Editing His Master's Voice (section)

== History ==

=== [[The Gramophone Company]] / [[EMI Records]] / [[HMV]] (United Kingdom-based) ===
In early 1899, Francis Barraud applied for copyright of his original 1898 painting using the descriptive working title ''Dog looking at and listening to a Phonograph''. He was unable to sell the work to any cylinder phonograph company.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}} The painting had been originally offered to James Hough, manager of [[Edison Bell]] in London, but he declined, saying "dogs don't listen to phonographs".{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}} 

William Barry Owen, the American founder of the Gramophone Company in England, offered to purchase the painting for £100, under the condition that Barraud modify the [[cylinder phonograph]] to show one of their disc machines.<ref name="New Grove">{{cite book |last1=Rye |first1=Howard |title=The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz |date=2002 |publisher=Grove's Dictionaries Inc. |isbn=1-56159-284-6 |editor1-last=Kernfeld |editor1-first=Barry |edition=2nd |volume=2 |location=New York |page=249}}</ref> Barraud complied and the image was first used on the company's catalogue from December 1899. The company also began using the imagery on its [[Gramophone|gramophones]]. As the trademark gained in popularity, several additional paintings were subsequently commissioned from the Barraud for various corporate purposes.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Nipper Saga |url=https://www.designboom.com/history/nipper.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924073551/http://www.designboom.com/history/nipper.html |archive-date=24 September 2015 |access-date=27 May 2006}}</ref>

In 1909, The Gramophone Company began using the dog and gramophone trademark on its record labels, replacing the former "recording Angel" trademark. The company rapidly became known as [[His Master's Voice (British record label)|His Master's Voice]] due to the prominence of that phrase around the top perimeter of the label. The Gramophone Company (HMV) distributed its recordings throughout Europe and later established dedicated international divisions in several countries. In regions without these divisions, such as [[Scandinavia]] and [[Greece]], the British HMV company exported its releases.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-04-19 |title=His Masters Voice - Catalogue of Records - 1933 by 78rpm Club |url=https://issuu.com/78rpm.club/docs/his_masters_voice_-_catalog_1933 |access-date=2025-03-29 |website=Issuu |language=en}}</ref>

The Gramophone Company created French and Italian versions called [[La Voix de son maître]] and [[La voce del padrone]] respectively after previously forming in these countries in 1901 and 1904.<ref>{{Cite web |title=La Voce del Padrone; Milano manufacturer in I, radio technol {{!}} Radiomuseum.org |url=https://www.radiomuseum.org/dsp_hersteller_detail.cfm?company_id=1965 |access-date=2025-03-29 |website=www.radiomuseum.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Le disque |url=https://gramophone.fr/le-disque/ |access-date=2025-03-29 |website=Gramophone.fr |language=fr-FR}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2009-04-16 |title=LA VOCE DEL PADRONE (1930) |url=http://www.icbsa.it/index.php?it/290/la-voce-del-padrone&show=1&paginate_pageNum=1#img |access-date=2025-03-16 |website=www.icbsa.it}}</ref>

In 1921, The Gramophone Company launched the [[HMV|His Master's Voice]] retail shop on [[Oxford Street]]. Additional shops appeared, turning His Master's Voice into a large music retail chain.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Skinner |first=Tom |date=2022-09-22 |title=HMV launches its own label 1921 Records, announces first signing |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/hmv-launches-its-own-label-1921-records-announces-first-signing-3314984 |access-date=2025-03-16 |website=NME |language=en-GB}}</ref>

In 1925 and 1926, The Gramophone Company created record label divisions in [[EMI Music Australia|Australia]] and [[Universal Music New Zealand|New Zealand]] respectively. Through sales and mergers, the Gramophone Company became part of [[EMI]] in 1931.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Page 13 Record Labels :Howard Friedman MusicWeb-International |url=https://www.musicweb-international.com/friedman/page13.htm |access-date=2025-03-13 |website=www.musicweb-international.com}}</ref>

[[Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft]], the Gramophone Company's German subsidiary, also used the "His Master's Voice" trademark and continued to do so after the company seceded from the parent Gramophone Company in 1914, as a result of the hostilities between Germany and Great Britain during [[World War I]]. DGG retained the "His Master's Voice" trademark for use in Germany until 1949.<ref>{{Cite web |title=History of Deutsche Grammophon |url=https://www.deutschegrammophon.com/en/company/history |access-date=2025-03-16 |website=Deutsche Grammophon |language=en}}</ref>

In 1949, Deutsche Grammophon sold the German rights to the His Master's Voice trademark to [[Electrola]], EMI's affiliated record label in Germany.<ref>{{cite web |title=DG History: The Fifth Decade (1940–1949) |url=http://history.deutschegrammophon.com/en_GB/1940-1949 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161030081117/http://history.deutschegrammophon.com/en_GB/1940-1949 |archive-date=2016-10-30 |access-date=2016-10-29}}</ref>

In the mid-1980s, EMI began to open international HMV retail outlets, but were unable to use the "His Master's Voice" trademark in the United States, Canada or Japan. However, EMI's use of just the "HMV" initials in these regions was permitted.

In 1985, The Gramophone Company India (formed in 1901) was sold from EMI to [[RP-Sanjiv Goenka Group]], however "His Master's Voice" would continue to appear as a record label under a license agreement from EMI, until 2003.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Saregama India Limited {{!}} Businesses |url=https://www.rpsg.in/business/saregama |access-date=2025-03-29 |website=www.rpsg.in}}</ref>

In 1990, EMI began to phase out the His Master's Voice record label, gradually replacing it with the [[EMI Classics]] label in 1993. In 1998, it divested the HMV retailer, which became an independent company, HMV Media Group plc.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brooks2013-01-15T11:27:00 |first=David |title=HMV timeline: Charting the company's history |url=https://www.retail-week.com/hmv-timeline-charting-the-companys-history/5044865.article |access-date=2025-03-13 |website=Retail Week |language=en}}</ref> However, EMI held onto the His Master's Voice intellectual property, licensing the name to the retailer, and continuing it for its only remaining license in India.

In June 2003, the formal His Master's Voice trademark transfer took place from EMI Records to HMV Media Group plc.<ref>{{cite web |title=Trade Mark Details as at 28 February 2013: HMV Group plc |url=http://www.patent.gov.uk/tm/t-find/t-find-number?detailsrequested=H&trademark=1170322 |access-date=28 February 2013 |publisher=Patent.gov.uk}}</ref> This meant that EMI's only remaining license agreement, the His Master's Voice record label in India, would be discontinued, and record releases in this region would be renamed to Saregama from 2003 onwards.

In January 2013, HMV Group plc would later be rescued by [[Hilco Capital]], who retained the "His Master's Voice" trademark rights in a number of continents under the name Mermaid (Brands Limited) when they later sold the HMV stores to [[Sunrise Records]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Butler |first=Sarah |date=2013-01-28 |title=HMV next for Hilco – restructuring expert that preys on dying brands |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2013/jan/28/hmv-hilco-restructuring-expert-downturn |access-date=2025-01-02 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> The rightsholders in some territories is Palm Green Capital Limited, a company based in [[British Virgin Islands]], instead of Hilco Capital.<ref>{{Cite web |title=WIPO Domain Name Decision: D2015-0761 |url=https://www.wipo.int/amc/en/domains/decisions/text/2015/d2015-0761.html |access-date=2025-03-16 |website=www.wipo.int}}</ref>

In February 2013, HMV Group plc sold the HMV stores in Hong Kong and Singapore to AID Partners Capital Limited, which also included the rights to "His Master's Voice" for a select number of Asian countries, currently owned by HMV Brand Pte Ltd.<ref>{{Cite web |title=AID Partners acquires HMV |url=https://www.theasset.com/article/23755/aid-partners-acquires-hmv |access-date=2025-03-16 |website=www.theasset.com |language=en}}</ref>

In May 2025, Hilco Capital / Mermaid (Brands) Limited sold the "His Master's Voice" intellectual property to [[JD Sports]] Fashion plc.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fashion Plc |first=JD Sports |title=UK00000325592 |url=https://trademarks.ipo.gov.uk/ipo-tmcase/page/Results/1/UK00000325592 |url-status=live |access-date=22 May 2025 |website=Intellectual Property Office}}</ref>[[File:HMV, 13-15 Smithford Way, Coventry.jpg|thumb|Following EMI's retirement of the British His Master's Voice record label in 1993, the trademark then became best known in the United Kingdom as the logo for the [[HMV]] entertainment retailer.]]
[[File:VictorTalkingLogo.jpg|thumb|The [[Victor Talking Machine Company]] in the United States used the His Master's Voice trademark from 1901 onwards. The above example is an advertisement from 1921.]]

=== [[Victor Talking Machine Company]] / [[RCA Victor]] (United States-based) ===
In July 1900, [[Emile Berliner]], the inventor of the gramophone, registered the trademark in the United States after seeing the original painting at The Gramophone Company's offices in England.<ref>{{Cite web |title=His Masters' Voice » JaneDogs |url=https://janedogs.com/his-masters-voice/ |access-date=2025-03-15 |website=janedogs.com}}</ref>

The "His Master's Voice" trademark first appeared in the United States in advertising by the Consolidated Talking Machine Company, which was reorganized in 1901 as the [[Victor Talking Machine Company]] in [[Camden, New Jersey]]. Victor was the American affiliate of British Gramophone Company and initially used the trademark more extensively on its products and in advertising than its affiliate in England.

In 1929, the [[Radio Corporation of America]] (RCA) purchased the Victor Talking Machine Company, renaming it the [[RCA Victor]] Division and expanding the use of the trademark on radios, television sets and other electronics.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Meador |first=Granger |date=2023-12-05 |title=Remembering His Master's Voice |url=https://meador.org/2023/12/05/remembering-his-masters-voice/ |access-date=2025-01-02 |website=MEADOR.ORG |language=en}}</ref> However, it would begin to eventually be gradually phased out from the 1950s onwards on consumer electronics, in exchange for the RCA logo instead.

In 1968, RCA introduced a modern logo and limited the appearance of the "His Master's Voice" trademark to the album covers of [[RCA Red Seal Records]]. In October 1976, RCA announced a revival of the "His Master's Voice" trademark, restoring it to most RCA records labels, advertising and other products.

In 1986, the RCA Corporation was acquired by [[General Electric]], and eventually sold the RCA and "His Master's Voice" trademarks to [[Technicolor SA]]. RCA Records was acquired by German media conglomerate, [[Bertelsmann]], which continued to use the "His Master's Voice" and RCA Victor trademarks under license. In May 2022, the RCA and "His Master's Voice" trademarks were acquired by Talisman Brands, Inc.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Vantiva |date=2022-05-31 |title=Technicolor: Closing of the Sale of Trademark Licensing operations |url=https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2022/05/31/2453618/0/en/Technicolor-Closing-of-the-Sale-of-Trademark-Licensing-operations.html |access-date=2025-03-15 |website=GlobeNewswire News Room |language=en}}</ref>

Since 2023, Talisman Brands has licensed the "His Master's Voice" brand to a company called Victor Musical Industries Inc, who produce "His Master's Voice"-branded consumer electronics.<ref>{{Cite web |title=HMV® |url=https://www.hismastersvoice.com |access-date=2025-03-16 |website=HMV® |language=en-US}}</ref>

==== [[JVC]] / [[Victor Entertainment]] / [[JVCKenwood]] (Japan-based) ====
[[File:Shinbashi Victor Bldg. (2007.09.11).jpg|thumb|The "His Master's Voice" trademark appears on the [[JVC|JVC-Victor]] offices in [[Shinbashi]], [[Japan]]. Pictured in September 2007]]
In 1927, the [[Victor Company of Japan|Victor Talking Machine Company of Japan]] was created, which brought the "His Master's Voice" trademark to Japan, and later became known as JVC, the Japan Victor Company. The company used "His Master's Voice" across a wide range of consumer electronics.<ref>{{Cite web |title=JVC Professional History |url=http://pro.jvc.com/prof/aboutus/history.jsp |access-date=2025-03-16 |website=pro.jvc.com}}</ref>

In 1943, JVC seceded from RCA due to the hostilities between Japan and the United States during [[World War II]]. The Japanese division became an independent company, retaining  the "His Master's Voice" trademark for use in Japan.<ref>{{Cite web |title=History of Victor Company of Japan, Limited |url=https://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/victor-company-of-japan-limited-history/ |access-date=2025-03-13 |website=FundingUniverse |language=en}}</ref>

In 1972, JVC created [[Victor Musical Industries]], a distributor of music and film, which uses the "His Master's Voice" logo.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Meador |first=Granger |date=2023-12-05 |title=Remembering His Master’s Voice |url=https://meador.org/2023/12/05/remembering-his-masters-voice/ |access-date=2025-03-16 |website=MEADOR.ORG |language=en}}</ref> Victor Musical Industries has since been renamed to Victor Entertainment, and the "His Master's Voice" logo remains retained.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ビクターエンタテインメント {{!}} Victor Entertainment |url=https://www.jvcmusic.co.jp/pc/ |access-date=2025-03-16 |website=ビクターエンタテインメント {{!}} Victor Entertainment |language=ja}}</ref>

In 1990, [[EMI]] launched the [[HMV]] retailer in Japan, however they were unable to use the Nipper/"His Master's Voice" trademark due to JVC controlling it's use in that country. However, they were not contested to use just the initials, "HMV".<ref>{{Cite web |date=2007-07-31 |title=HMV sells Japan business for £70m |url=https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/149584/HMV-sells-Japan-business-for-70m |access-date=2025-03-16 |website=Tehran Times |language=en}}</ref>

In October 2008, JVC and the [[Kenwood Corporation]] created a joint-venture, [[JVCKenwood]], to create consumer electronics, this venture uses the "His Master's Voice" logo, mainly on audio equipment.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Our Brands |url=https://www.jvckenwood.com/en/corporate/brand/ |access-date=2025-03-16 |website=JVCKENWOOD Corporation |language=en}}</ref>