Editing HMV (section)

== Defunct international operations ==
=== Australia (1989–2010) ===
In 1989, HMV established its first Australian shop in the [[Sydney]] suburb of [[Parramatta]], closely followed by a second in [[Chatswood, New South Wales|Chatswood]] in the same year.{{citation needed|date=November 2020}} In 1990, HMV opened its [[flagship]] shop in the [[Sydney central business district]].{{citation needed|date=November 2020}} The 1,207-square-metre superstore in [[Pitt Street Mall]] was the largest music shop in the Southern Hemisphere and sold more CDs than any other shop in the country.{{citation needed|date=November 2020}} It was also awarded the [[ARIA Charts]] Store of the Year on three occasions.{{citation needed|date=November 2020}} By 1998, a further 27 shops were opened in key retail centres on the eastern seaboard of Australia, including other large units at [[Melbourne]]'s [[Bourke Street|Bourke Street Mall]] and [[Brisbane]]'s 585-square-meter [[Queen Street Mall]] shop.<ref>{{cite web |title=Superbrands: HMV Australia |url=http://superbrands.com.au/index.php/volumes/volume-2/79-volumes/volume-2/254-hmv-vol-2 |access-date=21 June 2012 |publisher=Superbrands.com}}</ref>

In March 2000, HMV made local headlines when its larger rival, [[Sanity (music store)|Sanity]], signed a five-year deal with [[Festival Mushroom Records]] for a three-year online exclusivity window on all tracks downloaded from that label at Sanity's website.{{citation needed|date=November 2020}} Sanity's competitors and other online services were meant to be blocked from Festival Mushroom's catalogue for that period unless Sanity agreed to deal with them. [[Chaos.com]] and [[Leading Edge Group|Leading Edge Music]] both made public threats to boycott Festival Mushroom's content, but HMV Australia (whose website did not offer downloading) followed through, removing all CDs from their Australian shops, adding they would do the same overseas. By the next week, Festival Mushroom backed down, stating Sanity would simply be the wholesaler of their digital downloads for the next three years, requiring them to make all products available to other retailers at the time of release.<ref>{{cite web |title=News Corp Unit, Sainty.com Plan Online Deal |url=http://www.telecompaper.com/news/news-corp-unit-sanitycom-plan-online-deal |access-date=21 June 2012 |publisher=Telecompaper}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Adcock |first=Bronwyn |date=9 March 2000 |title=ABC Radio PM: HMV boycotts the Festival Mushroom Group |url=http://www.abc.net.au/pm/stories/s108985.htm |access-date=21 June 2012 |work=[[PM (Australian radio program)|PM]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Donovan |first=Patrick |date=17 March 2000 |title=New Deal Sounds Better To Retailers |url=http://www.downloadsongs.com.au/download-songs-articles/2000/3/17/new-deal-sounds-better-to-retailers/ |access-date=21 June 2012 |work=[[The Age]]}}</ref>

In October 2005, Sanity's owner, Brazin Limited acquired the Australian operations of HMV for A$4 million (£1.7 million). The HMV Group's agreement with Brazin was to phase out the HMV brand in Australia by 2010. Immediately after this acquisition of HMV's 32 outlets, this put Brazin at its peak with its 74 [[Virgin Megastore]] and Virgin At Myer stores, in addition to Sanity's 215, and [[EzyDVD]]'s 63 outlets around the country (not counting non-entertainment retail chains within Brazin, such as [[Bras N Things]]) and was by far Australia's largest entertainment retailer with close to 43% of the music retail market. However, most HMV shops in Australia had very high overhead costs due to their large footprints and expensive locations, thus most were gradually closed upon the end of rental leases. The remaining shops were re-branded to Sanity over the next five years.<ref>{{cite news |date=28 September 2005 |title=Brazin to buy HMV music stores for $4m |url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/Business/Brazin-to-buy-HMV-music-stores-for-4m/2005/09/28/1127804540782.html |access-date=21 June 2012 |work=[[Sydney Morning Herald]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last=Eliezer |first=Christie |date=28 September 2005 |title=HMV Sells Australian Stores To Brazin |url=http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/others/hmv-sells-australian-stores-to-brazin-1001217713.story |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130219181810/http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/others/hmv-sells-australian-stores-to-brazin-1001217713.story |archive-date=19 February 2013 |access-date=23 January 2013 |magazine=Billboard}}</ref> The [[horizontal merger]] was approved by the [[Australian Competition & Consumer Commission]] the same month, leaving Brazin to merge marketing and general operations within the one entertainment division.{{citation needed|date=November 2020}} Also in October, Brazin launched its Pulse [[Loyalty program|loyalty card]] after a year of testing in the market. It worked by giving the customer one point for every dollar spent across Brazin's shop network, receiving a $5 discount voucher or other offers once 100 points were reached.<ref>{{cite web |date=17 October 2005 |title=Visible Results Solution, "Australian Retail's Most Innovative And Dynamic Customer Loyalty Program" Says Brazin Limited CEO |url=http://www.visibleresults.com/about/articles_pr/pr_article_028.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130520072619/http://www.visibleresults.com/about/articles_pr/pr_article_028.htm |archive-date=20 May 2013 |access-date=2 September 2013 |publisher=Visible Results}}</ref>

By December 2006, HMV had shrunk to 22 outlets from its peak of 32 the year before.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Eliezer |first=Christie |date=11 December 2006 |title=Brazin Data Returns To Aus Charts |url=http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/others/brazin-data-returns-to-aus-charts-1003495396.story |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130115033204/http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/others/brazin-data-returns-to-aus-charts-1003495396.story |archive-date=15 January 2013 |access-date=23 January 2013 |magazine=Billboard}}</ref>

At the end of August 2007, HMV's Australian flagship shop in Pitt Street Mall was closed, when the [[MidCity|Mid City Centre]] shopping centre it was located in was closed for renovation, and the large Bourke Street Mall shop closed on 19 February 2008.{{citation needed|date=November 2020}} By mid-2010, the last HMV shop was closed in Brisbane by Sanity, and the last re-branded HMV shop trading as Sanity closed at [[Indooroopilly Shopping Centre]] in December 2012.{{citation needed|date=November 2020}}

The defunct HMV brand in Australia remains owned by Hilco Capital.

=== France (1990s) ===
In the 1990s, HMV attempted to launch in France, but faced severe competition from [[Fnac]] and [[Virgin Megastores]], as well as [[Hypermarket|hypermarkets]]. The trial French stores only lasted around six months.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2013-01-09 |title=Virgin France files for bankruptcy |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-20965566 |access-date=2025-03-21 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref>

=== Germany (1990s–2000s) ===
As of April 1998, HMV traded in Germany as HMV Tonträger GmbH, with the business later closed in the 2000s.<ref name=":1" /> The defunct HMV brand in Germany is owned by Hilco Capital.

=== Hong Kong and Singapore (1990s–2010s) ===
[[File:HKElementsHMV_20071026.jpg|thumb|HMV shop in the [[Elements, Hong Kong|Elements]], Kowloon, Hong Kong, in 2007.]]
In 1994, HMV opened its first store in Hong Kong at Windsor House, 311 [[Gloucester Road, Hong Kong|Gloucester Road]]. Following this, HMV expanded into new shopping malls across the region. The [[Tsim Sha Tsui]] flagship store, located at the corner of Peking Road and Hankow Road, was the largest record shop in the territory.<ref>{{cite news |date=16 January 2013 |title=音樂專業程度大不如前; HMV申請破產 4350員工恐失業 |url=http://hk.apple.nextmedia.com/news/art/20130116/18136023 |access-date=17 January 2013 |newspaper=Apple Daily |publisher=Next Media |location=Hong Kong |language=zh}}</ref>

In Singapore, HMV was the second international music store established after [[Tower Records]], which eventually closed. HMV operated a store at Marina Square, and previously had locations at 313@Somerset (which replaced a former shop at The Heeren) and the CityLink underground mall. HMV's pricing was generally higher than independent stores and local chains like Gramophone and That CD Shop, but it was the only retailer in Singapore to sell a variety of products, including games, T-shirts, books, and audio gear, alongside music and video.{{citation needed|date=April 2025}}

In the 2000s, HMV Hong Kong partnered with Commercial Radio Hong Kong, renaming one of their channels HMV864 and broadcasting it in all HMV stores in the city. HMV Hong Kong was known for higher prices compared to independent record shops, particularly on non-promotional items. The Hong Kong stores were the second globally, after the UK, to introduce in-store digital kiosks, and the first in Asia. Initially, HMV Hong Kong used the same stylized gramophone logo as HMV Japan but later switched to the Nipper the Dog logo used by HMV UK, minus the gramophone.

On 28 February 2013, Deloitte announced that Hong Kong-based private equity firm AID Partners Capital Holdings had acquired HMV's businesses in Hong Kong and Singapore, as well as the rights to the HMV brand in China, Singapore and Taiwan.<ref name="Asia2">{{cite news |date=28 February 2013 |title=HMV administrators sell Asia shops |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-21615806 |access-date=26 February 2013 |newspaper=BBC News Online}}</ref> HMV's 313@Somerset store in Singapore closed in November 2013, and the CityLink store closed earlier.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Zaccheus |first=Hoe Pei Shan Melody |date=2013-09-29 |title=HMV to close outlet in Somerset, shift business to Marina Square store |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/hmv-to-close-outlet-in-somerset-shift-business-to-marina-square-store |access-date=2024-09-09 |work=The Straits Times |language=en |issn=0585-3923}}</ref>

In September 2015, HMV closed its last Singapore store.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Luis |first1=Ernest |last2=Lim |first2=Jessica |date=30 September 2015 |title=HMV Singapore closes last outlet: Timeline of HMV's history |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/entertainment/hmv-singapore-closes-last-outlet-timeline-of-hmvs-history |newspaper=The Straits Times}}</ref>

By 21 March 2016, China 3D Digital Entertainment Limited acquired HMV Hong Kong operations from AID Partners Capital Limited, later renamed to HMV Digital China Group Limited.{{citation needed|date=November 2020}}

In December 2018, the Hong Kong operations, which included four stores and an HMV-themed restaurant, were closed.<ref>{{Cite web |date=18 December 2018 |title=Shoppers turned away as HMV winds up 25-year-old Hong Kong retail chain |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/2178457/shoppers-turned-away-hmv-winds-25-year-old-hong |access-date=5 August 2019 |website=South China Morning Post}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=19 December 2018 |title=HMV to close all Hong Kong physical retail stores |url=https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/hmv-to-close-all-hong-kong-physical-retail-stores/ |website=Music Business Worldwide}}</ref>

As of May 2023, a company called HMV Brand Pte. Ltd. retains ownership of the defunct "HMV" and "His Master's Voice" brand across Hong Kong and Singapore, as well as various other Asian countries.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The fight for Nipper: takeaways from HMV's trademark battle in Singapore |url=https://www.worldtrademarkreview.com/article/the-fight-nipper-takeaways-hmvs-trademark-battle-in-singapore |access-date=2024-09-09 |website=www.worldtrademarkreview.com |language=en}}</ref>

=== Qatar (2015–2022) ===
In July 2015, it was announced that HMV had struck a deal with the Qatar-based company, Al Mana Lifestyle, for fifteen stores across Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman and the United Arab Emirates. There were also plans for Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia and Morocco.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hillyard |first=Kim |date=2015-07-13 |title=HMV to open 15 stores in the Middle East |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/nme-470-1216640 |access-date=2024-12-29 |website=NME |language=en-GB}}</ref> However, none of these plans came to fruition, and only one HMV store in Qatar's Al Mirqab mall was opened, which later closed in 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-07-12 |title=HMV expands into the Middle East |url=https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/hmv-expands-into-the-middle-east/ |access-date=2024-12-29 |website=Music Business Worldwide |language=en-US}}</ref> The Al Mana Lifestyle Trading company retain the rights to the HMV brand across Qatar and Oman, whereas the rights to HMV in other Middle East regions, such as the United Arab Emirates, is owned by Palm Green Capital Limited.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Palm Green Capital Limited HMV Retail Limited v GEECOM (Full Decision _Transfer), [2013] DRS 13248 {{!}} Nominet UK Dispute Resolution Service, Judgment, Law, casemine.com |url=https://www.casemine.com/judgement/uk/5a938ce660d03e601f9721b4 |access-date=2024-12-29 |website=www.casemine.com |language=en}}</ref>

=== United States (1990s–2004) ===
In the 1990s, the chain expanded into the United States, opening several stores along the East Coast, including a prominent flagship location in Manhattan.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=House |first=Companies |date=25 April 1998 |title=HMV Media Group plc Report and Accounts |url=https://s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/document-api-images-live.ch.gov.uk/docs/jerlPqBlkEO6Au3aJfPw2UCIFrRXK_b_XUgDxxJbwr4/application-pdf?X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&X-Amz-Credential=ASIAWRGBDBV3KXY3MYJR%2F20240909%2Feu-west-2%2Fs3%2Faws4_request&X-Amz-Date=20240909T115336Z&X-Amz-Expires=60&X-Amz-Security-Token=IQoJb3JpZ2luX2VjEDAaCWV1LXdlc3QtMiJGMEQCIG8oj9nfx3B3bHdHgc8fo%2FPycIGdtPkueEuld1yl9fH0AiBatgq%2BJiPxoma%2FzX0NEg5jwYP5dLQELIBHMD6EIANDvCq6BQhZEAUaDDQ0OTIyOTAzMjgyMiIMFNVj63Ty9BMdQf4MKpcFSoUCQyFB4dD5q%2BdYmmJkJbWG7DgcogPdtZCBXBjmn8uMEoTAfLOFcCGn76l7cLpEU%2FbcM2z2FO5iyq6jW37fzvVuVjfgMzuMgVr1OTRdGm5hcxbxEKkHiiwztTquK8Qj5lw5QhwqbjOepr6Aj6esiGSn%2FKS3u%2BsG5eSwUxuQtm7kKlP%2BsFimzKjjcBi5N022lnYIGrJFZDGJjch%2FVrTS7RP%2FCRHIq%2FM%2Fo%2B37UGI5%2B3N80uQx9snWZrhVWciqqHwnQYI4I9Qe7Gb9GSRUW4He4lo%2FJTMQVOZFhaMHHcbtCVCfAAE5WVqAP1jy%2FxVJmt9WMNBxlyyQsb29c0MKXsfqVrUgO4l%2F6JULsEntTu8Tfs7%2BxSXdFDDd8db08W7j8cQag%2BWtS5rLfb3BAlguR04QSlJdV6XVPspH29WJGxiyUSSNzhXA73u015njINkcScLSqTIHb3HptVT1b5UI0Uc6EJIPFLGNYVSXkZv1oFvdfNunMV5273zkyvCNwMHHs9utIg3G4%2FU5gPSL8uMeL0pq0ONlLJ1CahfMoTpLKoJYj7VgmKNblgTbcRuLGKkck%2BbNr2I3A59dcane811PihbwolvqSD%2Fr3vSHLnBTdZxQuftoJ4ZcAfuBsbyYjVaTT3Y61vbnZJAa8X%2BwmG9wkW2TaQVmd3G4IPRCYlWP24jaFwqJ9HU8hHL1UkKmAlNG7nxfZkjo%2BSzxhfhbuUR71XLZwxllU5yC%2BMvwDjkVtOE9O%2Fj4%2Bh7odrby7KLNYg4Ke9RAWniCC8bEaFaR4dkrj5xtcWdmJbzf2h%2FNmHYATFUuVQpKodBtYTbni4vQNw3tBBzF9W0gqJyXsAc47%2BEqiX5E3pA6bUa0ES5Y7Z1WXAVuQcx0YNxLdkpcMMLW%2BrYGOrIBIB4qGOJ9FYdR6jLhR0i%2Fno2ajst6sAyaOgavYLk91Eg6UlqJ24Lkeav3AFdK3I9th8JedxsOLo%2BOUNqcfVCZoHFiaFvvKnfwVjZDLgaVO4EW9y3rYXxN%2BnFKSVDFdF%2BjYwGqOZVfr0J4SmfxbL8INtRc9uRE8fx44EjQtaA7TSj73ufoKWMAhviqFOEIZ6E8jtanEEGLSJ4v4scjVrjcQ%2BiJ3o73V6aZrdWAGObJbW861w%3D%3D&X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host&response-content-disposition=inline%3Bfilename%3D"companies_house_document.pdf"&X-Amz-Signature=d3b726a4b3a62ecc59e490055a2c60d0e80bec83c74cdb668ed327ab80073b83 |access-date=9 September 2024 |website=Companies House}}</ref> Similar to Canada, EMI in the U.S. did not have rights to use "His Master's Voice"; as this trademark is owned by [[RCA (trademark)|RCA]]. Though, HMV in the U.S. was not prevented from using just the "HMV" initials by themselves.<ref>{{Cite web |last=House |first=Companies |date=24 April 1999 |title=HMV Media Group plc Report and Accounts |url=https://s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/document-api-images-live.ch.gov.uk/docs/z4mfKxpCTG4aEmV4YD7KrhIhFCQ--wiqfWMZTXvYvZc/application-pdf?X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&X-Amz-Credential=ASIAWRGBDBV3KXY3MYJR%2F20240909%2Feu-west-2%2Fs3%2Faws4_request&X-Amz-Date=20240909T115945Z&X-Amz-Expires=60&X-Amz-Security-Token=IQoJb3JpZ2luX2VjEDAaCWV1LXdlc3QtMiJGMEQCIG8oj9nfx3B3bHdHgc8fo%2FPycIGdtPkueEuld1yl9fH0AiBatgq%2BJiPxoma%2FzX0NEg5jwYP5dLQELIBHMD6EIANDvCq6BQhZEAUaDDQ0OTIyOTAzMjgyMiIMFNVj63Ty9BMdQf4MKpcFSoUCQyFB4dD5q%2BdYmmJkJbWG7DgcogPdtZCBXBjmn8uMEoTAfLOFcCGn76l7cLpEU%2FbcM2z2FO5iyq6jW37fzvVuVjfgMzuMgVr1OTRdGm5hcxbxEKkHiiwztTquK8Qj5lw5QhwqbjOepr6Aj6esiGSn%2FKS3u%2BsG5eSwUxuQtm7kKlP%2BsFimzKjjcBi5N022lnYIGrJFZDGJjch%2FVrTS7RP%2FCRHIq%2FM%2Fo%2B37UGI5%2B3N80uQx9snWZrhVWciqqHwnQYI4I9Qe7Gb9GSRUW4He4lo%2FJTMQVOZFhaMHHcbtCVCfAAE5WVqAP1jy%2FxVJmt9WMNBxlyyQsb29c0MKXsfqVrUgO4l%2F6JULsEntTu8Tfs7%2BxSXdFDDd8db08W7j8cQag%2BWtS5rLfb3BAlguR04QSlJdV6XVPspH29WJGxiyUSSNzhXA73u015njINkcScLSqTIHb3HptVT1b5UI0Uc6EJIPFLGNYVSXkZv1oFvdfNunMV5273zkyvCNwMHHs9utIg3G4%2FU5gPSL8uMeL0pq0ONlLJ1CahfMoTpLKoJYj7VgmKNblgTbcRuLGKkck%2BbNr2I3A59dcane811PihbwolvqSD%2Fr3vSHLnBTdZxQuftoJ4ZcAfuBsbyYjVaTT3Y61vbnZJAa8X%2BwmG9wkW2TaQVmd3G4IPRCYlWP24jaFwqJ9HU8hHL1UkKmAlNG7nxfZkjo%2BSzxhfhbuUR71XLZwxllU5yC%2BMvwDjkVtOE9O%2Fj4%2Bh7odrby7KLNYg4Ke9RAWniCC8bEaFaR4dkrj5xtcWdmJbzf2h%2FNmHYATFUuVQpKodBtYTbni4vQNw3tBBzF9W0gqJyXsAc47%2BEqiX5E3pA6bUa0ES5Y7Z1WXAVuQcx0YNxLdkpcMMLW%2BrYGOrIBIB4qGOJ9FYdR6jLhR0i%2Fno2ajst6sAyaOgavYLk91Eg6UlqJ24Lkeav3AFdK3I9th8JedxsOLo%2BOUNqcfVCZoHFiaFvvKnfwVjZDLgaVO4EW9y3rYXxN%2BnFKSVDFdF%2BjYwGqOZVfr0J4SmfxbL8INtRc9uRE8fx44EjQtaA7TSj73ufoKWMAhviqFOEIZ6E8jtanEEGLSJ4v4scjVrjcQ%2BiJ3o73V6aZrdWAGObJbW861w%3D%3D&X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host&response-content-disposition=inline%3Bfilename%3D"companies_house_document.pdf"&X-Amz-Signature=535874c0b24131610fc804e66ab86bd21bf52a60e12420a7dee5c50033b319a6 |access-date=9 September 2024 |website=Companies House}}</ref>

HMV in the U.S. faced significant competition from rivals such as [[Tower Records]], [[FYE (retailer)|FYE]] and [[Virgin Megastores]]. The final shop in the United States, having lost £500,000 in 2003 and £1 million in 2004, closed on 3 November 2004.<ref>{{cite web |date=17 January 2005 |title=Operating Review |url=http://www.hmvgroup.com/files/923/HMV_Interim_2004.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061102110328/http://www.hmvgroup.com/files/923/HMV_Interim_2004.pdf |archive-date=2 November 2006 |access-date=30 December 2006 |work=Interim Report 2004 |publisher=HMV Group |pages=[http://www.hmvgroup.com/files/923/HMV_Interim_2004.pdf#page=6 pp. 3–4] |quote=...HMV USA, where the last store of which closed on 3 November 2004."; "...a £1.0m loss last year and £0.8m of losses made in HMV USA in the prior year...}}</ref>

From November 2004, HMV Canada maintained the defunct HMV trademark in the United States until it expired in November 2015.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Trademark Status & Document Retrieval |url=https://tsdr.uspto.gov/#caseNumber=73771538&caseSearchType=US_APPLICATION&caseType=DEFAULT&searchType=statusSearch |access-date=2025-03-13 |website=tsdr.uspto.gov}}</ref> In April 2021, "HMV" was registered by Victor Musical Industries Inc. for sound equipment retailing.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Trademark Status & Document Retrieval |url=https://tsdr.uspto.gov/#caseNumber=90679293&caseSearchType=US_APPLICATION&caseType=DEFAULT&searchType=statusSearch |access-date=2025-03-13 |website=tsdr.uspto.gov}}</ref>