Would you hang out in a big entertainment mall, having the freedom to download music, video and other digital content for free onto your favorite storage device, while sipping on a smoothie in a relaxed environment equipped with iMac hubs? Sounds cool. This is a new concept introduced by HMV as it makes a move into the future with a whole new approach. The new megastore will be a place where people can enjoy all the latest digital content and be entertained. A collapsing CD market has brought a drastic drop in HMV’s profits, so this is a refreshing change that HMV hopes will help boost its revenue. After six months of tweaking, the new solution has been opened as a “compelling multi-channel social shopping space and experience”. The new store, measuring some 8,000 ft² (750 m²), contains digital sale-spots that enable the customers to download songs and videos for free, onto their portable memory devices. The content can then easily be transfered to mobile phones, MP3 players or PCs.

There is the “social hub”, which has iMacs which are available for visitors to use for browsing the latest music and entertainment web sites. A mini Apple store will sell latest iPods and accessories. Digital radios and DVDs, as well as other accessories, are for sale with special deals for HMV customers exclusively.

In case you get thirsty or tired, there is the Lovejuice bar serving freshly made smoothies at spot that has been created especially for laptop users. There is plenty more in store, which you can see here in more detail.

Will visitors actually spend money in this place remains to be seen. There are plenty of services on the Internet selling digital content downloads, and you can get them from anywhere as long as there is an Internet connection. HMV’s approach is better in my opinion, than making even more CDs with questionably useful content, as is the case with the latest music industry idea called ringles.

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