Music Industry

Canada’s Sunrise Records just got bigger by buying a big American company.

Doug Putnam, the owner of Canada’s Sunrise Records, is certainly ambitious. After buying the leases of more than 70 HMV stores across Canada and re-launching them as new-concept Sunrise locations, he scooped up all the holdings of HMV UK. Late has year, he opened a giant superstore in Birmingham, the biggest HMV ever.

There have been a few hiccups along the way. A couple of under-performing stores have been close both in Canada and Britain. But that’s the normal course of business.

Doug’s made another move. He’s acquired For Your Entertainment, which is described in the press release as “the leading U.S. entertainment retail and e-commerce business.”

Sunrise will now take over 205 retail outlets across the States which employ about 2500 people. If you’ve traveled America, you might recognize names such as Suncoast and Sam Goody, both of FYE. There are dozens and dozens of standalone FYE stores, too.

A quick look at FYE’s website makes it obvious that it fits perfectly with what Sunrise is currently doing in Canada and with HMV in the UK.

Alan Cross

is an internationally known broadcaster, interviewer, writer, consultant, blogger and speaker. In his 40+ years in the music business, Alan has interviewed the biggest names in rock, from David Bowie and U2 to Pearl Jam and the Foo Fighters. He’s also known as a musicologist and documentarian through programs like The Ongoing History of New Music.

Alan Cross has 39181 posts and counting. See all posts by Alan Cross

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