One hundred years ago, the HMV chain launched its first music shop in London.

To celebrate the centenary, we look back at Oxford’s own HMV branch in Cornmarket Street, which sadly closed in 2014.

Groups like Brother Beyond had a strong following in the late 1980s, and a number two hit with The Harder I Try.

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It was bands like these who would cause a stir when they turned up for in-store signings at HMV in Cornmarket Street.

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Jennifer Lafton, 18, was a big fan and she waited four hours to meet lead singer Nathan Moore back in 1986.

There were lots of in store performances for fans over the years and local bands like Foals and Young Knives took the opportunity to turn up and play their latest singles.

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Sadly the fun didn't last forever and after the chain went into administration in 2013 it closed its doors in the city centre the following year.

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In June 2014 music fans queued up to buy the last discounted CDs, DVDs and video games.

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HMV has survived in a different guise following a buyout and a limited number of stores remain up and down the country.

But the glory days of Cornmarket featuring HMV and Virgin are long gone and unlikely to return.

Doug Putman, CEO of similar Canadian chain Sunrise Records, purchased HMV in early 2019.

One hundred and eight stores were rescued, and Europe’s largest entertainment store, HMV Vault, was launched in Birmingham.

Although three stores closed in 2020 and 363 Oxford Street remains shuttered, Mr Putman said there was a '95% chance' of a new flagship.

He added: "I want to have a London store really badly."

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While some Fopp stores were rescued, Oxford's branch at Gloucester Green did not survive and its former premises is now occupied by board games cafe Thirsty Meeples.

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Although Oxford no longer has an HMV or a Fopp, it does have independent record stores, Riverman in Walton Street and Truck in Cowley Road.