Apple Music‘s standalone classical music app ‘Apple Music Classical’ is now officially available in Japan, South Korea, China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan.
The launch follows a post from Apple on X earlier this month announcing the app’s expansion.
Apple Music Classical was officially launched in March last year and followed Apple’s acquisition of Netherlands-based classical music streaming service Primephonic in August 2021.
Apple Music Classical claims to be “the ultimate classical experience”. It also claims to feature the world’s largest classical music catalog, with over 5 million tracks and works, from new releases to “celebrated masterpieces”
“Everything we do comes down to our deep love for music,” said Oliver Schusser, Global Lead for Apple Music, commenting on the launch.
“Classical is so foundational to music of all genres but until now there was no great streaming experience available for artists and fans.
“Classical is so foundational to music of all genres but until now there was no great streaming experience available for artists and fans. We believe Apple Music Classical solves that problem.”
Oliver Schusser, Apple Music
Added Schusser: “We believe Apple Music Classical solves that problem, with the largest classical music selection in the world, the very best search and browse capabilities, the best premium sound experience with Spatial Audio, thousands of exclusive recordings from the world’s most incredible artists and so much more.
“I’m so proud of this app and I am excited to make it available to even more listeners all around the world today.”
Apple Music Classical users can search and browse by composer, work, conductor, instrument, periods, orchestra or choir, and find specific recordings.
Apple says that the interface is specifically “designed for Classical Music with complete and accurate metadata to make sure users know exactly what work and which artist is playing”.
The service offers audio quality of up to 192 kHz/24 bit Hi-Res Lossless with thousands of recordings in immersive Spatial Audio.
In addition to what Apple Music says are “thousands of exclusive recordings”, the app offers “thousands of editorial notes, including insightful composer biographies, descriptions of thousands of key works, and more”.
Apple also says that it is working closely with some of the “most prolific classical music artists and renowned classical music institutions in the world”.
The app’s ‘artist ambassadors’ include Lang Lang, Yunchan Lim, Kaori Muraji, Yutaka Sado, and Hayato Sumino, in addition to Yo-Yo Ma and Hilary Hahn, among others.
The streaming service’s partner organizations, meanwhile, include venues and orchestras like the Bunkamura Orchard Hall, Disney on CLASSIC, New Japan Philharmonic, Lotte Concert Hall, NCPA Orchestra, Seoul Arts Center, Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra, Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, Suntory Hall, Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, and Tongyeong International Music Festival, plus the Berlin Philharmonic, Carnegie Hall, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the London Symphony Orchestra, the Metropolitan Opera, the New York Philharmonic, Opéra national de Paris, the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, the San Francisco Symphony, and the Vienna Philharmonic.
This week, MBW reported that music available in Spatial Audio on Apple Music will receive a greater share of royalties from the platform.
In an update sent to its label partners on Monday January 22, and seen by MBW, Apple Music confirmed that Spatial-available content will receive a royalty rate up to 10% higher than content not available in Spatial.Music Business Worldwide
