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Company | Passionato | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| http://Passionato.com | ||||
| Founded: | 2009 | |||
| City: | London and New York, NY | |||
| Country: | United States | |||
| CEO: | James Glicker | |||
| Founders: | James Glicker | |||
| Category: | Media (Photo/Video/Music) | Funding: | VC | |
| Tags: | classical music, FLAC, mp3, gramophone, download | Employees: | 6-15 | |
What does Passionato do?
Premiere Destination for Classical Music Connoisseurs
Launching April 2010
Unprecedented Catalogue of CD-Quality Downloads Bring the Boutique Record Store Experience to the Web
Comprehensive Catalogue of Recordings Available from Major and Independent Labels
Launching April 2010
Unprecedented Catalogue of CD-Quality Downloads Bring the Boutique Record Store Experience to the Web
Comprehensive Catalogue of Recordings Available from Major and Independent Labels
Passionato is a new destination for classical music connoisseurs on the web. Passionato’s aim is to thoroughly replicate a “corner record store” experience with a reach far beyond the corner. Passionato offers classical music lovers the largest available collection of CD-quality DRM-free classical music downloads. With no subscription, no membership requirements and nothing to sign-up for, Passionato provides a wide-ranging collection of recording from major labels (including Deutsche Grammophon and Decca, as well as Virgin and EMI Classics) along with numerous independent labels (such as Naxos, Chandos, Telarc and BIS).
How are they different?
Designed for classical music lovers, Passionato caters to the entire classical music enthusiast community by offering recordings in digital download form, free of digital rights management (DRM) software, transferable to any portable device and burnable to CD. Downloads will be offered both as high quality 320kbps DRM-free MP3 files and in the CD-quality lossless FLAC format. The Passionato store is dedicated to offering customers the easiest and most effective way to experience lossless CD-quality FLAC files from the largest library of such files anywhere, in any genre of music. With unsurpassed sound quality, gapless play and backwards compatibility (a FLAC file can be used to create an MP3 of any quality for any player), FLAC is the most versatile music format available.
Why could Passionato be BIG?
Passionato has found that FLAC has proven to be the most popular format on the site – representing nearly two-thirds of total sales. All MP3 tracks purchased on the Passionato service can also be played and stored on popular music players such as iTunes (and iPod), Windows Media and Real Player. FLAC files can be played on a variety of players, including the Passionato Player, built by MediaMonkey.“Passionato is a classical boutique founded and run by the very audience it aims to serve,” says Passionato founder James Glicker. “I wanted to have a place where I could access, search and organize CD-quality downloads of virtually any classical recording available – now about 40,000 and counting – in a way that provides complete information, a comprehensive catalog and intuitive search – basically everything the classical collector needs. I believe we have done just that. No other site can offer what Passionato can.”
How they plan to make money:
Passionato is the only destination on the web where classical consumers can purchase music from nearly all labels in both high quality Mp3 and FLAC formats. The business model is based on reaching the niche but very dedicated audience of classical consumers and offering them the selection and quality that they used to receive at a record store but that is no longer available.
Our thoughts:
Very well defined market, with a clear focus & target market – what more can you ask for? The existing coverage from CNET and others speaks for itself. In addition, this is one of the first companies I’ve seen successfully able to navigate the DRM issue. If done well, it could be benchmarked in the industry.
Please visit their website to learn more: http://Passionato.com
