His Master's Voice

His Master's Voice
	His Master's Voice (1899) by Francis Barraud
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 a trademark featuring a dog named Nipper, curiously peering into the horn of a wind-up gramophone.^[1] Created by Francis Barraud in 1898, the symbol has been used worldwide for consumer electronics, record labels, and entertainment retailers.^[2]^[3]

History

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

In early 1899, Francis Barraud applied for copyright of the original 1989 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 copies were subsequently commissioned from the artist for various corporate purposes.^[5]

In 1909, The Gramophone Company launched the His Master's Voice record label, and 1921, launched the His Master's Voice retailer. The company also created overseas divisions, such as The Gramophone Company of India, who used the "His Master's Voice" trademark. The Gramophone Company later became EMI.^[6]

In 1985, The Gramophone Company India 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 from EMI.

An example of the Victor Talking Machine Company in the United States using the "His Master's Voice" trademark for an advertisement in 1921.

In 1993, EMI closed the His Master's Voice record label, and in 1998, spun off the retailer to become its own company.^[7] EMI held onto the His Master's Voice intellectual property, licensing the name to the retailer and continuing the license for the record label in India.

In June 2003, the formal His Master's Voice trademark transfer took place from EMI Records to HMV Media Group plc.^[8] This meant that His Master's Voice in India would be discontinued.

In January 2013, HMV Group plc would later be rescued by Hilco Capital, who retained the His Master's Voice trademark rights when they sold the HMV stores to Sunrise Records.^[9]

Victor Talking Machine Company / RCA Victor (United States)

In July 1900, Emile Berliner, the inventor of the gramophone, registered the trademark in the United States after seeing the picture at The Gramophone Company's offices in London.^[10]

In 1901, Berliner assigned the trademark to his Victor Talking Machine Company in Camden, New Jersey. The company was the American affiliate of The Gramophone Company in London. It adopted the name and imagery and used it extensively on its products and advertising.

In 1929, the Radio Corporation of America (RCA) purchased the Victor Talking Machine Company, renaming it to RCA Victor, and expanding the use of the trademark on radios, television sets and other electronics.^[11]

In 1986, RCA was acquired by General Electric, who sold the RCA and His Master's Voice intellectual property to Technicolor SA a couple of years later. In May 2022, the RCA and His Master's Voice intellectual property was sold to Talisman Brands, Inc.^[12]

JVC / Victor Musical Industries / Victor Entertainment (Japan)

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, Japan Victor Company.

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 being retained.^[13]

In 1972, JVC created Victor Musical Industries, which was rebranded in 2024 to Victor Entertainment.

Use of "His Master's Voice"

Current

Retailers

HMV UK (Since 1921, "HMV" initials owned by JD Sports, and "His Master's Voice" owned by Hilco Capital).
HMV Ireland (Since 1986, "HMV" initials and "His Master's Voice" are both owned by Hilco Capital).
HMV Canada (Since 1986, "HMV" initials owned by Hilco Capital, but "His Master's Voice" is owned by Talisman Brands, Inc).
HMV Belgium (Since 2023, "HMV" initials and "His Master's Voice" are both owned by Hilco Capital).
HMV Japan (Since 1990, "HMV" initials are owned by Lawson).

Sound equipment manufacturers

HMV Electronics (Since 2023, "HMV" initials is owned by Victor Musical Industries Inc, but "His Master's Voice" is owned by Talisman Brands, Inc) [United States]

Record labels

Victor Entertainment (Since 1972, "His Master's Voice" is owned by its parent, JVCKenwood) [Japan]

Former

Retail

HMV Australia (1989–2010, "HMV" initials and "His Master's Voice" are both owned by Hilco Capital).
HMV Germany (1990s–2000s, "HMV" initials and "His Master's Voice" are both owned by Hilco Capital).
HMV Hong Kong and HMV Singapore (1990s–2010s, "HMV" initials and "His Master's Voice" are both owned by HMV Brand Pte Ltd).
HMV Middle East (2015–2022, "HMV" initials are owned by Al Mana Lifestyle Trading in Oman and Qatar, but by Palm Green Capital Limited in United Arab Emirates.
HMV United States (1990s–2000s, "His Master's Voice" is owned by Talisman Brands, Inc).

Sound equipment manufacturers and recording labels

Deutsche Grammophon (1900–1949) [Germany]
Electrola (1920s)
EMI Music Australia, formerly used "His Master's Voice"
Gramophone Company / EMI (1899–1993) [UK]
- His Master's Voice (British record label) [UK]
Gramophone Company India (1901–2003) [India]
La voce del padrone (1904–1931) [Italy]
Victor Talking Machine Company / RCA Records (1901– c.2004, used sporadically thereafter) [USA]
Universal Music New Zealand, formerly traded as 'His Master's Voice' when owned by EMI

References

^ "Francis Barraud & Nipper". London Remembers. Retrieved 2 January 2025.
^ Harrison, Kieran (19 October 2017). "His Master's Voice". FGD1 The Archive. Retrieved 7 January 2025.
^ audiopolitan (21 June 2013). "His Master's Voice". audiopolitan. Retrieved 2 January 2025.
^ 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.
^ "The Nipper Saga". Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 27 May 2006.
^ "Page 13 Record Labels :Howard Friedman MusicWeb-International". www.musicweb-international.com. Retrieved 13 March 2025.
^ 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)
^ "Trade Mark Details as at 28 February 2013: HMV Group plc". Patent.gov.uk. Retrieved 28 February 2013.
^ 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.
^ "His Masters' Voice » JaneDogs". janedogs.com. Retrieved 15 March 2025.
^ Meador, Granger (5 December 2023). "Remembering His Master's Voice". MEADOR.ORG. Retrieved 2 January 2025.
^ Vantiva (31 May 2022). "Technicolor: Closing of the Sale of Trademark Licensing operations". GlobeNewswire News Room. Retrieved 15 March 2025.
^ "History of Victor Company of Japan, Limited". FundingUniverse. Retrieved 13 March 2025.

External links

Musée des ondes Emile Berliner
List of releases at 45worlds.com
His Master's Voice discography at Discogs
Musée des ondes Emile Berliner – Montréal Archived 16 February 2015 at the Wayback Machine

[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] udiopolitan (21 June 2013). "His Master's Voice". audiopolitan. Retrieved 2 January 2025.

[New_Grove-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] "Page 13 Record Labels :Howard Friedman MusicWeb-International". www.musicweb-international.com. Retrieved 13 March 2025.

[7] 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)

[8] "Trade Mark Details as at 28 February 2013: HMV Group plc". Patent.gov.uk. Retrieved 28 February 2013.

[9] 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.

[10] "His Masters' Voice » JaneDogs". janedogs.com. Retrieved 15 March 2025.

[11] Meador, Granger (5 December 2023). "Remembering His Master's Voice". MEADOR.ORG. Retrieved 2 January 2025.

[12] Vantiva (31 May 2022). "Technicolor: Closing of the Sale of Trademark Licensing operations". GlobeNewswire News Room. Retrieved 15 March 2025.

[13] "History of Victor Company of Japan, Limited". FundingUniverse. Retrieved 13 March 2025.

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