HMV revamps digital download site

HMV introduced its HMV Digital service just over a year ago on September 5 2005, supported by national in-store product campaign.

This next phase of the service provides customers with a new and direct method of purchasing permanent music downloads from HMV’s library of over 2m tracks and albums.

Customers can search for tracks and albums and download directly to their PCs, without the need to install the HMV Digital ‘jukebox’, or music management software.

Other features on the new site include audio clips of all available tracks, artist playlists, and the same customer login as HMV.co.uk.

The retailer is also offering a monthly subscription service, HMV Unlimited, letting consumers download an unlimited number of tracks to a portable MP3 player for a flat monthly fee. 

Mark Bennett, HMV’s head of digital, said: “Our new hmvdigital.com site delivers even greater access and choice to our digital customers, underlining HMV’s credentials as a true multi-channel specialist.” 

The hmvdigital.com site has been designed and built by digital design agency Conchango, who were engaged by HMV following a competitive pitch for the business.  

The high street retailer has become increasingly reliant on its online operations, as customers spurn the high street for cheaper prices online.

This week, HMV revealed that sales at its website are up 150% on a year ago, while like-for-like sales at HMV stores fell 5.4% on the same period last year, but this was an improvement on the previous nine weeks when its sales at music stores plunged 17%.