Tech giant Apple announced this week that it bought Primephonic, a music-streaming service that specializes in the classical music genre. It adds that this will enable IOS users to expect a standalone classical-music-themed app in 2022, which will present, according to the company’s press release, “a significantly improved classical music experience.”
According to tech site The Verge, effective immediately, Primephonic is no longer accepting new customers, and the service as it exists today will shut down on September 7th. Current Primephonic subscribers will receive a complimentary Apple Music subscription for six months.
Apple says Primephonic’s playlists and “exclusive audio content” will be the first to be integrated into Apple Music. Down the line, it’ll add “the best features of Primephonic, including better browsing and search capabilities by composer and by repertoire, detailed displays of classical music metadata, plus new features and benefits.”
In a show of how serious Apple is about appealing to classical fans, the company says “a dedicated classical music app” will launch next year that will use Primephonic’s “classical user interface that fans have grown to love.”
“We love and have a deep respect for classical music, and Primephonic has become a fan favorite for classical enthusiasts,” said VP 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.”
