► What is the “goal” of platforms offering classical repertoire?
Some services like Idagio and more recently the new Apple Music Classical (integrating the old Primephonic) are designed specifically for audiences who love classical music, whether familiar with the repertoire or not.
This distinguishes them from other platforms that cover all music styles and genres, such as Spotify, Deezer or Tidal. In this general category, Presto Music and Qobuz have to be distinguished, which, despite their broad spectrum, prefer references to classical music and jazz.
“Streaming”, the thinning out of a still declining music market
All these platforms advertise with around 100 million classic references, which are fed in particular from recordings by the majors in the music industry and are accessible on all offers. On the other hand, “old” references appear only when reprinted, which limits their access.
► On which media and in which audio quality?
All of these offers come with applications that allow music to be downloaded to a smartphone for offline listening. And all have web players for desktop use.
For Warner Music, “streaming” pays more than downloading
Apple Music Classical, last born, states that its entire catalog benefits from lossless quality (i.e. “lossless”, up to 24-bit/192kHz), which is the best resolution available on competing platforms, superior to that of CD recordings is. It is up to the user to have the equipment that will allow him to enjoy these sound performances …
► How is your browsing performance?
While some users are indifferent to the composers or performers of the works they discover or listen to again, other music lovers are in search of specific recordings. Identifying an album’s cover makes it easy to find it across services. On the other hand, if you want to find a precise interpretation, such as Carmen’s “Habanera” sung by the mezzo-soprano Teresa Berganza, only Idagio gets straight to the point. The other platforms drown out the sought-after reference between all the Habaneras, all the Carmens and all the Teresa Berganza recordings…
► What is the quality of the information associated with the records?
Once the right dataset is found, the accompanying information turns out to be very random. In some cases, publishers upload PDF versions of accompanying brochures. This is possible in particular from Qobuz or Presto Music. Idagio, Apple Classical and Qobuz also make it possible to compare the recordings of a given work, but with an unfortunate bias: these platforms actually offer the same recording multiple times when re-released!
► What access to new releases?
All platforms have new releases sections. The most flexible and easy-to-use “What’s New” section is Qobuz’s: you can filter by genre (or multiple genres, for example “Classical & Jazz” etc.), and you can use an additional filter between “All New Releases”. ‘, ‘Large Qobuz selection’, ‘Always visible’ or ‘Press price’. Note that Apple Classical bases some of its communications on preview access to certain recordings a few days before their “official” release.
► What helps to discover the classical repertoire?
All these services allow the user to create and modify their own playlists, which they can download to their smartphone and listen to offline. They also suggest what music to listen to: Idagio, Apple Classical and Qobuz have invested significant resources into creating their own playlists rather than relying on artificial intelligence, an argument they’ve made public more than ever.
Music Streaming: Historic Performer Compensation Deal
Apple’s playlists are grouped by different themes, such as countries or instruments. All of these services also offer playlists by mood: “romance”, “day under the covers”, “sad”, “at work”, “no stress”… Where we see that classical music is often seen as a psychological help in troubled times !
► Finally, a small price comparison
Apple Classic: €10.99 per month
Idagio: €9.99 per month and free version including ads available
Qobuz: €19.49 per month
Presto Music: Price per track and free version for “Presto Selection”