t just walk into Amazon on a cold Sunday morning at 10:30am to shelter yourself from the greedy pigeons. No other High Street store, beside HMV, is crazy enough to be open at that kind of crazy o’clock on a Sunday!
And what about in-store signings and events? I have sadly not had the chance to attend one, though I know plenty of people who have and have thoroughly enjoyed them, getting the chance to squeeze Harry McVeigh’s lovehandles among other equally precious memories. This basically marks the end of an era. But does it make way for a popularity flood of indie-stores? Ha. That would be nice. But very unlikely, considering the primary reason for HMV’s demise in the first place. Digital times are sad.
Read some real articles on facts and figures and other business formalities:
- 4,000 jobs at risk as HMV becomes latest retail casualty (thetimes.co.uk)
- HMV chain considers administration (bbc.co.uk)
For me, Amazon or any other website where i can buy CD’s are always last resort- If they’re not in HMV the first time, then i’ll come back on another day and so on… and then i’ll check online, but even that isn’t the same…
I agree; although I confess, sometimes I do get impatient and order online, but only when I’ve been waiting for ages and they STILL haven’t stocked up on a particular album! I guess another solution are independent stores, but there really aren’t too many of those around – at least there isn’t one anywhere near where I live, which is a shame 😦
ahaha i tend to be that person, but i like to order it from the HMV website because then i’m still supporting them… but still 🙂
It’s a great shame such things happen. Mp3 downloads will never be as fulfilling, satisfying and simply exciting as getting CDs. And in the way you mentioned: from a shelf in a music shop, not by ordering it online. For me it’s some kind of meditation, one of favourite ways of spending time – looking through these long shelves in search of some album which gives you a simple pleasure of holding it in your hands and opening it. Mp3 are so impersonal. It’s convenient and quick, but sometimes I’d prefer a longer way to my favourite music, but obviously a more enjoyable one.
Scouring the shelves in the hope of finding that one album you’ve been meaning to get for ages and finding it at a lower price than you’d find it anywhere else online – that’s the greatest feeling! I agree; sometimes it’s a bit of a hassle but in the end, it’s all worth it for the music. I guess we’re left with Tesco now…