His Master's Voice was the unofficial name of a British record label established in 1909. Whilst mainly releasing in the United Kingdom, the label also released in select European and African territories. Sister labels were also created, such as an Indian version, that lasted until 2003.[1]
"His Master's Voice" was a trademark of the Gramophone Company Limited (later part of EMI). In 1909, the Gramophone Company replaced the "Recording Angel" trademark with the image of Nipper the dog, listening to "His Master's Voice" on their record labels; thereafter, the records were commonly referred to as "His Master's Voice" (or HMV) records, due to the prominence of that phrase along the upper rim of the labels. In 1973, HMV became a sub-label of EMI Records as a result of a corporate restructuring.
From 1990, the His Master's Voice label began being phased out in favour for the newly-established EMI Classics label. The final British His Master's Voice release was Morrissey's live album, Beethoven Was Deaf, in May 1993.