HMV's flagship record store has been reopened by pop band Madness on Oxford Street following a four-year hiatus. The century-old music chain closed its main London branch in 2019 after going into administration. It was then taken over by Sunrise Records. The company said its return was due to a "dramatic turnaround", with HMV returning to profit in 2022. Owner Doug Putman said the reopening would lead to HMV "once again becoming a mainstay on the UK High Street". The store at 363 Oxford Street opened its doors to the public at 11:30 GMT. It had first appeared on London's iconic shopping street in 1921. He said the store has a floor dedicated to a live stage, with individual floors for vinyl, pop culture and DVDs. Over the years, the store had burned to the ground and was rebuilt; it became an air raid shelter in World War Two and in 1962 became the location for the Beatles recording said to launch their career.
