I agree wholeheartedly with the above comment and would also like to add that if the company could not see the level of sales growth through downloads rising at the rate it has versus the CD market then more fool them. What is the point in having a network of shops throughout the country including several in each of our larger cities when it's competitors have a warehouse and a distribution contract.

Gilchro1, Perth, Scotland

This will probably we the first of many record labels that will have difficulties. Ufortunately for them few will have any sympathy, as with all large companies, they have tried to hang on to their monopolies, and when new technologiy came along they have tried to stifle its use and innovation instead of trying to use it to their and their customer's benefit. The previous poster is correct in pointing out that there were sky high charges for old items, that along with the likes of music companies telling you what you could and couldn't play your pruchased music on, it's little wonder that people will try to get cheaper music where they can.

Rob Bain, Derby UK,

Maybe if HMV treated their employees better and didnt boycott superstars like the snobs they are, then they would have my sympathy.

ExEmployee, Vancouver, Canada

I totally agree with the sentiments above. It is ridiculous that record companies can charge £15+ for 40 year old recordings, it is pure greed. The major names have done their best to stop internet sales of cd's, where you could buy them for around half the price, in the hope to regain their dominant position. This will only encourage more downloading. This is to the detriment of people who want good quality recordings at resonable prices, and not feel riped off. MP3' are not " HiFi "

R Lewis, Llandeilo,

I have absolutely no sympathy for HMV's plight. It's not so very long ago that it held to ransom music lovers (and film)by charging sky high prices for titles that weren't the latest releases and were harder to buy from supermarkets etc....
Hence given the freedom of the internet giving a wider range of outlets people have voted with their feet (or mouse) and gone elsewhere. What goes around comes around. Unlucky.

d seilly, wakefield, west yorks