Тoday Apple announced it has acquired Primephonic, the renowned classical music streaming service that offers an outstanding listening experience with search and browsing functionality optimized for classical, premium-quality audio, handpicked expert recommendations, and extensive contextual details on recordings.

In addition to Primephonic, Apple Music subscribers will get a significantly improved classical music experience beginning with Primephonic playlists. In the upcoming months, Apple Music Classical fans will get a dedicated experience with the best features of Primephonic, including better browsing and search capabilities by composer and repertoire, detailed displays of classical music metadata, and new features and benefits. Oliver Schusser, Apple’s vice president of Apple Music and Beats said:

“We love and have a deep respect for classical music, and Primephonic has become a fan favourite for classical enthusiasts. 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.”

Thomas Steffens, Primephonic’s co-founder and CEO, also added:

“Bringing the best of Primephonic to Apple Music subscribers is a tremendous development for the classical music industry. Artists love the Primephonic service and what we’ve done in classical, and now we have the ability to join with Apple to deliver the absolute best experience to millions of listeners. We get to bring classical music to the mainstream and connect a new generation of musicians with the next generation of audience.”

Gordon P. Getty, a major shareholder of Primephonic noted:

“Primephonic was founded to ensure that classical music will stay relevant for future generations. Primephonic and Apple together can realize that mission and take classical to a worldwide audience.”

Primephonic is no longer available for new subscribers and will be taken offline on September 7. Apple Music plans to launch a dedicated classical music app next year combining Primephonic’s classical user interface. Current Primephonic subscribers will receive six months of Apple Music for free, providing access to a lot of classical albums, all in Lossless and high-resolution audio, as well as classic albums in Apple Music’s Spatial Audio, featuring new albums.