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Business News Retail
Manchester HMV re-evaluates safety after “hundreds” locked out of Bars And Melody in-store appearance
By Andy Malt | Published on Wednesday 6 August 2014
Management at the Arndale Centre branch of HMV in Manchester have been told to improve the organisation of their more popular in-store appearances, after “hundreds” of angry Bars And Melody fans were locked out of the shop last week.
According to the Manchester Evening News, the teen rap stars made famous by ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ made an appearance at the store to sign copies of their debut single, ‘Hopeful’. Entry was only granted to people who had bought a copy of the CD, but many arrived after the shop had sold out. With many fans barred from meeting the duo and growing increasingly angry, HMV staff apparently pulled down the shop’s shutters and called the police.
Store manager Terry Doyle told the MEN that the store’s capacity was a maximum of 600 people, and that 800 copies of the Bars And Melody single had been ordered in, which sold out on the morning of the event.
Following talks between the shopping centre and the shop, a spokesperson said: “HMV in conjunction with Manchester Arndale has thoroughly reviewed the organisation of events within the shopping centre and have made a number of recommendations for future events where similar levels of customer interest are identified. These include the distribution of in-store and online tickets or wristbands along with clearly communicated details of ticket availability”.
They added: “The safety and welfare of all customers is a priority and all events will continue to be organised with this at the front of mind. Clearly there may always be disappointed fans when events are organised with extremely popular artists, and HMV will work to minimise this disappointment wherever possible.”
It was just this sort of incident that really kicked off Justin Bieber’s career, so that’s something for Bars And Melody to be hopeful about (because their single is called, ‘Hopeful’, right?). Though no one on their management team got arrested. Better luck next maybe, eh?
