A Startup’s Take on Classical Music Recording Today

Rethinking the Score: A Startup’s Take on Classical Music Recording Today

The classical recording industry, once the gold standard of sonic sophistication, has found itself a bit stuck in a rut. While digital platforms have broadened reach, many artists—particularly emerging ones—are still struggling to get a fair hearing, let alone a fair deal. As a startup label diving headfirst into this world, we figure it's high time for a shake-up.

For decades, the traditional recording model has remained largely unchanged: major labels with deep pockets sign a select few artists, book pricey studios, and churn out polished recordings that are, admittedly, often brilliant. But the catch? Artists frequently find themselves locked into rigid contracts, with limited say in repertoire or creative direction, and not much to show for it financially. It's all a bit old hat, really.

At our label, we’re flipping the script. We believe classical music doesn't need to live in ivory towers to be respected. It can be raw, intimate, contemporary—even scrappy, so long as it's authentic. We're offering artists more control, both creatively and contractually. That means fair royalties, open collaboration, and an embrace of diverse programming—from Schubert to living composers who haven't yet made it onto the BBC Proms billing.

We’re also ditching the obsession with overly polished perfection. Yes, clarity matters. But so does personality. Too many recordings today are sterilised in post-production, drained of the spontaneity that makes live performance so thrilling. We want to keep the breath, the bow scrape, the human touch. Listeners deserve recordings that feel alive, not airbrushed into oblivion.

And let’s talk access. Streaming has its pitfalls (don't get us started on the pittance paid per stream), but it’s also a powerful tool. We’re working to leverage digital platforms creatively, pairing releases with short films, educational content, and behind-the-scenes glimpses into the recording process—making classical music feel more like a shared experience and less like a museum piece.

At the end of the day, we're not here to reinvent the wheel, just to oil it a bit—make it spin smoother for the artists who deserve to be heard and the listeners hungry for something genuine. The classical world can be slow to change, but with a bit of pluck and a lot of heart, we reckon there's room for something new.

Let the music speak—and this time, let it say something different.