HMV Bloor St. celebrates 20th Anniversary “Store of the Future” opening with Sam Roberts, IllScarlet, Billy Bragg, Zaki Ibrahim, and The Stills - photos and video on shovine
June 17, 2008
(June 17-08) HMV on Bloor St. Toronto celebrated it’s 20th Anniversary with a grand re-opening “Store of the Future.” Featured performers on the day included Sam Roberts Band, IllScarlet, Billy Bragg, Zaki Ibrahim (coming off a tour with Erykah Badu), and The Stills. It was not a heavily publicized event so the crowd was rather light considering the big-name talent that HMV arranged to appear. It was a great chance to get up-close and personal to shoot photos and video.
While the re-opening was billed as a new HMV retail “Store of the Future” concept - we were not quite sure that much was different. CD’s and DVD’s still dominated the displays. Though, CD’s - which once occupied close to 75% of retail shelf space - was down to probably about 25% now. DVD’s and video games seem to dominate now with much bigger sections devoted to ipods and mobile.
“the revolution is to secretly burn the CD away… and your waiting for the next format…”
- BILLY BRAGG, HMV opening performance during “in a perfect world”
Top of the Vine Photos
For a “record” store grand opening - it was kinda surreal at times. While the day was supposed to all be about celebration - veteran recording artists BILLY BRAGG and SAM ROBERTS couldn’t help but tell lengthy stories how the demise of the record/CD business saddens them a bit - Billy Bragg even managed to turn that theme into a point of humour throughout his brilliant set. WATCH THIS VIDEO BELOW FOR THE BEST THOUGHTS ON THE DAY FROM BRAGG.
you know BurgerCAM be on the scene for this one. This is SAM Roberts and his band getting ready to jam at HMV party on Bloor St.
More of the brilliant BILLY BRAGG performing, ripping on reality TV and digital music. SINGS BRAGG…in a perfect world…
“the revolution is to secretly burn the CD away… and your waiting for the next format…”
For a “Store of the Future” concept… there was still lots and lots of “old” media stacking the shelves at HMV.
This was the biggest change to the store - THE HUB (”surf-listen-watch-search-find-chat-play”) a place where they have a few computers where you can sit and get online. I gotta admit… there have been many times when I have been shopping for movies or music and I have wanted to access reviews or info onlne… so I gotta give HMV some credit for this addition to the store.
Billy Bragg at the grand re-opening of the HMV “Store of the Future” - lost in the worlds of ipods, Wii, xBox, DVD’s blah.. blah… blah.. I can only imagine what an old-school type musician like Billy must be thinking.
SAM ROBERTS BAND coming on-stage to begin their set.
illScarlett opened the HMV show today starting at 11 am.