IT HAS been a mainstay in the music retail industry here for more than 20 years, but Sembawang Music Centre will soon sing its swansong.

The plug is being pulled after the CD shop chain succumbed to rising rents and poor business.

Said owner and founder Dave Boo, 56: 'We've liquidated the company and are filing for bankruptcy. Right now, all our energy is on clearing our stock and making as many sales as we can.'

He declined to say how much he owes creditors, adding only that it is very little.

Sembawang's three outlets at Raffles City, Thomson Plaza and Plaza Singapura are holding sales touting 75 per cent savings.

The outlet at Plaza Singapura will be the last to close, in a few weeks' time.

Read the full story in The Sunday Times.