Imminent demise of HMV?
Mon, Dec 17 2012, 9:39PM
#2
RE: Imminent demise of HMV?
...to convert Universal's FLAC downloads to something I can play from the PC
I use Winamp to play FLACs without needing to convert.
Mon, Dec 17 2012, 10:33PM
#3
RE: Imminent demise of HMV?
Thanks, Bazza I'll look into that.
Tue, Dec 18 2012, 11:02PM
#4
RE: Imminent demise of HMV?
It's sad the way that this once good shop has declined. Now in Peterborough, the best classical music retailer is usually Oxfam. I'm not sure that if I'd been managing hmv, I would have done any better.
The bottom has fallen out of the cd market - and indeed out of many sorts of bricks and mortar stores. CDs are ideal for posting, downloads are even easier. The thing is, some of my more interesting cds are the result of serendipity, and spotting something when just browsing. That can happen on the web, but I find that my brain gets numbed by long lists of words.
Even music lovers I know buy few cds - almost none of the choir I sing in.
The best CD shop locally for me is David's books in Letchworth, a little treasure trove. They have made big cuts though, but the staff still remain helpful.
Wed, Dec 19 2012, 9:07PM
#5
RE: Imminent demise of HMV?
It's sad the way that this once good shop has declined. Now in Peterborough, the best classical music retailer is usually Oxfam. I'm not sure that if I'd been managing hmv, I would have done any better.
The bottom has fallen out of the cd market - and indeed out of many sorts of bricks and mortar stores. CDs are ideal for posting, downloads are even easier. The thing is, some of my more interesting cds are the result of serendipity, and spotting something when just browsing. That can happen on the web, but I find that my brain gets numbed by long lists of words.
Even music lovers I know buy few cds - almost none of the choir I sing in.
The best CD shop locally for me is David's books in Letchworth, a little treasure trove. They have made big cuts though, but the staff still remain helpful.
Phlogiston,
Will you be attending their next trivia event? ;--)
It looks like a neat shop (from what I can see online). How are their prices?
Well, I just did my first download today (as the item was unavailable on CD). Glad to have the music, but I must admit that I prefer having the physical object myself. I did burn a copy of it though ( 1) In case something happens to my computer, and 2) I want to be able to listen to it on my stereo system.
Best wishes and an early "Merry, Merry!" Oops! I guess I should say "Happy, Happy!" ;--)
Petra
Thu, Dec 20 2012, 1:33PM
#6
RE: Imminent demise of HMV?
I think they could start by turning the volume down, and perhaps making themselves more attractive to people with differing music tastes. Not just classical but other (non Pop/Rock) music types. I remember a Blues Fan in an HMV Leeds shop getting very irate.
The marketing strategy is clearly aimed at the younger generation which is always a bad financial idea, and they are the ones most likely to use modern download techniques. Somebody going into the shop to buy Katherine Jenkins' Greatest Hits is likely to do precisely just that, and not stay to browse for a bit then try out the one single copy of Rattle's Bruckner's 9.
Fri, Dec 21 2012, 9:46PM
#7
RE: Imminent demise of HMV?
Phlogiston,
Will you be attending their next trivia event? ;--)
It looks like a neat shop (from what I can see online). How are their prices?
Well, I just did my first download today (as the item was unavailable on CD). Glad to have the music, but I must admit that I prefer having the physical object myself. I did burn a copy of it though ( 1) In case something happens to my computer, and 2) I want to be able to listen to it on my stereo system.
Best wishes and an early "Merry, Merry!" Oops! I guess I should say "Happy, Happy!" ;--)
Petra
Hope you're enjoying the download. David's is an hour's drive each way - need to have a reason to go there.
Home burnt cds are more prone to deterioration than the commercially made ones. Worth checking it for moths and worms every so often.
P
Sat, Dec 22 2012, 1:14AM
#8
RE: Imminent demise of HMV?
Phlogiston,
Will you be attending their next trivia event? ;--)
It looks like a neat shop (from what I can see online). How are their prices?
Well, I just did my first download today (as the item was unavailable on CD). Glad to have the music, but I must admit that I prefer having the physical object myself. I did burn a copy of it though ( 1) In case something happens to my computer, and 2) I want to be able to listen to it on my stereo system.
Best wishes and an early "Merry, Merry!" Oops! I guess I should say "Happy, Happy!" ;--)
Petra
Hope you're enjoying the download. David's is an hour's drive each way - need to have a reason to go there.
Home burnt cds are more prone to deterioration than the commercially made ones. Worth checking it for moths and worms every so often.
P
Hi Phlogiston! Sorry to hear that the shop that you enjoy is so far away. How would you describe their prices over all?
And regarding my CDs from downloads....check! Will do. Rather scary to think of deterioration however! :-(
In any event, I'm delighted to hear the performances!
Best wishes to you and yours in this holiday season.....,
Petra
Sun, Dec 23 2012, 12:07PM
#9
RE: Imminent demise of HMV?
David's of Letchworth tends to be pricey for new stuff, although they ften have a handy bargain rack and an extensive second hand section (with lots of vinyl as well as CD).
Have a good Christmas Petra.
It's still sounding dodgy for hmv. Mrs P's Christmas dvds came from them though.
Best wishes
P
Tue, Jan 22 2013, 2:43AM
#10
RE: Imminent demise of HMV?
The Dussman store is owned by a very wealthy family of music lovers and I would be surprised if it makes a profit. Family patriarch Peter Dussman was a leading patron of the Staatsoper Unter den Linden.
Thu, Jan 24 2013, 3:16PM
#11
RE: Imminent demise of HMV?
I would say this particular demise has been "imminent" for most of the past 10 years - smarter operators got out much quicker. Virgin was always pretty ruthless about cutting adrift, and their buyout successors soon collapsed. If you were anywhere out of range of a big city, even attempting to buy classical items at the HMV on your High Street was a depressing experience - stores never seemed to want to do more than sell what the wholesaler wanted them to, and the part time kids who ran the counters usually had "issues" with the computers which put them in touch with even that. When HMV finally went online, they couldn't even devise a simple way to order, and when they got things wrong, showed no interest in putting anything right. No-one wanted to manage. Even in the big city stores, staff had ceased to care. They were a sitting target for the latest generation of asset strippers. Of course it's sad. How long will it take the electronic market to go the same way? And will we be as sad when it does?
Fri, Feb 8 2013, 5:15PM
#12
RE: Imminent demise of HMV?
There have been some very cogent comments made about HMV's demise, both here and in the blogs. Still, it's sad to see that, having just earlier today made a visit to the Manchester store, with its more than decent classical section, that it is to close.
It is also featured in tonight's Manchester Evening News. The administrators arrived for talks yesterday - 'talks' probably being a euphemism for scanning of accounts and solemn shaking of heads.
The stock as you would expect is now flying off the shelves at 25% off for much of the classical section.
BUT in what might be good news hopefully, the administrators have said that the decision to close 66 loss-making stores has been taken to secure the business' future as a going concern...
Mark
Fri, Feb 8 2013, 5:27PM
#13
RE: Imminent demise of HMV?
..... And have you seen the recent news that Warner Classics is buying out EMI Classics and Virgin classics. I wonder whether that is good news or not for future recording. They've virtually stopped recording on their existing classical labels. Fingers crossed time - more in hope than expectation perhaps.
I have the same experience as Eliza: a town I used to shop at regularly had HMV & Virgin both with good separate depts for classical & jazz where one wasn't bombarded with loud pop music. I used to enjoy a good browse and have many fine recordings I bought on spec and perhaps wouldn't have come accross or ordered by mail - that's what I miss. HMV had helpful staff and were generally good at ordering and searching out unusual items. The last time I visited it was just their own label, a few Naxos and the usual "crossover" artists.
Having been successfully using the Chandos download shop for a year or so with their excellent system which puts the music straight into Windows media player the future for me will be downloads provided they are lossless, especially now I've mastered Media Monkey to convert Universal's FLAC downloads to something I can play from the PC or burn my own CDs.
Does anyone know of a source of lossless downloads from the EMI catalogue though?