2008.10.23 - Marketnews - HMV Canada Continues to Battle Retail Exclusivity With Guns N' Roses

HMV Canada Continues to Battle Retail Exclusivity With Guns N' Roses

By: Robert Franner

This isn’t the first time that HMV Canada has waged war against the concept of exclusive retail distribution of a CD or DVD title. As recently as last March 4, the giant music retailer had lifted its ban on all Rolling Stones product from its stores (which had been in effect since October in protest over an exclusive arrangement the band made for its “Four Flicks” DVD to be sold in Future Shop/Best Buy outlets). Now HMV Canada proclaims that it is continuing “to champion Canadian consumers’ right to choose where to purchase their music, and is thrilled to be carrying the highly anticipated new Guns N’ Roses release.”

On Sunday November 23, 2008 HMV will be one of a variety of Canadian retailers carrying the new CD Chinese Democracy (which will be exclusively sold via only one retailer across the United States).

“At HMV we are in the consumer business, and ultimately it is our mandate to support the consumer’s right to choose where they shop for their music. We are committed to providing the broadest selection of music to meet the needs of consumers in Canada. In that regard, we have actively and passionately worked to educate music artists and the music industry that most Canadian consumers believe it should be the consumer’s choice as to where they shop for music. As such we’re thrilled that Guns N’ Roses have decided that their hot new record (Chinese Democracy), 14 years in the making, will be made available in Canada via a variety of retailers, including of course, HMV. We thank Guns N’ Roses for recognizing that the Canadian retail market is quite distinct from the United States,” states Humphrey Kadaner, President of HMV Canada.

HMV underpinned those sentiments with a full-page advertisement in Billboard magazine, thanking musicians and industry representatives for their continued support; and recognition that Canada is a separate country, by not allowing U.S. originated exclusive retail deals for music to be extended into Canada.

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