For most Australians, the HMV brand disappeared from shopping centres and malls a few years ago. The company’s flagship Australian store – in Sydney’s iconic Pitt Street Mall – closed in August 2007. Today, only a handful of stores in Queensland (including Brisbane’s Queen Street Mall outlet – pictured) remain open under the HMV banner, though all are essentially re-branded Sanity stores.
The HMV name is reportedly due to disappear altogether from Australian shores in October this year as part of the original agreement with HMV and its Australian owner Brazin (which also has Sanity and Virgin Music under its retail umbrella).
So we wanted to say ‘goodbye’…
HMV Australia was a great music retailer. It was staffed by people who were passionate about the product, who knew what customers wanted at a store level, and who stocked the shelves accordingly. They weren’t frightened of bringing in imports from all over the world – because they understood that their customers (like them) were music fans, who loved getting their mitts on rarities and different editions of their favourite artists’ music. Heck, we remember forking over (without so much as batting eyelids) almost $60 for the Japanese Towa Tei/Kylie single ‘GBI’ way back when. And we still would.
It’s a style of music retailing that’s all but disappeared these days – and it’s a style that we feel has been missing too long in Australia.
BUT, we’ve heard whispers recently that HMV may be interested in re-establishing itself within the Australian marketplace.
And though nothing’s set in stone – and the whispers ARE apparently just whispers at this stage, it would be a welcome return for a long lost retail friend.
But they’d have to play it smart – as a lot’s changed in the five years since they sold to Brazin.
With JB Hifi now powering along in the music retail landscape, HMV couldn’t overcharge – on anything. They’d have to have a unique offer and cater to those who still want the physical product, including collectors. They’d be mad not to include a digital music/video component and if they follow their UK business model, introduce a range of music-related merchandise including books, calendars, t-shirts, headphones, MP3 players and more.
If HMV does return, we’ll welcome them with open arms. Because besides the ‘ship ’em in, sell ’em out’ models of JB Hifi and Sanity and the boutique independent retail stores sparsely dotted around the country, there ain’t much to get excited about.
(More whispers… Is another music retail name about to disappear from its homes of almost six years?)
Australia's first stop for pop!
Mike says
The music industry and local businesses needs to get with the times. Still sad though. Hmv gave lots of people jobs.
auspOp says
Hey Anonymous,
We’re of the view that HMV in this country died when it was taken over by Sanity’s parent company Brazin, and we’re not alone given the comments above.
HMV and it’s staff on the whole treated music as a passion, not merely a product.
The auspOp team
Anonymous says
Guys Guys Guys,
HMV will mot probally never be coming back to Australia in the near future. Yes they were an amazing brand but for most of the HMV life they were owned and operated by Sanity Entertainment. The experience and the vibe you got in HMV store is the same in a Sanity store (providing the teams charisma). HMV has not left is have merley been rebranded and most of the stores the have closed down will be reopending in the near future if Sanity see’s fit with the same team members. So when you think Sanity think HMV only better.
Anonymous says
HMV Queen street officially closes its doors on June 30th 2010.
jkane059 says
Hey
i have to back up and agree with shane!
the mass merhchants and jb can slash their prices on cd and dvds due to the pure fact they have other ways to make up the margin they lose! They also have a stronger buying power with suppliers due to the large amount they purchase
this is not the case for sanity and indepents etc-
and as for singles! from experience working in a music store for almost 6 years, we use to stock every release but all it did was take up space and time to unpack and merchandise!
and im so sick of people complaining about us not stocking them but in their next breath say well i will just lime wire it anyway! ur illegal downloading is the whole reason singles have disappeared
FISHPOP!!!!!!!!! says
” do the teens of today know/appreciate/want the feeling of buying physical cds in a TRUE music store , where the actual people selling the cd’s care about it as much as their own?? I hope I’m proven wrong :)”
I am a teen, and I’d love HMV to return, they knew what they were doing, stocked everything, had singles, great customer service, singles, imported CD’s, had singles, singles, singles… xD
Shane says
JB Hifi’s business model is completely different to HMV / Sanity / Virgin – real music retailers.
JB offers you no frills retailing and margin support from its sales of big ticket items – TVs Computers etc.
REAL music stores don’t have these margin inflated items to depend on to make up a short fall.
I can tell you with all certainty that JB works on a markup of about 20 – 30%.
HMV, Virgin etc try and work on a 50% markup.
While one may think this is large, think of the costs involved in providing a store to customers.
Power, wages, eqiupment, fittings etc etc etc.
Also consider the markups in other industries – Food 300%, Clothing 200%, Alcohol 300%
Everyone complains of being “ripped off” by the music industry – why.
You used to pay $30 for a CD – now you pay a lot less depending.
And that cost included basically paying wages for everyone from the shop staff, head office staff, couriers, packers, pickers, graphic designers, typesetters, producers, writers, artists, CEO’s and on and on and on
JB staff – know nothing about the product they sell – they have 1 music advisor to help everyone with enquiries.
I am off on a rant and must stop.
I guess I just want to point out that at no point have I ever felt ripped off by the music industry due to pricing structures…. but then I guess I have a better understanding of retail and margins and supply chain and the reasons thigns cost what they do.
outoutout says
Oh gosh, I remember the old Pitt St. Mall HMV, back when I lived in Sydney…really miss that place. Nowadays the closest “real” HMV for me is in Singapore. JB-HiFi is good, but they no longer stock singles. I’d love to see HMV back again, especially if they start selling vinyl again. Bring it on!
DBF says
Well, I’ve only ever been to the Melbourne HMV (which isn’t there anymore…?); and to me it always just seemed like a JBHiFi with a larger range, marginally more personality and hugely inflated prices.
What I’m really annoyed about is the death of the independent record store.
A1 says
Wow! Auspop where did you get the scope on that! I havent heard any news as a shareholder from HMV UK, but its been awhile so maybe I haven’t been told as yet..if I DO you will be the first to know!
I was with the HMV Parramatta Westfields Store from almost the beginning in late 1995 to its unfortunate closure in Easter 2008!
The best years by far was 1995 to 2006, probably the peak being 1996 to 2003 before the digital age took off, I swear it was the BEST job ever! Having to have a complete wall i could merchandise JUST SINGLES, yes just singles,a top 40 singles chart, a UK and US top 5, aussie new releases, UK imports, US imports, staff recommends, etc etc singles, singles singles…and that was one brilliant aspect of the job!
I could go on forever about many other great things including the best staff ever to work with all passionate about music BUT lets take the point of the matter, as much as i would love the original HMV to be back , do the teens of today know/appreciate/want the feeling of buying physical cds in a TRUE music store , where the actual people selling the cd’s care about it as much as their own?? I hope I’m proven wrong :)
Anonymous says
fingers crossed that it will return, but yes agree that they have to be competitive, and not overcharge. JB Hi-Fi has such a dominance in the market now, and they are usually more affordable than the Brazin group. I miss going to HMV in Bourke St Melbourne and also the stores at Chadstone & Southland.
Topper says
Your talk of HMV staff knowing and caring for music doesn’t match with my experience with the brand, though admittedly the staff is still miles ahead of Sanity’s employees, most of whom seem to be working in a music store because there wasn’t a job going in fashion.
JB Hi-Fi however has been a revolution in music retail in Australia, as each store’s range must be at least twice as extensive as any HMV’s, catering to “niche” markets such as alternative, independent, jazz, country and hip hop that music fans couldn’t ever count on HMV stocking, or if they did, it was marked the price at $30+ like it was recognition that they’d stocked something rare.
I still buy CDs regularly but haven’t bought anything from HMV for years,and feel that if they weren’t going to update their approach to music retail (limited product and highest prices in the market), then it’s inevitable they would bow out. Although how Sanity keeps plugging along by catering exclusively to people who only buy music as a Xmas / Mother’s Day gift is a mystery…
Metro Groove says
I remember spending many-an-afternoon afterschool at my local hmv in brissie. Loved it so much. And heading into the queen st store was always a special occasion and something i had to save up for cos i always spent a truckload on their imports. When brazin took over, they flushed everything down the crapper. Worst of all, it appears anyone can get a job at sanity, and most of their staff couldnt give a shit about their stock or customers.
Cyber says
The HMV you talk about has been dead for years. As the store it currently is – good riddance.
fishpOp says
I loved HMV, how they stocked everything affordably, imported and knew what they were doing (unlike most people in music retail now).
I really hope they come back, they’ll definitely get me back as a customer, especially if they manage to stock CD singles somehow… even if they are UK imports. :D
Aaron says
I wonder if we’ll get one down here – Sounds AMAZING!
I could really just go insane with someone who’d be willing to import pretty much anything….
Hope it’s true!
James says
Yes – Virgin is also disappearing…