If you haven’t heard the news, PMT (Play Music Today) has officially ceased trading. As of June 11th, 2025, the company entered administration and closed all 11 of its UK stores along with its warehouse in Liverpool — with immediate effect.

This is devastating news for musicians and the music retail industry as a whole. PMT is the latest in a string of major music retailers to close, following the collapse of both BAX and GAK in recent months.

What’s going on?

It’s hard to understand why these companies are shutting their doors when playing instruments — guitar, bass, drums — is arguably more popular than ever. I remember being the only guitarist at my secondary school, but today, in the schools I teach at, there are loads of students picking up instruments.

This suggests the demand is clearly there.

Many would rush to blame online sales, but all of these companies had strong, competitive online stores. So why are they disappearing?

PMT holds a special place in my heart. I had a Saturday job at Carlsbro — the store that eventually became PMT — back when I was at school. It didn’t really feel like work. It was a dream gig for a gear nerd like me, filled with happy memories of trying new guitars, pedals, and everything in between.

It was a local community hub for musicians.

A friend of mine, a drummer in Norwich, told me he’s not sure where he can now try out new drum gear locally. That highlights the bigger problem here: instruments aren’t like books or clothes — they need to be played before purchase.

When I bought my Stratocaster, I sat in a PMT store for hours, trying dozens of guitars with the help of the staff until I found “the one.” It wasn’t about looks — it was about tone and feel. You can’t replicate that kind of experience online.

Now? That process is becoming harder and harder.

Here’s what we know so far about the administration process:

• If you placed an order recently, it likely won’t be fulfilled.

• Refunds and returns fall under the original PMT company (which still legally exists), but they may not have the funds to cover them.

• Gift cards and vouchers issued by PMT are now invalid.

• If your warranty or guarantee was issued by PMT, it’s likely void unless covered directly by the manufacturer.

• For credit card purchases over £100, you can try a Section 75 claim with your card provider.

According to reports, some of PMT’s assets — including stock, branding, and websites — have been sold to Gear4music, which also picked up parts of GAK after its collapse. So if you try to visit a PMT website, you’ll likely be redirected to Gear4music now.

If you’re a musician, how are you feeling about all of this?

• Did you shop at PMT?

• Do you prefer trying gear in-store or buying online?

• Where do we go from here as musicians in the UK?

Drop your thoughts in the comments — this is a conversation we need to have.

The closure of PMT feels like more than just the end of a company. It’s symbolic of a deeper shift in the way we experience, discover, and buy musical instruments. I’m still processing it — and I’d love to hear your take.

Stay strong, fellow musicians. We’ve got to look out for each other more than ever right now.