A new collaboration between Naxos and the music platform NomadPlay is enabling musicians to perform alongside the label’s most exciting artists. Formed in France in 2014, NomadPlay allows instrumentalists to select a piece of music from a substantial library of recordings, before choosing the instrument they want to perform on and disabling that track on the recording; they can then play along, adjusting the tempo as needed and with customisable sheet music to access as required.

With Naxos on board – including labels it owns or distributes such as Pentatone, SWR, Oehms Classics, ORFEO International and Capriccio – users now have an even larger selection of recordings to access. Including instrumental music and chamber music as well as orchestra repertoire, the content will be integrated gradually, starting off with Chopin’s 24 Preludes Op 28 from Claudio Arrau (made available in December) and soon to include Beethoven’s Piano Sonatas performed by Paul Badura-Skoda, Bach Violin Sonatas and Partitas from Lucy van Dael and recordings by Sviatoslav Richter.

The business model of NomadPlay, already acknowledged by various awards and prizes, allows the streaming platform to apply a user-centric remuneration system, ensuring artists and labels are paid for each real reading. This method – considered to fairer than the more common data-centric model, which operates on a pro rata basis – was one of the main driving forces behind Naxos’s decision to get involved. Said Matthias Lutzweiler, CEO of Naxos Germany: ‘Our goal as a classical label – to give access to all music lovers – is in line with the values behind NomadPlay.’

‘[Their] catalogue is enriched with a wide repertoire, performed by internationally renowned artists,’ said NomadPlay CEO Clothilde Chalot. ‘I am delighted that this major record company trusts a French start-up such as ours, and is keen to open up the classical music repertoire to as many people as possible thanks to our innovation.’