Berlin Philharmonic to launch it's own label -

[brucknerdoc]

Simon Rattle conducts Schumann's Symphonies

 

In addition to it's own impressive Digital Concert Hall, the Berlin Philharmonic is launching it's own label - beginning with a cycle of Schumann's symphonies being released on May 23. This premiere release will be a nicely presented linen edition featuring the symphonies over 2 CDs. Plus, a Blu-ray disc containing the works in 96/24 Pure Audio (2.0 PCM and 5.0 DTS-HD MA), as well as Full HD video (16:9, in PCM and DTS-HD).

 

Also included with the set will be a download code for the entire album (up to 192/24), and a 7-day pass to the DCH.

 

I like the way the Berlin Phil has embraced delivery of it's product - the DCH contains an incredible archive of available works for streaming. And this new label will hopefully lead the way as a method for other organizations to market their releases.

[Musicophile]

Thanks for sharing.

 

The own label trend is probably not stoppable and makes sense in these days where there's nothing much left of what used to be the giant Deutsche Grammophon.

 

I just wonder why they are still so focused on selling physical products. I just hope they are going to be smart enough to also make the high-res downloads available independently as opposed to limiting them to download codes with physical box sets, or partner with Highresaudio or Qobuz (preferably the latter given Highresaudio's painful high-price policy) on getting their downloads out.

 

Maybe they don't want to jeopardize their digital concert hall program.

 

Had a quick listen to the Schumann samples. Not bad, but you can really hear the tradition of the Berlin Philharmonic in this box. If I were to get a new Schumann cycle, I'd probably rather go for this one (I'm very close to pulling the trigger):

 

Schumann: The Symphonies | Robert Schumann par Chamber Orchestra of Europe*– Télécharger et écouter l'album

 

By the way, the good news on the latter is that it seems that now DG/Universal starts more and more selling 24/96.

[christian u]

Great news, very exiting.

From what I understand one of the problems with downloads is you have to make a deal with each country's copyright organisation to sell downloads in a country, which can be pretty expensive. But when printing a CD or Blueray, sacd etc. you only pay once for the number of CD's printed.

What's the difference between God and a conductor? God knows He's not a conductor.

_______________

[bmoura]

Great news, very exiting.

From what I understand one of the problems with downloads is you have to make a deal with each country's copyright organisation to sell downloads in a country, which can be pretty expensive. But when printing a CD or Blueray, sacd etc. you only pay once for the number of CD's printed.

 

Hmm, there are some download sites (NativeDSD.Com, e-Onkyo come to mind) that sell downloads to music fans in every country. Maybe they have found a way around the challenges you describe.

[Kenneth Horne]

I just wonder why they are still so focused on selling physical products.

 

For me the physical product makes far more sense at this stage as the multichannel option is included.

[astrotoy]

We are clearly seeing a big movement to major orchestras having their own labels. In addition to the BPO, San Francisco, Boston, London Symphony, Chicago, and several others have moved there. It is all economics, with the big labels pulling out of contracts with major orchestras. IIRC the BPO members under their Karajan DGG contract were earning more than half their income from recording fees and royalties. Karajan was the best selling conductor of all time. When the plug was pulled on these contracts, the move was to have orchestras record their concert performances (or sometimes rehearsals). There were no session fees (which are quite significant particularly in the US) since there were no independent recording sessions, and the orchestra members only received payments based on the sales of the recordings. Thus a recording of a live concert became a much lower cost and lower risk undertaking. Talking to the Decca engineers over the past year, their concern was that recording live concerts did not give the engineers the same control or sonic quality (they can't do a Decca Tree, for example) as in a studio, and if there is a flub or noisy audience, it will be there forever. One of the former Decca producers during their golden age, James Mallinson, produces the LSO Live series. The Boston Symphony has been doing downloads for several years in different formats. I have several of their multichannel downloads.

 

Larry

[mkrzych]

From their website: "New releases on the Berliner Philharmoniker Recordings label will initially be on sale exclusively in our online shop and in the Berlin Philharmonie. We also work with selected specialist retailers." So, maybe after the start, they will sign the deals also with third parties to deliver high resolution sound in a downloadable format - lets hope.

[christian u]

Hmm, there are some download sites (NativeDSD.Com, e-Onkyo come to mind) that sell downloads to music fans in every country. Maybe they have found a way around the challenges you describe.

 

I know more now, did some research, older music is copyright free.

[burnspbesq]

The Schumann symphonies cycle is now available at HDT, in either 192/24 ($29.95) or 96/24 ($24.95).

[bmoura]

I know more now, did some research, older music is copyright free.

 

Another key, perhaps the biggest, is that the sites run by the record label themselves - or in cooperation with other record labels (Native DSD, DSD File, Blue Coast) are the ones with worldwide availability. The download sites that have licensed titles tend to be geography limited.