New Classical Download Store by Universal Music

[Dave]

Hello everyone,

Those of you who read about All Angels will know there is an article about classical music downloads and the new UCJ classical download store in this week's issue of Music Week (the UK's nearest equivalent to "Billboard").

The new download store could be big news - although I've just learned that the files will be incompatible with iTunes - but downloads are at an amazing 320 kbps (far higher then iTunes quality). As there could be lots of media reports about this, I decided to start a new thread to avoid hi-jacking Oksy's existing thread about song downloads - members will have to decide which thread is most suitable for their message.

You can discuss Hayley's digital downloads in here if you want to, if that side of it develops we might move the thread (s) to the Hayley "Miscellaneous" board. Three versions of Odyssey are already available on the UCJ download store!

Peter, to answer one of your queries in the All Angels board, I suspect that we are going to hear a lot about downloads for Hayley in the run-up to the release of her new album. This is a rapidly developing area and if the album does as well as we hope it does, some more classical download records may be broken (if the album qualifies as classical!)

If you want to read more, today's Universal Classics & Jazz news release is mentioned here: UCJ to sell Downloads (thanks Roger!) and complete details of the new UCJ download service are here: UCJ Download Details

Anyway, to start it off, here is the original Music Week article:

Cheers, Dave

[Dave]

The Music Week website has now caught up (subscriber only):

Universal Classics & Jazz launches download store
10 January 2007 - 16:27:55

Universal Music Group has today launched a classical and jazz download store, offering over 125,000 tracks in near-CD quality.

The site, accessible at www.classicsandjazz.co.uk, features music from a host of Universal imprints including Deutsche Grammophon, Decca, Philips, Verve, Emarcy and Impulse.

At launch, the site will offer 827 albums of piano music, 661 soprano albums, 544 concertos and 265 albums of Beethoven’s compositions.

Universal Classics & Jazz managing director Dickon Stainer says, “This site will revolutionise the consumer’s access to these genres, and offer music not available anywhere else.
“From José Carreras to Katherine Jenkins, this site will have it all, and will appeal to everyone from teenagers to the over fifties.”

Tracks are being offered as 320kbps-quality WMA files, at a cost of 79p per track. The quality is far superior to the iTune Music Store's comparatively low bittrate of 128kbps, however Universal's choice of file format makes the store's downloads incompatible with iPods.

UCJ plans to expand the site in coming months by offering videos of full ballets and operas digitally.

Cheers, Dave

[jons]

Only problem: 320Kbits may improve sound quality but reduce storage space and battery life on portable players.

[Theta]

I know wma files may have better sound quality than mp3 files, but surely mp3 is more widely recognised by media player? Isn't that saying, we will offer these files in WAV, which has great quality, but a even smaller number of media players would recognise them? Or have I got the wrong end of the stick here?

[postscript]

peter said:

I know wma files may have better sound quality than mp3 files, but surely mp3 is more widely recognised by media player? Isn't that saying, we will offer these files in WAV, which has great quality, but a even smaller number of media players would recognise them? Or have I got the wrong end of the stick here?

While I can't comment on the technical aspects, the thought that struck me was this. Is this an attempt to BREAK proprietory format hold by having so vast a library available, universality of access and use is achieved?

Peter S.

[roger]

This seems to be a slightly more in-depth report of what has previously been posted. From Reuters:

Universal pursues digital demand via classics site
By Gavin Haycock

LONDON (Reuters) - Universal Music, the world's biggest music company, launched what it billed as the largest online site for classical and jazz music on Wednesday as part of a drive to exploit rising demand for digital downloads.

"We expect sales to begin with to be relatively modest, but by the third or fourth quarter of the year to be making a positive contribution to the business," said Mark Wilkinson, a marketing director for Universal's classics and jazz division.

"I think (the market for digital downloads) can only grow, and as the Apple iPod generation grows, they start to discover the classics," he added.

Speaking at the launch of the new UK-based classical and jazz download Web site (www.classicsandjazz.co.uk), shortly after a live performance by Scottish violinist Nicola Benedetti, Wilkinson said Universal was tapping into a rich market segment.

This was due to the older generation's relative affluence, depth of knowledge and their growing desire to update sometimes eclectic collections with new recordings or rare releases.

"Older collectors are in tune with digital technology," he said.

The site currently has more than 100,000 classical and jazz tracks and nearly 8,000 CDs. Universal expects to increase its tracks by 1,500 per month. Downloads on the site start at 79 pence each, in line with the industry norm.

The launch of Universal's new site follows the company's best year for classical and jazz-related sales, a trend boosted by a globally growing digital download market and retailers' offering more music direct to customers via the Internet.

Universal is owned by French media giant Vivendi.

According to industry data collated by Universal, 60 percent of over 50-year-olds are online in the UK and 35 percent of those have access to broadband, but the figure is rising fast.

Clare Nash, who heads the classics and jazz unit's new media business, said the company decided to enter the market after industry research showed digital stores were not providing high enough quality download files and suitable search engines.

Universal is supplying music files in a Windows Media Audio format.

Universal hopes to export the model across Europe while future initiatives are expected to focus on video offerings, full-length opera and ballet downloads and making full artwork available from album sleeves.

© Reuters 2007. All Rights Reserved.

It is intersting that they play to make the artwork available from album sleeves. I would expect that might encourage more people to use the download facility.

Roger

[Dave]

jons said:

Only problem: 320Kbits may improve sound quality but reduce storage space and battery life on portable players.

Hi Jon,

It''s not a problem for me, I'd rather have the better quality and I think the target market (me!) mentioned in the article posted by Roger would tend to agree with me. I've grumbled about downloads using too low a bitrate for ages, although I admit that iTunes 128 kbps aac format is a bit better than it looks, perhaps equivalent to a 160 kbps wma or mp3 file. But 320 kbps wma should give noticably better quality than the 128/192 kbps offered by other download services, when played on a good hi-fi system.

Add to that the huge and increasing range of material offered by UCJ, and especially if artwork is also going to be available, as suggested in the article, and I think UCJ are onto a winner. I've just spent half an hour browsing their site and most of the samples are 60 to 90 seconds long, which is very good. I found it very tempting and nearly bought Anna Netrebko's Russian Album (but artwork isn't available so I didn't). Oh, Pure is on there now - they've just added it.

I wish UCJ well in this imaginative venture!

Cheers, Dave

[Richard]

Hello folks!

There is now an item about this on the News section of Hayley's official website, dated 10th January 2007:-

www.hayleywestenra.com/hayley-westenra-news.htm

From today you can buy Hayley Westenra album downloads from www.classicsandjazz.co.uk

Universal Classics & Jazz (UCJ) have launched a brand new digital store. www.classicsandjazz.co.uk is largest ever download store for classical and jazz music. The site has been designed not only for music purchasing, but also to offer interactive and educational functions. Features include minute clips of every track, reviews that you can read from professionals and other users, a discover section where you can read about current affairs effecting the classical and jazz genres and messageboards, to allow the user to interact with others over their choices, likes and dislikes.

The site will also features artist biographies, galleries, tour dates, news and will contain exclusive artist content, such as podcasts and studio blogs.

Please visit www.classicsandjazz.co.uk and let us know what you think!

There is a very similar article on All Angels' official site. I'm joining Dave in wishing Universal good luck with their bold venture!

Richard

[jons]

peter said:

I know wma files may have better sound quality than mp3 files, but surely mp3 is more widely recognised by media player? Isn't that saying, we will offer these files in WAV, which has great quality, but a even smaller number of media players would recognise them? Or have I got the wrong end of the stick here?

WMA is the record companies favorite because it uses DRM(Digital Rights Management) to protect against piracy, but limits what you can do with the music. MP3 does not have any propriety copyright protection.

And you're right Dave, the target audience for UCJ (like yourself) would prefer higher quality. In fact, EMUSIC have been offering high quality downloads for a while (MP3 no less, with no DRM restrictions) and in association which them Classic Fm offer a download service which is compatible with the Ipod.

[Dave]

jons said:

peter said:

WMA is the record companies favorite because it uses DRM(Digital Rights Management) to protect against piracy, but limits what you can do with the music.

Hi Jon,

I can't think of anything more limiting than iTunes - you are locked in to them and they won't allow other people to sell in iTunes/iPod DRM format . This (and their monopoly) allows them effectively to set the price for downloads.

7Digital a couple of years ago made their downloads available in a choice of iTunes aac format, wma or mp3 format - but that didn't last long, they were soon forced to toe the line.

I'm afraid I have an aversion to monoplies and restrictive business practices and the sooner someone finds a way to break the iTunes monopoly the better. I think I actually hate Apple/iTunes more than Microsoft and I won't ever buy an iPod or download any music from their iTunes store (though I do have it installed as their charts and track listings are interesting).

With iTunes/iPod, it's as if Microsoft monopolised not only the softwarer but the PC hardware as well - which thank goodness they do not.

I am disappointed that Universal didn't opt for digital rights management-free files, with a choice of wma or mp3 - but even so, I wish them well in their efforts to break the iTunes monopoly. Record companies and CD stores don't have a monopoly so why should one of the downloads companies effectively have one?

Sorry iTunes fans (including two of my daughters!) but I hate Apple iTunes/iPod with a passion!

Cheers, Dave

[comet]

Hi Folks Dave and Jon.

Long live the CD and the SACD. to hell with monopolies Iv'e been anti mac and their over rated programmes for years.

I thought for a while they were going to go under but unfortunately they were saved by the ipod.

[jons]

Samsung's latest Mp3 player.

www.anythingbutipod.com/archives/2007/01/samsung-ypk3-is-official.php

This is a good site if your looking for a new mp3 player for UCJ.