February 20, 2013 8:48

Elton John lines up in-store performances in bid to save HMV

Big names set to appear as pop icon attempts to revive flagging brand

Photo: PA

Elton John could be one of a number of A-List artists who will perform in branches of HMV up and down the country in a bid to revive interest in the struggling firm.

HMV, which went into administration earlier this year, is currently in the hands of debt restructure specialists Hilco with various ideas about how best to deal with the company being discussed. However, record labels are still keen to see the retail giant survive and David Joseph, the chief executive of Universal UK, revealed to The Guardian that getting artists, and therefore customers, into shops is something they want to make happen. "We've got lot of artist support for HMV. Last week one of our biggest global superstars said why don't we get a lot of the biggest artists to start doing gigs in HMV, just to turn up and say these are music stores, come and get your music here."

Joseph later confirmed that artist was Elton John. Additionally, Guy Farrow, John's spokesperson confirmed the plan, adding: "Elton has always been a big supporter of record shops. He will be doing something with HMV although as yet we cannot confirm what or when that would be."

David Joseph spoke further about the plan put together by a number of different major labels in the UK to help HMV survive and added that they were all hoping for a "6 Music moment", similar to when the BBC radio station was threatened with closure in 20, only to be saved by listeners and artists keen to keep it alive. "How HMV emerges is going to be an important factor for us, our artists and our record fans," he said. "I'm hoping, and doing everything I can with them, to make this a bit of what happened with 6 Music, which looked like it was going away and all of our artists said it was a part of culture didn't want to lose."

Meanwhile, Elton John is set to headline this year's Bestival alongside Snoop Dogg.

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