As
a co-presenter I write and help present two hour-long Radio shows a
month promoting local,national and International artistes. As a
performer I am a part of two local bands. Not for a long long
time have I heard so much shameless cant and hypocrisy from someone
purporting to have an interest in the music Industry as that spouted
by studio
guest Doug Putnam in
BBC Radio
Five Live's “Wake
Up To Money's” a
Talking
Shop
podcast first aired on 29th
December 2019.
It
was an epic exercise in self promotion and ego massage. The Canadian
supremo of Sunrise Records and Entertainment was magnificent in his
self-delusion. Bemoaning the continuing demise of High Street
shopping,presenter Sean Farrington observed, “There
are some stores looking at better times.”
And HMV was chosen as an example. Reviewing the
rough year town centre retail shopping outlets had experienced during
2019, before probing the way forward he asked Doug,“
How was it for you in terms of staff and stores?”
Over an hour of unicorns and mermaids then followed.
“HMV has a phenomenal employee
base,” Doug boasted,before
describing some of his HMV staff as “stubborn.”
Well that phenomenal base is a little lighter since he recorded this
interview. He talked deceptively in the past tense of “a
redundancy process” as if
it was now only a historical perspective (it isn't). He claimed HMV
staff now understood that the “revitalised”
HMV would be there
“for ten or twenty years.” What
utter tosh.
Bragging about HMV's wonderful
record with people and the
importance of maintaining footfall (plus the essential nature of
keeping High Street shopping vibrant), Doug knew even as he was
saying all this,that the guillotine had already fallen on the
Nuneaton branch of HMV in Rope Walk Shopping Mall. It closes in
January. 2020. A few days after this show went out. Making (as I
understand it) all staff redundant. Oh the irony of it all. I use(d)
it regularly,so this sudden closure certainly wasn't all that common
or public knowledge.
Existing Rope Walk customers are now
supposed to be consoled with a long journey into Coventry or
Leicester,where HMV plan to struggle on. Neither are viable travel
options. With their horrific parking,awful traffic and return rail or
bus journeys of well over two hours,the only option for those in this
part of North Warwickshire wanting to buy music is to download. That
isn't going to do footfall anywhere much good ,is it?
“We are able to renegotiate our rent
deals,” Doug crowed.Not
admitting on air that some of his stores were actually closing within
days of the recording. In fairness the Nuneaton closure wasn't all
Doug's fault. He was aided by the intransigent owners of Rope Walk.
They were obstinately reluctant to renew HMV's lease. Also playing a
part were local politicians. One of the country's most indolent
Borough Councils (Labour) make a point of encouraging and attracting
incoming lucrative housing projects, whilst showing no inclination to
add accompanying infrastructure. They looked on whistling, with their
hands behind their backs.
There
is a rumour that the budget shop Body Care will fill the vacant HMV
store. So if you want to buy and play an underarm deodorant on your
turntable the news is not all bad. In the Tory stronghold of
Nuneaton Marcus Charles Jones (an ex Town Councillor) has been the
incumbent M.P. for a decade. He is also Chairman of the All Party
Group for Town Centres and an Ambassador for the Federation of Small
Businesses. During his reign,he has presided over the closure and
demolition of the largest Department Store in his home town as well
as waving farewell to BHS, TopShop, Maplins,Top Man,Mothercare, a
Wetherspoons and several other Chain stores. If you are into Vaping,
Betting, Tanning, Mobile Phones, Manicuring or combing the extensive
range of Charity Shops,then the place is already a mecca for keen
shoppers and small businesses.
And there's more. Doug is “ramping
up” 2020. ”Our
reach is phenomenal with HMV socially.”
he chirped,“ We let each
of our stores do their own thing as well.”
( So The Rope Walk guys volunteered to be unemployed?). He said HMV
was a “destination store,”
without mentioning that for some he was suddenly and secretly making
that destination a whole lot more difficult to access.
Dougie spoke fondly of HMV
“supporting local bands.”
Nonsense! I have worked hard to keep music going in
Nuneaton,promoting hundreds of bands on air and in person.. Not
alone,but in partnership with others. Since 2014, I've been working
voluntarily running one of the country's most successful and popular
monthly Folk Clubs based in the town's biggest “Live” venues.
North Warwickshire's other two prominent Folk Clubs at Bedworth and
Atherstone work co-operatively with us to maximise quality and to
minimise duplication. Other volunteers run weekly sessions in pubs
and cafes. The Library and the Abbey Theatre also promote Live music
and The Ragged Bear Festival each October is a key National calendar
date now. We are all working hard with Coventry to ensure that when
the City becomes City of Culture 2021 the considerable rockbed of
talent in North Warwickshire is not marginalised. THAT is helping
bands! Not clandestinely closing music stores.
“We're kinda lucky our staff
absolutely love being here,” Doug
drawled proudly. Yeah,well so do your customers Doug and you've just
disenfranchised and disaffected a local population of around 250,000
including the towns of Nuneaton, Hinckley, Bedworth and Atherstone
“I
can detect from you all the positivity,”
chuckled presenter Sean. Well good for you mate. Come shopping in
Nuneaton.
