Apple seems to have quite ambitious plans in the field of classical music. Earlier this year, the tech giant launched the Apple Music Classical app to cater to an audience that has a deep interest in classical music. At the release of the app, Apple said it has been working with classical music artists and music institutions that will allow it to offer exclusive content and recordings at launch.
Today, Apple took a major step in that direction by acquiring BIS Records, an iconic, 50-year-old classical music company. Here’s how this acquisition will help Apple.
Apple acquires BIS Records
BIS Records is a Swedish classical music record label that was founded in 1973 by Robert von Bahr. The company is counted among the highly-respected classical labels in the world and is known for the quality of its recordings. Interestingly, BIS Records celebrated its 50th anniversary this week.
After 50 years, BIS Records is proud to announce that we have joined the Apple family. BIS will become part of Apple Music Classical and Platoon. In this way, the musical treasures of our extensive catalogue will be further enhanced and preserved.
— BIS Records (@BIS_records) September 5, 2023
Robert pic.twitter.com/6Vf5Nmwpzu
On the homepage of BIS Records’ website, founder Robert von Bahr has posted an announcement that the company has been acquired by Apple and this will help in further continuing his mission of bringing classical music to new audiences globally.
The announcement note reads as follows:
“A few days ago BIS Records turned 50 years old and I am immensely proud of what our small team of people has accomplished during this half-century. BIS’s specialty, while paying our dues to the core repertoire, has been to nurture young classical artists and interesting living composers and to safeguard the musical treasure that we all represent long into the future. It is to that end that, after much careful consideration, and having just turned 80, I am excited to announce the rather momentous news that we have made the decision to become part of the Apple family.”
Now that Apple has acquired BIS, it will become a part of Apple Music Classical and Platoon, Apple’s record label which it acquired in 2018.
Apple’s efforts in classical music industry
Apple has been establishing a strong foothold in the classical music industry for some time now. After acquiring Platoon in 2018, the Cupertino tech giant owned Primephonic, a classical music streaming service in 2021.
In March this year, Apple released Apple Music Classical, an app dedicated especially to classical music lovers. The app boasts a vast catalog with more than five million classical tracks and quite a simple user interface. In the Apple Music Classical app, users can search by composer, work, conductor, or even catalog number, to find their favorite tracks.