I see that the Swsedish label BIS has been purchased by Apple. I wonder what this will mean for the current and future catalogue in terms of both content and formats, and in particular, of course, in relation to the less familiar repertoire. Losing Hyperion, and BIS so soon afterwards, might suggest a trend, and I can't work out whether our range of choices is broadening or narrowing. Any thoughts?
I guess that Apple decided that this made sense after launching their classical streaming platform and it's obviously an good exit route for BIS' 80 year old owner Robert von Bahr. There doesn't seem to be much of a clue from the press releases what the future holds for new BIS releases, all the talk is of synergy with the streaming service and pointing to the parallels with Universal's purchase of Hyperion and the launch of its own streaming platform DGG's Stage+. If that's the way things are going, maybe Amazon are talking to Chandos, or Spotify to cpo?
Goodness me, it's all so unpredictable. I'd hate to think of Chandos or cpo being effectively killed off through a takeover. Classical music isn't exactly a 'big earner' and these organizations think only of the bottom line; the first area to suffer would be surely the more obscure, or unsung, that few people purchase.
To be honest, I was surprised that Chandos wasn't the first to be taken over since their catalogue appears to be the most "generic" out of these labels. So I think it's a matter of time before they are scooped up by a larger entity, and Apple seems to be likely candidate.
CPO is a somewhat different matter because of the way they are intertwined with the German cultural broadcast infrastructure. However, now that even that is being undermined in the wake of the Schlesinger scandal (and adjacent affairs) who knows?
I wasn't being entirely serious when I mentioned cpo and Chandos, just gazing into my crystal ball, but Ilja makes a very good point about Chandos' attractiveness to a major with a streaming service. I do agree that cpo is a very different animal and I'd be much more upset if it lost its independence than if Chandos was bought out.
Anybody knew this already?
https://www.macrumors.com/2023/09/05/apple-acquires-bis-records/
https://symphony.org/apple-buys-bis-classical-record-label/
Note from Moderator:
Thanks for noticing this, TerraEpon. As you can see, I have merged the two threads.
Alan Howe
Well, Bahr claims their "ethos remains unchanged", and looking forward to a future filled with music and artists in golden sound. This is not very specific, however :D
Well eClassical is still operating as usual, including daily comments on the deal of the day by Bahr himself, for whatever that's worth.
Sounds good, but I think we have enough Sibelius from them now :-)
Agreed!
Quote from: eschiss1 on Friday 20 October 2023, 20:22Well, Bahr claims their "ethos remains unchanged", and looking forward to a future filled with music and artists in golden sound. This is not very specific, however :D
I think the outlook here is rather different than for Hyperion. Apple is actively expanding their presence in the classical market, and the purchase of "boutique" labels such as BIS makes sense in that regard. What I find (somewhat) encouraging is that they appear to focus on other things than performer celebrity (quite different from Universal's approach) and more on repertory and experience (consider the "moods" section of the app). You can clearly see them bringing their experience in the digital service industry to bear, and it'll be interesting to see where they end up. However, I don't think we've seen the last of them; and other smaller labels (Sterling springs to mind, and perhaps Dutton) may go the same way.
They're working more on Kalevi Aho than on Sibelius, judging from most recent releases.
Well, they might need to look a little wider, then. To be fair, they're certainly doing that....
It's really hard to tell "what this will mean for the current and future catalogue in terms of both content and formats", but what this tells me at this point is that I can accesse the whole catalog of Hyperion (what they have put on streaming so far) for free on Youtube and Youtube Music... Idem for the CPO, Chandos, Toccata Classics catalogues and a few others (Warner, etc...).
Who says they're interested in SELLING recordings when they're giving them all for free ? Looks like they're more interested in drowning Deezer, Qobuz, Spotify and all the other paying platforms.
Quote from: Ebubu on Sunday 29 October 2023, 22:34Who says they're interested in SELLING recordings when they're giving them all for free ? Looks like they're more interested in drowning Deezer, Qobuz, Spotify and all the other paying platforms.
I'm going to guess you never really engage with younger people online. A large percentage of self-proclaimed music lovers pretty much never buy music any more -- many never have. It's a causal loop that stemmed from the rise of streaming, but it's less that they are 'not interested in selling' but rather they (supposedly) have the data that shows they make more money from offering it on these platforms (which aren't free in the truest sense, either because of ads or of course because of being locked behind subscriptions).
No need to "engage with younger people online" to be perfectly aware that they "pretty much never buy music any more". As a matter of fact, it's not only "the younger people", I've myself not bought a CD for the last 5 or 6 years (but again I'm still young at heart ! ;) ).
"([platforms] which aren't free in the truest sense, either because of ads or of course because of being locked behind subscriptions)"
We've had this discussion before. What counts is that in the end, for the listener, some platforms are free (YT, even though it attempts, rather agressively these days, to either force a monthly subscription on the viewers or subject them to unbearable ads every 5 minutes or so. Fortunately, there are very efficient ad blockers out there, and ways to get around it, at least for the the geeks among us), and some are not (Qobuz, Idagio, Deezer, Spotify....).
But I'm glad "they (SUPPOSEDLY) have the data that shows they make more money from offering it on these platforms.
I guess it all comes down, ultimately, to the Schwabian New World Order philosophy: "you'll own nothing and you'll be happy!"
I vowed that I would never buy a CD, when it appeared that vinyl was done and dusted, but in 2017 I changed my mind and have just today (with the arrival of my purchase of Moscheles' Eighth) made up for 30 years of self-denial by completing my collection - assuming that vol.3 of the Krumpholz harp symphonies and concertos never again sees the light of day.
But I am an old dinosaur,and I will never never download. Weeell, hardly ever.
I don't know what my input is worth as a "young whippersnapper," but I think part of this is recognizing how technology has changed consumer behavior. As many streaming platforms can be accessed on your phone, you can listen to them anywhere and have that benefit of portability that physical media doesn't. Certain platforms like Apple offer lossless quality which gets you virtually close to CD quality.
Following up on Dinosaur Terry's message, Vinyl is still ideal due to its analog nature, but I sacrifice some of that for the benefit of listening anywhere I go.
BIS is well-aware of this I'm sure, and having their catalog managed digitally by Apple will grant them wider access and perhaps better marketing.
The cases where I do buy physical media is for the booklets or libretto, and BIS' Sibelius Edition is special enough where I would happily buy the CDs. Same for Sterling.
"The cases where I do buy physical media is for the booklets or libretto"
You must be aware that many websites now offer booklets on download for free (Hyperion, Naxos, Toccata Classics,... and you can download many others from Idagio, without even buying a subscription.
For me the issue is how/where do I want to read stuff? On a PC, laptop, phone? No way! I want the physical product in my hands, rather as I want a physical book rather than text on an e-reader. Call me a dinosaur...
I'm with you Alan, so if you are a dinosaur, then I am in serious trouble at my age!
The BIS website is already attracting critical comment. Looks like the marketing whizz-kids have been given free rein.