His Master’s Voice

His Master’s Voice is the inspiring true story of Brian McLaughlin’s 38-year career rising through the ranks at iconic record store HMV, and the personal journey that saw him become one of the most successful business leaders in the UK.

With no topic off the table, Brian intimately details his turbulent childhood and the journey that took him from a shop floor assistant with a passion for music, to the MD of a brand that redefined the high street and revolutionised the way millions experienced music.

During his time as MD, HMV became the most profitable and most successful music retailer in the world, with over one million customers visiting an HMV store each week during its peak. The chain of stores defined multiple decades of music exploration, rewrote the rulebook for retail and changed the record industry forever, turning the once humble record store into a cultural phenomenon.

Throughout His Master’s Voice, Brian speaks openly and honestly about his life, career and success – providing a refreshing tell-all account of how he built up a business in the face of adversity, the role luck has played in his life, and the work that went into the brand’s unforgettable ascent to the top.

There are tales of loss and broken family ties, industry-changing moments, boardroom showdowns, big brand rivalries, and battles against all odds, with the books’ pages packed full of incomparable life lessons and insider secrets that are being shared for the very first time.