Record store demise ‘a worrying sign for the music industry’

Not everyone will mourn the potential demise of HMV but yesterday musicians were among those expressing concern about its future and the ramifications for music making and buying.

Niall “Bressie” Breslin, one of the judges on RTÉ’s The Voice of Ireland, tweeted: “I have witnessed many independent and high street music shops close through the years but HMV closing is a worrying sign for music industry.”

He also said: “Quite a few of you guys blaming record labels for the downfall of HMV. Can you please point out how records labels caused this?”

He also tweeted: “An acquaintance just put a heart felt Facebook message about HMV closure. This same guy told me he illegally downloads all his films/music.”

As for the non-honouring of vouchers for the retail chain, Bressie said: “It’s not HMV refusing to honor [sic] vouchers. It’s their liquidators Deloitte. HMV did not make that unfortunate call.”

On a more light-hearted reminiscence, he wrote: “I remember attempting to buy a Pamela Anderson poster in HMV but bottling it at the counter and ran away. Hope HMV survives.”

Cork singer-songwriter John Spillane said of the uncertainty surrounding HMV: “I think it’s a bit of a tragedy.

“I have great memories of 10 years with EMI records — I never thought I would get my records into a store and I got such a kick to see my albums on the shelves of HMV on Patrick St in Cork.

“I have always had a love affair with the record and albums.

“The virtual thing, there is less to hold on to. It [an album] was something you could feel and touch. It’s a shame.”

Paddy Casey said: “There is very little places to sell your music. In Ireland, it’s probably a little worse [again].

“I find it very sad, but at the same time you can’t stick your head in the ground either.”

He added that fewer retail spaces could impact on the financial well-being of musicians seeking to sell their records, but also said the cut from records sold in stores was always quite low.

Eanna Casey of RAAP, the Irish performers’ collection agency, said HMV entering administration was something most musicians would find worrying.

“It is not a good thing in general that the choices have been reduced [for buying music],” he said, adding that listener enjoyment of music on laptops or in the form of compressed files was reduced due toinferior sound quality.

A spokesman for the Siptu-affiliated Musicians Union of Ireland, which includes members of orchestras as well as freelance musicians, said the potential closure of the music chain was “a huge blow”.

“The loss of an outlet such as HMV is disastrous for the music industry, not just in Ireland,” he said. “The more outlets we have, the better.”

Some people still saw the funny side, however, including comedian PJ Gallagher, who tweeted: “I was given a £10 HMV voucher in 1988 that I never used. Delighted that’s still worth the same as if I just got this morning.”