HMV has joined the British Retail Consortium which is news because [a] I never knew such a Consortium existed or [b] that HMV had never before seen the need to join it.
It's really of interest because it's possibly a sign that HMV now sees itself more as a general retailer rather than a specific music retailer, and therefore that its interests cannot be fully represented by even the expanded music retail trade body the Entertainment Retailers Association (formerly the British Association Of Record Dealers).
Confirming their membership of the body, HMV boss Simon Fox said this: "It is important that our industry unites behind a strong, single voice. HMV Group is pleased to be joining the BRC as it has an excellent track record and the contacts to convey the realities of retail to politicians at every level".