OnClassical

OnClassical is an Italian independent record label focused on classical music, particularly repertoire performed by solo instrumentalists and chamber ensembles. It was founded in April 2003 by Alessandro Simonetto, a harpsichordist, producer, and sound engineer. From its beginning, the label combined recording production with direct internet distribution, an approach that distinguished it from conventional classical record companies and helped establish it as an early Italian experiment in web-based music publishing. The label’s initial activity developed from an online collection of performances by prominent pianists and other instrumentalists, including Maurizio Baglini, Rustem Hayroudinoff, Gianluca Luisi, Alberto Nosè, and Mariangela Vacatello. In January 2004, the project evolved into a more formal online record label and mobile recording operation using its own equipment. Later website revisions, introduced in 2005 and 2007, retained a deliberately consistent visual identity and continued to emphasize direct access to recordings and permissive licensing. OnClassical’s artistic model has emphasized selected prize-winning musicians and younger performers who were not bound by exclusive agreements with managers or traditional recording houses. Since 2006, the label has concentrated on self-produced recordings chosen through a more selective process. Its catalogue has been offered in high-quality digital formats, initially including uncompressed CD-quality PCM or WAV files and, in later releases, Studio Master FLAC files at higher sample rates and bit depths. The recordings are distributed without digital rights management in the files, while compressed versions are made available through external digital music stores such as Amazon, iTunes, eMusic, Qobuz, and eClassical. The label’s catalogue has included more than 200 titles and has been distributed by Naxos of America. Some recordings have also been licensed to larger classical-music companies, including Naxos and Brilliant Classics. A substantial continuing project has been the recording of the complete keyboard works of Dieterich Buxtehude and Georg Böhm, performed by the Florentine organist and harpsichordist Simone Stella; portions of this project have also appeared through Brilliant Classics. OnClassical has also been associated with Creative Commons-oriented digital publishing. It has stated that it does not maintain relationships with collecting societies because its repertoire consists of public-domain music. In addition, the label has supplied a large body of classical recordings for Jamendo Pro, Jamendo’s commercial music-licensing service. Overall, OnClassical occupies a specialized position at the intersection of independent classical recording, high-resolution digital audio, direct-to-consumer distribution, and alternative licensing practices.

OnClassical was established in Italy in April 2003 by Alessandro Simonetto, who combined work as a harpsichordist with production and sound engineering. The label emerged during a period when online audio distribution was beginning to challenge the traditional physical-record model. Rather than operating solely through conventional record-company channels, OnClassical developed a direct web presence for presenting and selling classical performances. The first version of its website functioned primarily as a collection of audio performances by notable pianists and other musicians. In January 2004, the second version expanded the project into an online record label and a mobile recording studio equipped for the label’s own production work. Further versions were released in February 2005 and July 2007. These revisions preserved a consistent black-and-white design with a yellow vertical border while maintaining the project’s focus on recordings, online access, and licensing terms. The label’s recruitment philosophy has favored international competition winners and promising younger musicians who do not have exclusive representation or recording agreements with managers and established recording companies. This gave OnClassical a way to document performers who might otherwise have had limited access to professional recording distribution. From 2006 onward, the company increasingly limited its output to recordings that it produced itself and subjected to a more selective artistic process. A central feature of the label has been its emphasis on digital sound quality. Releases were made available in uncompressed CD-quality PCM or WAV files, and later releases increasingly used Studio Master FLAC. Recent releases described in reference material include files at 88.2 kHz and 24-bit resolution. The label also presented its files without DRM. More compressed editions were distributed through third-party online stores, including Amazon, iTunes, eMusic, Qobuz, eClassical, and other digital retailers. OnClassical’s repertoire has consisted primarily of public-domain classical music. The label has stated that it has no relationship with rights-collecting societies because of this repertoire policy. It was also among the early Italian labels to experiment with Creative Commons principles for MP3 and other digital files, making licensing and online circulation part of its identity rather than treating them as secondary technical matters. The catalogue eventually exceeded 200 titles and received distribution through Naxos of America. Individual recordings were licensed to established labels such as Naxos and Brilliant Classics, extending the reach of the independently produced material. One of the label’s most substantial discographic undertakings has been Simone Stella’s recording of the complete keyboard works of Dieterich Buxtehude and Georg Böhm. The project has also been issued through Brilliant Classics. Beyond conventional album sales, OnClassical developed a licensing relationship with Jamendo Pro, the commercial music-licensing service operated by Jamendo. The label has been described as providing Jamendo Pro with a particularly large quantity of classical music. This activity broadened the use of its recordings from personal listening and specialist classical distribution to commercial and media licensing. OnClassical therefore represents a hybrid model: a small independent label, a production and recording operation, a high-resolution digital catalogue, and a source of public-domain classical music for alternative licensing platforms.

• 2007

  Fourth website version launches

  [1]OnClassicalen.wikipedia.org

  The July 2007 website revision preserves the established design and the label’s online distribution and licensing principles.

• 2006

  The label tightens its production focus

  [1]OnClassicalen.wikipedia.org

  OnClassical begins concentrating on self-produced recordings selected through a more rigorous internal process.

• 2005

  Third website version launches

  [1]OnClassicalen.wikipedia.org

  A new version of the website continues the label’s consistent visual design and its emphasis on recordings and licensing.

• 2004

  The project becomes an online label and mobile studio

  [1]OnClassicalen.wikipedia.org

  The second website version expands the original performance archive into an online record label supported by a mobile recording studio and the label’s own equipment.

• 2003

  OnClassical is founded

  [1]OnClassicalen.wikipedia.org

  Alessandro Simonetto establishes OnClassical in Italy as an independent classical-music label and production initiative.

• Catalogue exceeds 200 titles

  [1]OnClassicalen.wikipedia.org

  The label’s catalogue grows to more than 200 titles and is distributed by Naxos of America.

An independent, digitally native classical record label centered on carefully selected performers, self-produced recordings, high-resolution audio, direct online distribution, and permissive or public-domain-oriented licensing.

• Classical music recordings · 2003

  OnClassical digital catalogue

  The core offering is a catalogue of classical recordings, mostly devoted to solo instruments and chamber ensembles. The repertoire is centered on public-domain works and features selected international competition winners and younger musicians. Releases have been distributed directly online and through specialist and general digital music retailers, with some titles also reaching audiences through larger classical labels.

• Digital audio

  High-resolution digital masters

  OnClassical has offered recordings in uncompressed PCM or WAV at CD quality and, in later releases, as Studio Master FLAC files. Recent catalogue material described by the label includes high-resolution files at 88.2 kHz and 24-bit depth. The files are supplied without digital rights management, while lossy or compressed editions are available through external online stores.

• Classical recording series

  Buxtehude and Böhm complete keyboard works project

  A major discographic project is Simone Stella’s recording of the complete keyboard works of Dieterich Buxtehude and Georg Böhm. The performances are associated with OnClassical’s emphasis on specialist instrumental repertoire and have also been released through Brilliant Classics.

• Jamendo Pro classical licensing collaboration

  International commercial music licensing

  OnClassical supplied a substantial volume of classical recordings to Jamendo Pro, Jamendo’s commercial music-licensing program, extending the label’s catalogue into business, media, and other licensed-use contexts.

  Outcome. The collaboration broadened the distribution and practical use of OnClassical recordings beyond conventional album sales and specialist classical listening.

  Source

• 2006

  Shift toward selective self-produced releasesStrategy

  Background

  After several years of online activity and catalogue development, the label refined its output strategy.

  Action taken

  OnClassical began publishing only self-produced recordings selected through a more careful process.

  Aftermath

  The catalogue became more closely associated with the label’s own recording standards and artist-selection approach.

  Source

• 2004

  Adoption of an online-label and mobile-studio modelStrategy

  Background

  The initial website was primarily an audio collection, but the label sought a more integrated production and distribution model.

  Action taken

  OnClassical developed the site into an online record label and mobile recording studio using its own equipment.

  Aftermath

  The change established the production and direct digital-distribution model that shaped the label’s later catalogue.

  Source

• Adoption of high-resolution, DRM-free digital deliveryStrategy

  Background

  OnClassical positioned digital audio quality and flexible file use as important alternatives to conventional physical releases and restrictive digital formats.

  Action taken

  The label offered uncompressed and Studio Master files, later emphasizing high-resolution FLAC, and distributed them without DRM.

  Aftermath

  This reinforced OnClassical’s identity as a specialist digital-audio label and supported distribution through multiple online stores.

  Source

1. 1OnClassicalen.wikipedia.org