“Google and five of the world’s major orchestras announced an agreement Monday that will bring live concert recordings to a new classical music section of the Google Play online store,” writes Brian Wise on Monday (6/15) at New York classical radio station WQXR. “The digital storefront, dubbed Classical Live, will feature both on-demand streaming audio and digital downloads of performances by the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Cleveland Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra, New York Philharmonic and the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra of Amsterdam…. Officials from the five orchestras said they were drawn to the service because of its ability to make recordings available quickly to a wide global audience—and particularly Android phone owners…. The orchestras themselves will maintain control on artistic matters…. Listeners can either sign up for unlimited streaming for a $10 monthly subscription fee, or buy individual downloads priced initially at $.69 a track or $4.99 for a complete symphony…. There are 22 complete works and three free sampler tracks included in the rollout phase…. Pre-existing digital agreements with musicians’ unions cover payments to the players…. Each of the five orchestras intends to continue to release their recordings through other channels, whether in-house … or through traditional label deals.”
Posted June 16, 2015
