People are only just realising what HMV stands for as store makes big return

Many of us have fond memories of rifling through CDs in HMV when we were younger.

The company was first founded in 1921 by the Gramophone Company – and later became a staple on the British high-street.

But did you ever stop to think what HMV stands for?

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HMV is an acronym for “His Master’s Voice”, which is a slogan that can be traced back to the 19th Century.

It was coined by English artist Francis Barraud, who painted a dog called Nipper listening to a gramophone in 1898.

Heartwarmingly, it was inspired by a true story as Barraud used to play recordings of his late brother’s voice to the terrier through a gramophone.

The Gramophone Company bought rights to the artwork in 1900.

They used it for their logo – and later decided to rename the company HMV in tribute to the His Master’s Voice painting.

The more you know, eh!

This isn’t the only HMV news we have for you – as the company is re-opening its iconic flagship store in London.

The new ‘HMV Shop” concept will be located at 363 Oxford Street, a venue used as a music shop around four years ago.

A further 24 sites are also launching across the UK, so you may just see one spring up near you.

New owner Doug Putman, a Canadian music entrepreneur who saved the company from collapse, is excited about the developments.

He said: “The expansion of our fan-focused pop culture offer is really working for us and the reopening of our flagship represents the culmination of a good few years of hard work.

“We are also opening stores in Europe this year, so while it is the culmination of one phase of work, more excitingly we see it as the launchpad for an exciting new era for HMV.”

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