The much-loved UK music retailer DV247 has overnight closed all but one of its music stores in the UK after being purchased by Music Store Cologne.  DV247 previously operated stores in Barnet, Romford, Clapham, Acton, Bristol, Southampton, Birmingham and Cambridge, and until recently the brand was owned by White Rabbit Records Limited who started trading in 1974.  The company is now trading as DV247, a company incorporated at the end of last month.

As far as we understand, the only store that remains is the DV247 Romford Branch; their website seems to confirm this by the lack of any other stores being listed. It is also understood that the buying and distribution of much of their inventory moving forward will be moved to their new owner in Germany.

These closings seems to have come as a shock to both staff and customers alike. DV247 has been part of the music retail landscape in the UK for many years. Although there is no reason to expect a reduction in the quality of their service, it is a sad day for the music retail industry to see so many local stores shuttered. Furthermore, as this site proves time and again, buying stuff mail order may be cheaper up front, but when you need service and support, especially for complex software and hardware, then you should really have a dealer you can visit.

UPDATE from our friends at Pro Sound News, whilst the site proclaims ‘bigger and better’, the reality behind this change is contained at this link: read the story here.