PCR Tech and IT retail, distribution and vendor news
HMV has released a free music app that allows users to find downloads by taking pictures of album artwork or searching for an audio clip.
The app launched today (October 17th) on the iOS App Store and Android’s Google Play marketplace, and is the first digital music download store on iOS not based on Apple’s iTunes store.
Users can search by sound or image – with album artwork, posters or in-store adverts said to return the correct album details for instant download or preorder.
The digital store will expand onto PC, Mac, Windows Phone and Blackberry next week alongside a relaunch of HMV’s music store website.
"HMV’s position at the heart of entertainment retail demands that we enable customers to buy their music from HMV in the way that best suits them and to engage more closely with the music, video and gaming worlds," said Paul McGowan, the chief executive of Hilco Capital and chairman of HMV.
Hilco purchased HMV in a £50 million buyout following the retailer’s descent into administration in January. The move saved 2,500 jobs at HMV’s remaining 141 stores, and was praised by music labels as an alternative to Amazon, which offers its own music download service.
McGowan added that, as well as through the app and website, HMV would continue to bolster its comeback with a revamped YouTube channel and by increasing the number of live events in its stores.
