The dog that became a global retail empire

Entertainment · Published 8 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: In 1898, Francis Barraud painted a dog named Nipper listening to a phonograph. That single image, 'His Master's Voice,' would evolve from a simple painting into the trademark of a global entertainment giant, defining the sound of music for generations.

The HMV brand traces its origins to the Gramophone Company, which acquired the rights to Francis Barraud's painting of Nipper in 1899. The image of the dog listening to sound equipment became the company's symbol, eventually leading to the creation of the His Master's Voice record label in 1909. This visual identity became so synonymous with music that it launched the first dedicated HMV shop in London in 1921, located in a former men's clothing store at 363 Oxford Street.

Throughout the 20th century, HMV transformed from a single London shop into a massive international presence. By the 1970s, it had doubled in size to become the UK's leading specialist music retailer. The brand reached new heights in the 1980s, opening a flagship store on Oxford Street in 1986 that was declared the largest record shop in the world. It even expanded into North America, opening a massive music shop in New York City's 86th and Lexington area.

The company's journey has been marked by intense volatility, including multiple administrations. Hilco Capital spent roughly £50 million to save HMV in 2013, preserving 2,500 jobs and 141 stores. A second administration occurred in February 2019, leading to a rescue by the Canadian retailer Sunrise Records, which saved 100 of the 127 existing shops. Today, the brand is expanding again, with plans to enter the Dutch market by October 2025.

Despite the digital revolution, HMV continues to adapt. While it launched a social networking site in 2008 and a digital download service in 2013, the brand is currently exploring new retail concepts, such as a store-within-a-store model in Canadian Toys "R" Us locations.

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