OpenTube

Why HMV Survived What the Rest Couldn't

HighStreet

16,549 views

In 1921, a dedicated music destination opened on London's Oxford Street under the iconic banner of a terrier listening to a phonograph. But as Silicon Valley's digital streaming revolution systematically dismantled physical media empires, this brick-and-mortar giant was left buried under crushing real estate debts and back-to-back financial collapses. Yet, they’re still here. They bet their entire survival on a forgotten class of collectors, and did the unthinkable, staging a triumphant high street comeback.

👋Hey, I'm Cam. I've always been interested in retail & how business shapes the world around us, and I decided to start this channel and tell these stories! Hope you all enjoy the videos:)

If you want to learn more about myself and the team, check out my website - https://www.frontiermediaco.com

🎬Video Credits:
Narrators - Cam
Editor - Markus
Writers - Jul
Audio - Lyz

Chapters:
0:00 The Ghost on the High Street
1:55 A Dog, A Phonograph, and Oxford Street
6:33 The Illusion of Invincibility
10:53 The Digital Avalanche
14:19 The Second Collapse
17:19 Burning the Corporate Rulebook
18:42 The Pandemic and the Centenary
20:39 The Permanent Revival

20 Comments

@HighStreetYT Creator 2 months ago Pinned

if only other big companies still believed in physical media (hint, hint: sony)

@DestroLock69 1 month ago

gotta love the physical media comeback :face-blue-smiling:

@Terry.W 1 month ago (edited)

So pleased to see youngsters in HMV buying CDs ....and it shows a proper owner can transform a company....Well done Doug Putman for transforming HMV..

@lewishammett3271 1 month ago

HMV closed Oxford street to keep the brand alive, Disney store closed the entire UK map of stores to keep its singular Oxford street location alive

@missycrane86 1 month ago (edited)

I worked in HMV for a few years until about 2006, it was a truly fun place to work and tbh they gave us pretty free reign with what music we could play in there while we worked which was always nice

@ca9968 1 month ago

Digital can never and will never be able to replicate the sound of and feeling of playing a vinyl on a large quality sound rig!

@mecdj 1 month ago

The fact that my two children who stream still buy LP’s and CDs from our local HMV like me says there’s definitely a love of physical formats in 2026 !

@MosherBear 1 month ago

Nothing beats holding a copy of an album that's been out of print for years, or blind buying a CD that gets repeated plays days after. Reading the lyrics, studying the artwork, where it was recorded - all that is lost with streaming.

@andrewbrazier9664 1 month ago

HMV shops also diversified into gaming merch.

@fashionicon1972 1 month ago

nothing better, as a cd buyer, shopping in hmvs in different uk cities, ITS AWESOME, TKS DOUG

@ChrisBoot 1 month ago

I've always been physical media first, just need the gaming industry to understand the concept next!

@roadmantop3769 1 month ago

There is an analogue revolution growing. Very similar rescue plan to Waterstones- Thanks for the Vid

@discogareth 1 month ago

The fact that Mike Ashley could have bought them is chilling. Look what he did to House Of Fraser.

@MantaRochenHL 1 month ago

Every time I visit the UK I have to track down some Blu-ray's at hmv. Thanks to this video I found out that they opened stores in The Netherlands as well. Thank you so much!

@LeonKennedy9348 1 month ago

I’m grateful HMV are still around, last year I met the former little mix front woman Perrie Edwards. I never thought I’d meet her someday and HMV gave me the opportunity to achieve it. Big up HMV.

@cresshead 1 month ago

Owning stuff actually matters

@Night_Rider97 1 month ago

Finally a success story from the modern high street landscape but it concerns me that HMV won't be able to keep up with inflation as the prices of CDs and particularly vinyl are going up and it's my worry about people going to the internet to buy CDs as the cost of luxury items keeps going up. It's my hope Doug Putman can keep the boat afloat.

@DoctorVision 1 month ago

I was devastated when I first heard they had gone into administration. But I'm so glad they have survived. When I was a student in Birmingham, HMV was the first shop I'd see in the Bullring on my way through so I'd always go in and have a browse if I had time. Music wasn't really my thing but DVDs/Blu-rays were so I was like a kid in a sweet shop. I wouldn't always buy something but I got great satisfaction from going round the aisles and picking up DVDs that interested me which would then inform my decision if I decided to make a purchase later down the line. Digital is all well and good but it can't replicate that kind of experience.