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- Behind the music: Why we need HMV
People may view the decline of HMV as inevitable – but store closures will hurt independent labels more than the majors
Yesterday, HMV announced it will close 40 (almost 1 in 10) of its high street stores, due to a drop in profits over Christmas. The decline in CD sales has been attributed to severe weather, competition from online retailers such as Amazon, and illegal downloading. I'm sure the recession hasn't helped either. The news came on the same day as the record industry published figures showing a drop in album sales for the sixth year running. And a happy new year to you too.
There is no doubt that physical album sales are on the decline in the age of downloads, resulting in record store closures, both independent ones and chains such as Virgin Megastores (later Zavvi) and Tower Records. HMV has survived by diversifying into accessories, video games and clothing.
But the decline in physical record sales has been greater in other countries. It is clear from yesterday's reports that while sales of CDs fell 12.4% in the UK, the US saw sales slide by nearly 20%. Have Americans fallen out of love with CDs more than the Brits? In many US cities it's difficult to find a record store. The last US HMV closed five years ago, Tower Records stopped trading soon after, and the last Virgin Megastore finally closed its doors 18 months ago. You may find a CD section in consumer electronic stores such as Best Buy or at Walmart, but the selection doesn't stray far beyond the top 40.
Compared to the US (and my native Sweden), the UK hasn't done that badly. In fact, while combined digital and physical album sales fell by 12.8% in the States, they only fell by 7% here. If the glass is half full when it comes to albums, it's even fuller when it comes to singles – up by 1% in the US compared to 5.9% in the UK. True, revenue from recorded music in the UK is still in decline, but it could be worse.
The HMV store closures will hurt independent labels more than the majors. Alex Fitzpatrick of metal and hardcore label Holy Roar told NME that HMV is the only physical place remaining where indie albums "cross over from more hardcore to the more casual fan". Independent labels such as Wichita still make most of their sales from HMV stores – not independent shops such as Rough Trade.
If this all spells a slow death for physical records, I'm not one of the people ready to dance on their grave. MP3s are not only inferior in sound quality, but with digital downloads we lose the impact of the cover artwork and, more importantly, the album credits. Knowing who wrote the music, produced it, played on the record – even who mastered it – is important to me (and the people whose hard work went into making it). All of this creates an even stronger emotional connection to the music.
Yes, HMV has seen a drop in profits, but it doesn't mean the company is in the red. A couple of years ago, HMV increased its stake in the Mama group as well as the Lovebox festival, while last summer the company's chief executive told the Guardian it had made a "huge bet on Live" to offset the decline in CD sales. But if HMV stops stocking music that falls outside of the top 40, it could spell even less risk-taking by record labels – and, without investment in new artists, who will draw big enough crowds in the future to make that bet pay off?
guardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2011 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More FeedsПереслать - Readers recommend: songs about modernity
Since this column has gone 100% digital, we'd like you to suggest songs that celebrate the here and now
As readers of the Guardian's print edition may have noticed, our Readers Recommend column has bowed out of the Film & Music section. But don't worry, RR will still be making its weekly appearance on the music blog so hopefully the change won't adversely affect you, or any member of the community that makes the feature what it is.
It will, however, affect me. I'm genuinely honoured – awed, even – to be taking over as curator of Readers Recommend, and following in the illustrious footsteps of Maddy Costa, Rob Fitzpatrick, Dorian Lynskey and Paul MacInnes. I can't wait to discover some great new music courtesy of the Readers Recommend hive mind.
So, best foot forward. And since this column has cast off its worldly apparel and is now 100% digital, here's an appropriate first theme for Readers Recommend in its new guise: modernity.
Your well-argued suggestions, please. Which songs best celebrate (or perhaps lament) the new, the here and now, the bang-up-to-date? This needn't mean music from 2011: the concept of modernity is, of course, nothing new.
You have until midday on Tuesday to post your suggestions, since we're no longer tied to a print deadline (I will, however, need time to listen to your suggestions). And next Friday I'll reveal the top 20 choices. In other words, I'll be merging the A-list and B-list into a definitive playlist.
The rules
* Do try to justify your choices. Tell us why your songs should make the playlist.
* Don't post more than one third of the lyrics of any song.
* Don't just list your nominations.
* Your toolbox: Archive, the Marconium, the Spill and the Collabo.
guardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2011 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More FeedsПереслать
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