At age 36, Doug Putman has become the world’s pre-eminent pre-recorded music retailer, with almost 5,000 employees and 350 stores spread across Canada, the US and the UK operating under the Sunrise, For Your Entertainment (FYE) and HMV brand names. Here he discusses what it's like in the hot seat during the lockdown.
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May 5, 2020
by David Farrell
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January 23, 2020
by Nick Krewen
Although Doug Putman is expanding his Sunrise empire by other 200-plus stores with the purchase of the US For Your Entertainment (FYE) chain for US$10M, he will continue to operate those stores under the FYE banner.
October 23, 2019
by David Farrell
Doug Putman has found a successful niche in the digital world selling CDs, LPs and videos to a customer base that enjoys having so-called hard copi
October 21, 2019
by David Farrell
Doug Putman is too busy selling albums in the UK and Canada to waste his breath on myth makers spinning stories about the death of the CD and music
September 30, 2019
by FYI Staff
Jane Bunnett (pictured) is Cuban music's Canadian connection, Endeavor Group postpones planned IPO, and Billboard's list of top young executives. Others in the headlines include Tegan and Sara, HMV, Begonia, Simply Saucer, Spotify, Bobby Curtola, 2 Chainz, Patti Smith, and Itzhak Perlman.
September 16, 2019
by Kerry Doole
Les Hôtesses d'Hilaire, Matt Boudreau (pictured) and Tomato/Tomato lead the MNB Awards noms, Harmonium to enter the CSHF, and Ellis shines at Supercrawl. Others in the news include HMV, Shawn Mendes, ZipDJ, Dundurn Press, Rod Stewart, Esthero, Indie Week, Miloš, Grimes, Music PEI, Jean-Paul De Roover, and farewell to Ric Ocasek, Hossam Ramzy, and Eddie Money.
March 22, 2019
by Kerry Doole
Toronto’s main HMV store (pictured) goes to pot, CMAOntario Awards announces more performers, and CIMA heads to Reeperbahn 2019 in Germany. Also in the news are Neena Rose, The Indies, Mustafa The Poet, Music Nova Scotia, Kristjan Randalu, Now Hear This Festival, Aaron Campbell, OMF, TBS, Bryan Adams, and Sonic Boom fest. Videos added for your enjoyment.
February 8, 2019
by Kerry Doole
Terra Lightfoot (pictured) heads up an all-female road show, a Shawn Mendes hit is dissected, and advice for HMV and Sunrise. Also in the headlines are Jessie Reyez, Sting, Emily King, Hamilton, COC, 21 Savage, The Clash, OBEY, R. Kelly, Al Green, Salif Keita, Sam Cooke, Scooter Braun, Dolly Parton, and Ringo Starr.
February 6, 2019
by David Farrell
Canadian music retail chain maverick Doug Putman has purchased the assets and name of HMV UK in a deal worth more than $10-million that also saves as many as 1,500 company jobs there.
February 4, 2019
by David Farrell
Canada’s Sunrise Records chain store owner Doug Putman has made a bid to seize control of troubled retailer HMV from under the nose of Newcastle Un
January 2, 2019
by Kerry Doole
Roddy Doyle pays homage to The Band (pictured), more 2018 lists, and HMV hits dire straits. Others in the headlines include David Foster, Dead Popstar, Bono, apps for rappers, Yoko Ono, Las Vegas residencies, Sly Stone, Chris Brown, Nick Cave, and Wu-Tang Clan.