Decca Records announced this week that they will now be called Decca Classics, a move that puts all of the label's assets under one roof for the first time. They also stated there are no plans to focus on classical music digital sales since the demographic for this genre prefers traditional modes of delivery such as CDs. The company will, however, focus on signing new, exciting, fresh-faced talent to the label to attract young audiences to classical music such as U.S. cellist Alisa Weilerstein and Polish soprano Aleksandra Kurzak, as well as Israeli pianist and conductor Daniel Barenboim.
"[Paul] Moseley said that unlike the world of rock or pop, rampant piracy was not the biggest problem facing the classical music business. Digital purchases account for less than 20 percent of the sector's sales, with the generally older audience preferring to own physical CDs. Decca Classics' biggest challenge, he added, was to identify artists who would appeal to all ages. 'We're working with a largely fixed repertoire,' he said. 'Only by building stars can you make the repertoire fresh again and connect with younger audiences. Amid declining retail opportunities, it is Decca's duty to grow charismatic artists who we'll be talking about in five or 10 years' time.'" [Source]
