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The Music Room => General Classical Music Discussion => Topic started by: Brian on June 09, 2009, 09:06:59 PM

Title: Naxos buys Ondine
Post by: Brian on June 09, 2009, 09:06:59 PM
Yes, "buys." The long and short is that Naxos will distribute Ondine CDs worldwide and Naxos International will become the new owners of the Ondine label. I am assuming that Ondine will still operate under its own name, having seen no evidence to the contrary. The Philadelphia Orchestra is presumably not in a hurry to become a Naxos artist.

News story: http://www.sequenza21.com/index.php/1354

Quote

On June 9, 2009 the prestigious Finnish classical recording label Ondine announced a change in ownership to Naxos International. Additionally, the label will be distributed in the U.S. and in Canada by Naxos of America beginning on July 1.

Ondine was founded 1985 by Reijo Kiilunen in Helsinki, where the Finnish classical label is still based and today offers an extremely eclectic catalogue of both Finnish contemporary music and recordings with major Finnish and international artists. "I'm extremely excited that Naxos was keen to become our owner," said Reijo Kiilunen, Managing Director of Ondine. "Naxos shares our solid commitment to classical music. Ondine will benefit from its extensive and professional international organization and distribution network as well as its highly advanced digital business models. In addition, joining forces makes us the strongest classical player in the domestic Finnish market. All this made me realize, that from a number of interesting alternatives, Naxos was the best choice of owner in facing all the challenges within our business world."
Title: Re: Naxos buys Ondine
Post by: Catison on June 10, 2009, 01:31:42 AM
Quote from: Brian on June 09, 2009, 09:06:59 PM
Yes, "buys." The long and short is that Naxos will distribute Ondine CDs worldwide and Naxos International will become the new owners of the Ondine label. I am assuming that Ondine will still operate under its own name, having seen no evidence to the contrary. The Philadelphia Orchestra is presumably not in a hurry to become a Naxos artist.

News story: http://www.sequenza21.com/index.php/1354


They already distribute many small labels, so this isn't something completely off their radar.  I am happy that more of them will be under one roof though.  It makes it easier to get special orders, etc.
Title: Re: Naxos buys Ondine
Post by: jlaurson on June 10, 2009, 02:57:05 AM
This is very good news, indeed.

I just hope that Naxos' catalog doesn't get too large for their own good. A bit of focus has never hurt anyone. I now a few labels the could easily drop. Uh, well... Ondine is in any case strengthening their distribution portfolio, not watering it down. Apparently they had not been happy with Universal, where they were, distribution-wise, for the last year.
Title: Re: Naxos buys Ondine
Post by: CRCulver on June 10, 2009, 08:44:20 AM
Not a bad acquisition. At least Naxos is dedicated to classical music, even obscure composers and state-funded recordings. After Ondine's predecessor label Finlandia was bought by the Warner Music Group (basically Warner wanted to snatch up Finnish pop music publishing rights, but Finlandia happened to come along), that large multinational completely killed it.
Title: Re: Naxos buys Ondine
Post by: Brian on June 10, 2009, 09:15:16 AM
Naxos Twitter account (  ;D  ) just confirmed to me that Ondine will continue to release music under its own name and operate independently - they'll just be owned by Naxos (sort of like the Da Capo deal?).
Title: Re: Naxos buys Ondine
Post by: Coopmv on June 10, 2009, 06:53:27 PM
At least it sounds much more promising than WarnerMusic buying out Erato and Finlandia when the American corporate bureaucrats who knew next to nothing about classical music managed to smother all creativity these two small European labels used to have ...
Title: Re: Naxos buys Ondine
Post by: eyeresist on June 10, 2009, 06:55:23 PM
Is this why Naxos prices have risen lately? :)

I hope this might mean some of Ondine's back catalog will see reissue under the Naxos label.
Title: Re: Naxos buys Ondine
Post by: Coopmv on June 10, 2009, 06:58:27 PM
Quote from: eyeresist on June 10, 2009, 06:55:23 PM
Is this why Naxos prices have risen lately? :)

I hope this might mean some of Ondine's back catalog will see reissue under the Naxos label.


Naxos may well continue to issue previously recorded Ondine recordings under the Ondine label.
Title: Re: Naxos buys Ondine
Post by: Henritus on June 12, 2009, 09:06:00 PM
Quote from: eyeresist on June 10, 2009, 06:55:23 PM
Is this why Naxos prices have risen lately? :)


You don't mean the stock price, yes?
Title: Re: Naxos buys Ondine
Post by: Coopmv on June 13, 2009, 02:55:27 AM
Quote from: Henritus on June 12, 2009, 09:06:00 PM
You don't mean the stock price, yes?

Naxos is a German company?  No?  Shares in record companies are generally poor investments anyway.  I have owned TimeWarner shares for over ten years and am still sitting on paper losses ...
Title: Re: Naxos buys Ondine
Post by: Brian on June 13, 2009, 10:30:58 AM
Quote from: Coopmv on June 13, 2009, 02:55:27 AM


Naxos is a German company?  No?  Shares in record companies are generally poor investments anyway.  I have owned TimeWarner shares for over ten years and am still sitting on paper losses ...
Naxos is a privately held company based in Hong Kong, I believe.
Title: Re: Naxos buys Ondine
Post by: Coopmv on June 13, 2009, 10:33:41 AM
Quote from: Brian on June 13, 2009, 10:30:58 AM
Naxos is a privately held company based in Hong Kong, I believe.

But it is not a Chinese-owned company.  I thought I read an article when Naxos first started out and the founder was German ...
Title: Re: Naxos buys Ondine
Post by: Brian on June 13, 2009, 10:55:15 AM
Quote from: Coopmv on June 13, 2009, 10:33:41 AM
But it is not a Chinese-owned company.  I thought I read an article when Naxos first started out and the founder was German ...
Yep, Klaus Heymann runs it.

From their site -

Naxos is the brainchild of Klaus Heymann, a German-born entrepreneur and music lover based in Hong Kong. To boost the sales for his electronics equipment company, Heymann began organising concerts of classical music in Hong Kong sponsored by Bose and Revox. When visiting artists involved in the concerts discovered that their records could not be found in Hong Kong shops, record distribution became an additional enterprise of Heymann's company.

Another result of the classical concerts was Heymann's marriage to Takako Nishizaki, a world-class Japanese violinist. Heymann decided to make recordings with Nishizaki, one of the first recordings being The Butterfly Lovers Concerto. The recording met with immediate success and sold hundreds of thousands of copies across Asia, compelling Heymann to start HK, a record label devoted to Chinese symphonic music. Success continued, and the desire to record Western repertoire blossomed into Marco Polo, a label offering primarily rare symphonic repertoire composed in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.


Also -

The Naxos group of companies is based in Hong Kong and is comprised of two main holding companies. Naxos Rights International Limited owns all the rights and intellectual property of Naxos. Naxos Global Distribution Limited has the world-wide distribution and commercial exploitation rights for the Naxos catalogue and intellectual property. It has partly or wholly owned subsidiaries in the USA, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, Sweden, Australia, Denmark and Finland.
Title: Re: Naxos buys Ondine
Post by: 71 dB on June 13, 2009, 11:13:34 AM
Quote from: eyeresist on June 10, 2009, 06:55:23 PM
Is this why Naxos prices have risen lately? :)

Have they risen somewhere? Not in Finland anyway. Normal price of Naxos dics is still 8 euros.
Title: Re: Naxos buys Ondine
Post by: Brian on June 13, 2009, 11:22:41 AM
Quote from: 71 dB on June 13, 2009, 11:13:34 AM
Have they risen somewhere? Not in Finland anyway. Normal price of Naxos dics is still 8 euros.
US from $7 to $10. Britain from 5 pounds to 6.
Title: Re: Naxos buys Ondine
Post by: Bulldog on June 13, 2009, 02:40:15 PM
Quote from: Brian on June 13, 2009, 11:22:41 AM
US from $7 to $10. Britain from 5 pounds to 6.

The above doesn't mean much without knowing the time length involved.
Title: Re: Naxos buys Ondine
Post by: Coopmv on June 13, 2009, 04:42:29 PM
Quote from: Brian on June 13, 2009, 10:55:15 AM
Yep, Klaus Heymann runs it.

From their site -

Naxos is the brainchild of Klaus Heymann, a German-born entrepreneur and music lover based in Hong Kong. To boost the sales for his electronics equipment company, Heymann began organising concerts of classical music in Hong Kong sponsored by Bose and Revox. When visiting artists involved in the concerts discovered that their records could not be found in Hong Kong shops, record distribution became an additional enterprise of Heymann's company.

Another result of the classical concerts was Heymann's marriage to Takako Nishizaki, a world-class Japanese violinist. Heymann decided to make recordings with Nishizaki, one of the first recordings being The Butterfly Lovers Concerto. The recording met with immediate success and sold hundreds of thousands of copies across Asia, compelling Heymann to start HK, a record label devoted to Chinese symphonic music. Success continued, and the desire to record Western repertoire blossomed into Marco Polo, a label offering primarily rare symphonic repertoire composed in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.


Also -

The Naxos group of companies is based in Hong Kong and is comprised of two main holding companies. Naxos Rights International Limited owns all the rights and intellectual property of Naxos. Naxos Global Distribution Limited has the world-wide distribution and commercial exploitation rights for the Naxos catalogue and intellectual property. It has partly or wholly owned subsidiaries in the USA, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, Sweden, Australia, Denmark and Finland.

Brian,  Thanks for this info.  I actually bought this CD mentioned in this write-up.

(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/515u7Rqw3AL._SL500_AA240_.jpg)
Title: Re: Naxos buys Ondine
Post by: Coopmv on June 13, 2009, 04:45:05 PM
Quote from: Brian on June 13, 2009, 11:22:41 AM
US from $7 to $10. Britain from 5 pounds to 6.

This is a price increase of over 40% in the US ...   ???
Title: Re: Naxos buys Ondine
Post by: Brian on June 13, 2009, 07:35:18 PM
Quote from: Bulldog on June 13, 2009, 02:40:15 PM
The above doesn't mean much without knowing the time length involved.
Since I started buying Naxos CDs ... I guess that would be five or six years ago? As late as 2004 I got a Suppe overtures CD for $6.99 at a Borders in Michigan. I think they went from 1990-2004 or 2005 at the five-pound price level before increasing it and citing the global economy. The US price went up a dollar or so about a year ago, which is when I stopped buying physical copies and started downloading new releases from eMusic.
Title: Re: Naxos buys Ondine
Post by: Coopmv on June 13, 2009, 07:49:09 PM
Quote from: Brian on June 13, 2009, 07:35:18 PM
Since I started buying Naxos CDs ... I guess that would be five or six years ago? As late as 2004 I got a Suppe overtures CD for $6.99 at a Borders in Michigan. I think they went from 1990-2004 or 2005 at the five-pound price level before increasing it and citing the global economy. The US price went up a dollar or so about a year ago, which is when I stopped buying physical copies and started downloading new releases from eMusic.

My download experience is practically nil.  I downloaded eight freebies (concerts) from RCO a while back and really have not even listened to all of them.  I am too old to go for the download or eMusic ...   LOL
Title: Re: Naxos buys Ondine
Post by: jlaurson on June 13, 2009, 10:34:26 PM
Quote from: Brian on June 13, 2009, 11:22:41 AM
US from $7 to $10. Britain from 5 pounds to 6.

That happened over several years. I remember at Tower Records (which had a special deal with Naxos distribution as I think the two companies were intertwined somehow) Naxos discs were $6.99 in the late 90s. Then they went up to 7.99, and then 8.99 some time before or early 2006. By the time the went up to 9.99 (also a matter of increased reputation, no doubt), Tower was out of business, anyway. And had they not even been $5.99? I seem to remember, but might remember wrongly. If so, that would have had to be as late as 1998 because I don't think I was exposed to Naxos discs before that.
Title: Re: Naxos buys Ondine
Post by: 71 dB on June 14, 2009, 01:22:02 AM
Quote from: Brian on June 13, 2009, 11:22:41 AM
US from $7 to $10. Britain from 5 pounds to 6.

Because US dollar and British Sterling have got so weak currencies!

$7 would be only 5 euros today.
£5 would be only 6 euros today.

Should record companies do bad business just because currencies are weak?
Title: Re: Naxos buys Ondine
Post by: Grazioso on June 14, 2009, 03:42:39 AM
Quote from: jlaurson on June 13, 2009, 10:34:26 PM
And had they not even been $5.99?   

Yes, in the early/mid 90's, I was buying Naxos discs for around $5 each at local record stores, both chain and indie. I don't buy nearly as many as I used to since they've almost doubled in price.
Title: Re: Naxos buys Ondine
Post by: Valentino on June 14, 2009, 03:46:31 AM
Quote from: Coopmv on June 13, 2009, 07:49:09 PM
My download experience is practically nil.  I downloaded eight freebies (concerts) from RCO a while back and really have not even listened to all of them.  I am too old to go for the download or eMusic ...   LOL
Duh! My dad's 69 and he just bought a Squeezebox and downloaded BPO/Maazel in LvB5 from the DG web shop.

---

I guess Naxos engineering costs have risen since they aquired most of the tech staff from Decca. Good sound costs money too.
Title: Re: Naxos buys Ondine
Post by: Coopmv on June 14, 2009, 05:54:09 AM
Quote from: 71 dB on June 14, 2009, 01:22:02 AM
Because US dollar and British Sterling have got so weak currencies!

$7 would be only 5 euros today.
£5 would be only 6 euros today.

Should record companies do bad business just because currencies are weak?

The EURO is way overvalued (see the MELTDOWN thread) relative to the Dollar and perhaps the Pound.  It appears EU minus the UK is getting even deeper into recession since the export market for Germany, the largest economy on the continent, appears to have collapsed.
Title: Re: Naxos buys Ondine
Post by: Coopmv on June 14, 2009, 06:14:25 AM
Quote from: Valentino on June 14, 2009, 03:46:31 AM
Duh! My dad's 69 and he just bought a Squeezebox and downloaded BPO/Maazel in LvB5 from the DG web shop.

---

I guess Naxos engineering costs have risen since they aquired most of the tech staff from Decca. Good sound costs money too.

Good point, I am a bit younger than your dad but I have no spare time to tinker with new technologies since I have a 70-hour workweek.  Life in the US is a bit more hectic than life in Norway.  I really enjoyed the leisurely paced Norwegian lifestyle when I visited Norway in 93.
Title: Re: Naxos buys Ondine
Post by: 71 dB on June 14, 2009, 08:02:27 AM
Quote from: Coopmv on June 14, 2009, 05:54:09 AM
The EURO is way overvalued.

Perhaps but at least naxos euro prices stay low.  0:)
Title: Re: Naxos buys Ondine
Post by: Brian on June 14, 2009, 09:19:11 AM
Quote from: Valentino on June 14, 2009, 03:46:31 AM
I guess Naxos engineering costs have risen since they aquired most of the tech staff from Decca. Good sound costs money too.
Ah! I didn't know that. No wonder their orchestral recordings stopped sounding like the microphones were placed under a bathtub in the last row of the balcony.
Title: Re: Naxos buys Ondine
Post by: Coopmv on June 14, 2009, 10:29:56 AM
Quote from: Brian on June 14, 2009, 09:19:11 AM
Ah! I didn't know that. No wonder their orchestral recordings stopped sounding like the microphones were placed under a bathtub in the last row of the balcony.

I bought a bunch of Naxos CD's on Bach Organ Works by Wolfgang Rubsam, a few Bach CD's by Bob van Asperen and a number of Telemann CD's a number of years ago and really have not bought any Naxos CD's until this spring when I bought a few dozens of Naxos Historical at the suggestion of George, our piano works guru.  Naxos rarely has the big-name artists to be sufficiently attractive to me.  It is a bit like a Telarc at a budget price but with more international exposure.  I also rarely buy Telarc due to its not-so-attractive roster of artists.
Title: Re: Naxos buys Ondine
Post by: Bulldog on June 14, 2009, 10:38:53 AM
Quote from: Coopmv on June 14, 2009, 10:29:56 AM
I bought a bunch of Naxos CD's on Bach Organ Works by Wolfgang Rubsam, a few Bach CD's by Bob van Asperen and a number of Telemann CD's a number of years ago and really have not bought any Naxos CD's until this spring when I bought a few dozens of Naxos Historical at the suggestion of George, our piano works guru.  Naxos rarely has the big-name artists to be sufficiently attractive to me.  It is a bit like a Telarc at a budget price but with more international exposure.  I also rarely buy Telarc due to its not-so-attractive roster of artists.

Well, I'll just say that big-name artists mean nothing to me.  My experience has been that they are not consistently better than their lesser-known compatriots.
Title: Re: Naxos buys Ondine
Post by: Grazioso on June 15, 2009, 03:59:26 AM
Quote from: Coopmv on June 14, 2009, 10:29:56 AM
I bought a bunch of Naxos CD's on Bach Organ Works by Wolfgang Rubsam, a few Bach CD's by Bob van Asperen and a number of Telemann CD's a number of years ago and really have not bought any Naxos CD's until this spring when I bought a few dozens of Naxos Historical at the suggestion of George, our piano works guru.  Naxos rarely has the big-name artists to be sufficiently attractive to me.  It is a bit like a Telarc at a budget price but with more international exposure.  I also rarely buy Telarc due to its not-so-attractive roster of artists.

While I'm disappointed in the way Naxos prices have risen, I've never had any major qualms about the quality of their releases. In fact, many of their recordings are first rate, in terms of both performance and sound (read the critics and posters here for further confirmation). Plus, their repertoire is far broader than what you'd get from the old major labels that boasted the "big name" artists of yore.

Only going after CD's by big-name artists is like listening only to big-name composers: you'll miss a lot of wonderful music.
Title: Re: Naxos buys Ondine
Post by: Brian on June 15, 2009, 08:48:07 AM
Quote from: Bulldog on June 14, 2009, 10:38:53 AM
Well, I'll just say that big-name artists mean nothing to me.  My experience has been that they are not consistently better than their lesser-known compatriots.
Indeed, big names are simply good marketing, and the major labels have great marketing. Naxos doesn't put giant pictures of Antoni Wit, James Judd, Maria Kliegel, Elizabeth Farr, Bjarte Engeset, Norbert Kraft, Wolf Harden, and the Maggini Quartet on its album covers, but they are all world-class artists. (Disclaimer: there actually are two covers with Kliegel on the front...)

Also, Naxos has indeed recorded (not licensed but recorded) several "big-name artists" before - Roberto Alagna, Ewa Podles, Cho-Liang Lin, Anthony Newman, Leonard Slatkin, Vassily Sinaisky, Cristina Ortiz, the violinist Josef Suk, and at least three principal chairs from the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra.
Title: Re: Naxos buys Ondine
Post by: 71 dB on June 16, 2009, 05:51:47 AM
Quote from: Coopmv on June 14, 2009, 10:29:56 AM
I bought a bunch of Naxos CD's on Bach Organ Works by Wolfgang Rubsam, a few Bach CD's by Bob van Asperen and a number of Telemann CD's a number of years ago and really have not bought any Naxos CD's until this spring when I bought a few dozens of Naxos Historical at the suggestion of George, our piano works guru.  Naxos rarely has the big-name artists to be sufficiently attractive to me.  It is a bit like a Telarc at a budget price but with more international exposure.  I also rarely buy Telarc due to its not-so-attractive roster of artists.

What makes an artist attractive to you? Extensive marketing (exposure in the media) or skills? Naxos is a very good choice for less known works/composers (I suppose they are not-so-attractive to you too?).
Title: Re: Naxos buys Ondine
Post by: Henritus on June 16, 2009, 07:48:58 PM
Quote from: Coopmv on June 13, 2009, 02:55:27 AM

Shares in record companies are generally poor investments anyway.  I have owned TimeWarner shares for over ten years and am still sitting on paper losses ...

Including EMI I guess  ;D  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tj-Q-4P5c5I (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tj-Q-4P5c5I) One of the funniest commercials I know.
Title: Re: Naxos buys Ondine
Post by: Catison on June 17, 2009, 06:50:33 AM
Quote from: 71 dB on June 16, 2009, 05:51:47 AM
What makes an artist attractive to you? Extensive marketing (exposure in the media) or skills? Naxos is a very good choice for less known works/composers (I suppose they are not-so-attractive to you too?).

If an artist has no marketing, they can't be very good.  Every genius has a PR department.  This is especially true for Mozart, who even has chocolates made after his likeness.  This can only point to the quality of his genius.  Also, if you have big boobs, then your music is definitely worth hearing.
Title: Re: Naxos buys Ondine
Post by: Lethevich on June 17, 2009, 07:44:22 AM
Quote from: Catison on June 17, 2009, 06:50:33 AM
Also, if you have big boobs, then your music is definitely worth hearing.

Finally, Oliver Knussen will get the attention he deserves! 0:)