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His Master's Voice

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article is about the entertainment trademark. For the British record label, see His Master's Voice (British record label). For the entertainment retailer, see HMV. For other uses, see His Master's Voice (disambiguation).

His Master's Voice
Owner
  • Talisman Brands, Inc. (United States, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Cuba, Indonesia, South Korea and Uruguay)
  • Hilco Capital (United Kingdom, Australia, Brunei, European Union, Iceland, Israel, Kenya, Namibia, Norway, Switzerland, Sudan and New Zealand)
  • JVCKenwood/Victor Entertainment (Japan)
  • HMV Brand Pte Ltd. (Singapore, China, Malaysia, Taiwan and Thailand)
  • Palm Green Capital Limited (Albania, Bahrain, Estonia, India, Jordan, Kyrgyzstan, Mexico, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Oman, Serbia, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, United Arab Emirates and Ukraine)

His Master's Voice is an entertainment trademark featuring a dog named Nipper, curiously peering into the horn of a wind-up gramophone.[1] Painted by Francis Barraud in 1898, the dog and gramophone trademark has appeared on consumer electronics, record labels, and entertainment retailers worldwide.[2][3]

The His Master's Voice trademark has appeared on many record labels, such as this 1928 Smilin' Jack Smith release from The Gramophone Company in the United Kingdom.

History

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The Gramophone Company / EMI Records / HMV (United Kingdom)

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In early 1899, Francis Barraud applied for copyright of his original 1898 painting using the descriptive working title Dog looking at and listening to a Phonograph. He was unable to sell the work to any cylinder phonograph company.[citation needed] The painting had been originally offered to James Hough, manager of Edison Bell in London, but he declined, saying "dogs don't listen to phonographs".[citation needed]

William Barry Owen, the American founder of the Gramophone Company in England, offered to purchase the painting for £100, under the condition that Barraud modify the cylinder phonograph to show one of their disc machines.[4] Barraud complied and the image was first used on the company's catalogue from December 1899. The company also began using the imagery on its gramophones. As the trademark gained in popularity, several additional paintings were subsequently commissioned from the Barraud for various corporate purposes.[5]

In 1909, The Gramophone Company began using the dog and gramophone trademark on its record labels, replacing the former "recording Angel" trademark. The company rapidly became known as His Master's Voice due to the prominence of that phrase around the top perimeter of the label. The Gramophone Company (HMV) distributed it's recordings throughout Europe and later established dedicated international divisions in several countries. In regions without these divisions, such as Scandinavia and Greece, the British HMV company exported its releases.[6]

In 1921, The Gramophone Company launched the His Master's Voice retail shop on Oxford Street. Additional shops appeared, turning His Master's Voice into a large music retail chain.[7]

In the mid-1980s, EMI began to open international HMV retail outlets, but were unable to use the "His Master's Voice" trademark in the United States, Canada or Japan. However, EMI's use of just the "HMV" initials in these regions was permitted.

In 1990, EMI began to phase out the His Master's Voice record label, gradually replacing it with the EMI Classics label in 1993. In 1998, it divested the HMV retailer, which became an independent company, HMV Media Group plc.[8] However, EMI held onto the His Master's Voice intellectual property, licensing the name to the retailer, and continuing it for its only remaining license in India.

In June 2003, the formal His Master's Voice trademark transfer took place from EMI Records to HMV Media Group plc.[9] This meant that EMI's only remaining license agreement, the His Master's Voice record label in India, would be discontinued, and record releases in this region would be renamed to Saregama from 2003 onwards.

In January 2013, HMV Group plc would later be rescued by Hilco Capital, who retained the "His Master's Voice" trademark rights in a number of continents when they later sold the HMV stores to Sunrise Records.[10] The rightsholders in some territories is Palm Green Capital Limited, a company based in British Virgin Islands, instead of Hilco Capital.[11]

In February 2013, HMV Group plc sold the HMV stores in Hong Kong and Singapore to AID Partners Capital Limited, which also included the rights to "His Master's Voice" for a select number of Asian countries, currently owned by HMV Brand Pte Ltd.[12]

Germany

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Further information: Deutsche Grammophon and Electrola

Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft, the Gramophone Company's German subsidiary, also used the "His Master's Voice" trademark and continued to do so after the company seceded from the parent Gramophone Company in 1914, as a result of the hostilities between Germany and Great Britain during World War I. DGG retained the "His Master's Voice" trademark for use in Germany until 1949.[13]

In 1949, Deutsche Grammophon sold the German rights to the His Master's Voice trademark to Electrola, EMI's affiliated record label in Germany.[14]

France and Italy

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Further information: La Voix de son maître and La voce del padrone

In 1901 and 1904, the Gramophone Company entered France and Italy, and later created versions called La Voix de son maître and La voce del padrone respectively.[15][16][17]

Australia and New Zealand
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Further information: EMI Music Australia and Universal Music New Zealand

In 1925 and 1926, The Gramophone Company created record label divisions in Australia and New Zealand respectively. Through sales and mergers, the Gramophone Company became part of EMI in 1931.[18]

India

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Further information: Saregama

In 1985, The Gramophone Company India (formed in 1901) was sold from EMI to RP-Sanjiv Goenka Group, however "His Master's Voice" would continue to appear as a record label under a license agreement from EMI, until 2003.[19]

Following EMI's retirement of the British His Master's Voice record label in 1993, the trademark then became best known in the United Kingdom as the logo for the HMV entertainment retailer.
The Victor Talking Machine Company in the United States used the His Master's Voice trademark from 1901 onwards. The above example is an advertisement from 1921.

Victor Talking Machine Company / RCA Victor (United States)

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In July 1900, Emile Berliner, the inventor of the gramophone, registered the trademark in the United States after seeing the original painting at The Gramophone Company's offices in England.[20]

The "His Master's Voice" trademark first appeared in the United States in advertising by the Consolidated Talking Machine Company, which was reorganized in 1901 as the Victor Talking Machine Company in Camden, New Jersey. Victor was the American affiliate of British Gramophone Company and initially used the trademark more extensively on its products and in advertising than its affiliate in England.

In 1929, the Radio Corporation of America (RCA) purchased the Victor Talking Machine Company, renaming it the RCA Victor Division and expanding the use of the trademark on radios, television sets and other electronics.[21] However, it would begin to eventually be gradually phased out from the 1950s onwards on consumer electronics, in exchange for the RCA logo instead.

In 1968, RCA introduced a modern logo and limited the appearance of the "His Master's Voice" trademark to the album covers of RCA Red Seal Records. In October 1976, RCA announced a revival of the "His Master's Voice" trademark, restoring it to most RCA records labels, advertising and other products.

In 1986, RCA was acquired by General Electric, and eventually sold the RCA and "His Master's Voice" trademarks to Technicolor SA. In May 2022, the RCA and "His Master's Voice" trademarks were acquired by Talisman Brands, Inc.[22]

Since 2023, Talisman Brands has licensed the "His Master's Voice" brand to a company called Victor Musical Industries Inc, who produce "His Master's Voice"-branded consumer electronics.[23]

JVC / Victor Entertainment / JVCKenwood (Japan)

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The His Master's Voice symbol appears on the JVC-Victor offices in Shinbashi, Japan. Pictured in September 2007.

In 1927, the Victor Talking Machine Company of Japan was created, which brought the "His Master's Voice" trademark to Japan, and later became known as JVC, the Japan Victor Company. The company used "His Master's Voice" across a wide range of consumer electronics.[24]

In 1943, JVC separated with RCA due to World War II, with the Japanese division continuing as its own separate entity, alongside the "His Master's Voice" trademark becoming owned in Japan by JVC, who continued its use.[25]

In 1972, JVC created Victor Musical Industries, a distributor of music and film, which uses the "His Master's Voice" logo.[26] Victor Musical Industries has since been renamed to Victor Entertainment, and the "His Master's Voice" logo remains retained.[27]

In 1990, EMI launched the HMV retailer in Japan, however they were unable to use the "His Master's Voice" symbol or name due to JVC owning it. However, they were not contested to use just the "HMV" initials by themselves.[28]

In October 2008, JVC and the Kenwood Corporation created a joint-venture, JVCKenwood, to create consumer electronics, this venture uses the "His Master's Voice" logo, mainly on audio equipment.[29]

References

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  1. ^ "Francis Barraud & Nipper". London Remembers. Retrieved 2 January 2025.
  2. ^ Harrison, Kieran (19 October 2017). "His Master's Voice". FGD1 The Archive. Retrieved 7 January 2025.
  3. ^ audiopolitan (21 June 2013). "His Master's Voice". audiopolitan. Retrieved 2 January 2025.
  4. ^ Rye, Howard (2002). Kernfeld, Barry (ed.). The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz. Vol. 2 (2nd ed.). New York: Grove's Dictionaries Inc. p. 249. ISBN 1-56159-284-6.
  5. ^ "The Nipper Saga". Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 27 May 2006.
  6. ^ "His Masters Voice - Catalogue of Records - 1933 by 78rpm Club". Issuu. 19 April 2022. Retrieved 29 March 2025.
  7. ^ Skinner, Tom (22 September 2022). "HMV launches its own label 1921 Records, announces first signing". NME. Retrieved 16 March 2025.
  8. ^ Brooks2013-01-15T11:27:00, David. "HMV timeline: Charting the company's history". Retail Week. Retrieved 13 March 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  9. ^ "Trade Mark Details as at 28 February 2013: HMV Group plc". Patent.gov.uk. Retrieved 28 February 2013.
  10. ^ Butler, Sarah (28 January 2013). "HMV next for Hilco – restructuring expert that preys on dying brands". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2 January 2025.
  11. ^ "WIPO Domain Name Decision: D2015-0761". www.wipo.int. Retrieved 16 March 2025.
  12. ^ "AID Partners acquires HMV". www.theasset.com. Retrieved 16 March 2025.
  13. ^ "History of Deutsche Grammophon". Deutsche Grammophon. Retrieved 16 March 2025.
  14. ^ "DG History: The Fifth Decade (1940–1949)". Archived from the original on 30 October 2016. Retrieved 29 October 2016.
  15. ^ "La Voce del Padrone; Milano manufacturer in I, radio technol | Radiomuseum.org". www.radiomuseum.org. Retrieved 29 March 2025.
  16. ^ "Le disque". Gramophone.fr (in French). Retrieved 29 March 2025.
  17. ^ "LA VOCE DEL PADRONE (1930)". www.icbsa.it. 16 April 2009. Retrieved 16 March 2025.
  18. ^ "Page 13 Record Labels :Howard Friedman MusicWeb-International". www.musicweb-international.com. Retrieved 13 March 2025.
  19. ^ "Saregama India Limited | Businesses". www.rpsg.in. Retrieved 29 March 2025.
  20. ^ "His Masters' Voice » JaneDogs". janedogs.com. Retrieved 15 March 2025.
  21. ^ Meador, Granger (5 December 2023). "Remembering His Master's Voice". MEADOR.ORG. Retrieved 2 January 2025.
  22. ^ Vantiva (31 May 2022). "Technicolor: Closing of the Sale of Trademark Licensing operations". GlobeNewswire News Room. Retrieved 15 March 2025.
  23. ^ "HMV®". HMV®. Retrieved 16 March 2025.
  24. ^ "JVC Professional History". pro.jvc.com. Retrieved 16 March 2025.
  25. ^ "History of Victor Company of Japan, Limited". FundingUniverse. Retrieved 13 March 2025.
  26. ^ Meador, Granger (5 December 2023). "Remembering His Master's Voice". MEADOR.ORG. Retrieved 16 March 2025.
  27. ^ "ビクターエンタテインメント | Victor Entertainment". ビクターエンタテインメント | Victor Entertainment (in Japanese). Retrieved 16 March 2025.
  28. ^ "HMV sells Japan business for £70m". Tehran Times. 31 July 2007. Retrieved 16 March 2025.
  29. ^ "Our Brands". JVCKENWOOD Corporation. Retrieved 16 March 2025.

Further reading

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  • Barnum, Fred (1991). His Master's Voice in America.
  • Southall, Brian (1996). The Story of the World's Leading Music Retailer: HMV 75, 1921–1996.
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