hmv

The Story

The original HMV (His Master's Voice) store opened in July 1921 with composer Sir Edward Elgar in attendance. In 1962, Brian Epstein brought The Beatles' demo to be pressed onto vinyl here. This tape secured the band's record deal with EMI. On September 15, 1995, Blur performed six songs on the store's rooftop to launch The Great Escape, filmed by helicopter cameras circling the building. The following year, the Spice Girls switched on the Oxford Street Christmas lights here for 6,000 people. It closed in 2019, became a candy store during the pandemic, and reopened in November 2023 under the name HMV Shop. Still active at the same address.

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