Idolator

Today in the UK town of Dudley, HMV is opening what it's calling a "next generation" megastore that not only gives over space to a juice bar and iPods, it also represents the old-school music chain's attempt to bring the digital-shopping experience to the brick-and-mortar world:

The store, which measures 8,000 sq ft (750 sq m), contains digital kiosks that enable customers to download songs and video clips for free. Shoppers download the content on to a memory device, such as a USB memory stick, which they can then transfer to a PC, mobile phone or MP3 player.

A "social hub" will contain the latest Apple iMacs, connecting customers to a range of music and entertainment websites. Gamers are invited to settle into a comfy chair and take on real-time challengers from around the world, free, in the Xbox 360 Live zone.

A mini Apple store, selling the latest iPods and accessories, will replace the racks of back-catalogue CDs. Digital radios and DVD players are for sale and the mobile phone company 3 has an instore outlet that offers exclusive deals to HMV customers.

Lovejuice, a leading juice bar, will serve freshly made smoothies at a hub that has been created for laptop users. Interactive screens are dotted around the store, while window displays have been replaced by giant plasma screens in what HMV described as a "hi-tech blueprint for the future".

Nine thousand CDs and 8,000 DVDs will be on sale for old-school shoppers who want to leave with a physical memento of their visit. The chart-topping band Hard-Fi will open the store with a performance podcast from the HMV website. However, HMV admitted that many people will use the store as a fun place to hang out without buying anything. A spokesman said: "We want people to enjoy using the store as social experience. By bringing the physical and digital elements together we hope there will be something for everyone."

While the "let people hang out" elements do make sense, in a way—although I don't know if reducing shelf space for deep catalog is such a good thing, as there are still (old) people out there who like to, you know, flip through racks—anyone else feel like this is a lot of store space for what's essentially a big old cybercafe? (And as Coolfer points out, there's no mention in any of the stories I've seen of what types of files will be available for download by customers; it kind of sends a weird message if your store has a bunch of iPod kiosks and only Windows Media files for sale, no?)

HMV cyberstore offers free fun but will clients download their cash? [TimesOnline, via Coolfer]