Apple Acquires Classical Music Label BIS Records, Strengthening Its Commitment to Classical Music: BIS Records is a Swedish record label of classical music started in 1973 by Robert von Bahr. BIS Records is a huge label, celebrating its 50th anniversary this week, a fact the label’s founder announced in his letter.
The company announced its impending acquisition by Apple earlier today. The BIS Records homepage now features a statement from founder Robert von Bahr:
Dear Friends,
BIS Records: A few days ago BIS Records turned 50 years old and I am immensely proud of what our small team of people has accomplished during this half-century. BIS’s specialty, while paying our dues to the core repertoire, has been to nurture young classical artists and interesting living composers and to safeguard the musical treasure that we all represent long into the future. It is to that end that, after much careful consideration, and having just turned 80, I am excited to announce the rather momentous news that we have made the decision to become part of the Apple family.
We thought long and hard on how to maintain and build upon our prestigious history and looked for a partner who would further our mission, as well as an increased global platform to bring classical music to new audiences all over the world. Apple, with its own storied history of innovation and love of music, is the ideal home to usher in the next era of classical and has shown true commitment towards building a future in which classical music and technology work in harmony. It is my vision and my sincerest dream that we are all a part of this future.
There have been numerous moves of late by Apple to further support creativity within the classical space, not the least of which was the release of Apple Music Classical earlier this year. Apple and BIS also share a fundamental belief in the importance of preserving audio quality. As you are all aware, BIS has always been about exceptional sound quality, and Apple’s dedication to sound, as well as to Spatial Audio, is something I have followed with interest.
BIS will become part of Apple Music Classical and Platoon. As proud as I am of this milestone, I am even more proud of the fact that the entire personnel of BIS, including me, have been retained. We all look forward to a future, filled with new music and artists in golden sound from this increased force in classical music.
BIS Records
BIS is set to be part of Apple Music Classical and Apple-owned label Platoon. Apple in 2018 acquired London-based A&R startup Platoon, which focused on discovering emerging music artists.
In 2021, Apple announced that it had purchased the classical music streaming service Primephonic and would fold it into Apple Music through a new app dedicated to the genre. Apple released the Apple Music Classic app in March.