17 Sep 2018

NZ classical artists feature on new international music streaming platform

From Upbeat, 11:01 am on 17 September 2018

A number of high profile New Zealand classical music groups are featuring on a new streaming platform that allows classical music lovers to access millions of works from anywhere in the world.

New Zealand String Quartet

New Zealand String Quartet Photo: Supplied

Recordings by the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Voices New Zealand, The National Youth Orchestra, New Zealand Opera and the New Zealand String Quartet are featured on Primephonic, which has launched in the US, UK and Netherlands.

In a statement the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra says it’s delighted that a selection of music it has recorded is available to listeners via Primephonic and other streaming services, such as Spotify and Apple Music.

“Our goal is to be as accessible as possible to all New Zealanders and streaming services allow more people to hear recorded works by the Orchestra,” the statement says. “Streaming services also mean many more people overseas can listen to the NZSO and discover that it is a world-class orchestra.”

Michael Houstoun

Michael Houstoun Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King

Pianist Michael Houstoun’s recording of Beethoven’s complete piano sonatas also features.

He has mixed feelings about his work appearing on streaming services.

“Artists find themselves at the bottom of the heap.

“I think I’m on Spotify too, but haven’t had a cent from them,” he says. “I always thought if you give stuff away people don’t value it. I’ve said it too many times.”

He does recognise the way in which audiences engage with music is changing. “If that’s what the world wants, that’s what the world gets.”

Steve Garden

Steve Garden Photo: Via Audioculture

Steve Garden, Director of Rattle Records in New Zealand is open to the idea of having New Zealand artists and composers available on streaming platforms like Primephonic.

“This is the way music is being accessed by in large by many people,” he says. “Rattle will be … making our music available on as many platforms as possible.

“Let’s encourage our artists to use the platforms that are available to promote and publicise their work so people can access it. Let the commercial side of things take care of itself.”

Jian Liu

Jian Liu Photo: Supplied

Jian Liu’s Sarajevo: A Collection of New Zealand Piano Works, New Zealand String Quartet’s recording of Lilburn’s String Quartet in E minor and NZSO’s recordings of Elgar and Gershwin works, among others, are available.

According to the Primephonic website their service differs from other mainstream streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music because it has developed a pay-per-second model which means the longer a work is streamed the more money it receives.

Primephonic claims to have nearly all classical music ever recorded, with more than one million tracks available to listen.

The catalogues of over 400 labels are available on the platform, with content from companies like Sony Classical, Deutsche Grammophon, Universal Music Classics, Decca, Warner Classics and EMI.

The platform is not yet available in New Zealand.