Apple Buys Primephonic, Plans to Debut Classical Music App

Apple officially inked a deal to acquire Primephonic, a popular classical music streaming service. The tech giant reportedly plans to launch a standalone classical music app sometime in 2022. Due to the acquisition, Primephonic stopped accepting new customers immediately and will temporarily go offline on September 7, when Apple begins to integrate the app into Apple Music. Apple told worried fans that it will combine Primephonic’s classical user interface “that fans have grown to love with more added features.”

Gizmodo reports that, “among those added features are detailed displays of classical music metadata as well as better browsing and search capabilities,” including the ability to “browse by composer and repertoire.” Apple Music also offers a “new high-fidelity lossless streaming and spatial audio features.”

On Primephonic’s website, the company told existing customers “that they are eligible to receive a prorated refund for the service and will also receive a six-month free trial on Apple Music.”

“We love and have a deep respect for classical music, and Primephonic has become a fan favorite for classical enthusiasts,” said Apple vice president of Apple Music and Beats Oliver Schusser. “Together, we’re bringing great new classical features to Apple Music, and in the near future, we’ll deliver a dedicated classical experience that will truly be the best in the world.”

Primephonic co-founder and chief executive Thomas Steffens said Apple’s purchase was a “tremendous development for the classical music industry.” “Artists love the Primephonic service and what we’ve done in classical, and now we have the ability to join with Apple to deliver the absolute best experience to millions of listeners,” he noted. “We get to bring classical music to the mainstream and connect a new generation of musicians with the next generation of audience.”

In Apple’s press release, the company noted that Primephonic offers “an outstanding listening experience with search and browse functionality optimized for classical, premium-quality audio, handpicked expert recommendations, and extensive contextual details on repertoire and recordings.”

It added that, “Apple Music subscribers will get a significantly improved classical music experience beginning with Primephonic playlists and exclusive audio content.”

Gordon P. Getty, a major shareholder of Primephonic, stated that it was “founded to ensure that classical music will stay relevant for future generations.” “Primephonic and Apple together can realize that mission and take classical to a worldwide audience,” he said.

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