Naxos comprises numerous companies, divisions, imprints, and labels specializing in classical music but also audiobooks and other genres.[2][3][4] The premier label is Naxos Records, which focuses on classical music. Naxos Musical Group encompasses about 17 labels including Naxos Records, Naxos Audiobooks, and Naxos Books (ebooks). There are about an additional 50 labels that are independent of the Naxos Musical Group with a wide range of offerings.
The company was founded in 1987 by Klaus Heymann, a German-born resident of Hong Kong.[5]
Naxos Records
Naxos Records is a record label specializing in classical music. The company was known for its budget pricing of discs,[6] with simpler artwork and design than most other labels.[7] In the 1980s, Naxos primarily recorded central and eastern European symphony orchestras, often with lesser-known conductors, as well as upcoming and unknown musicians, to minimize recording costs and maintain its budget prices.
In 2003, it began a paid subscription service for listening on the Internet that offers its complete catalogue and the Naxos Music Library.[9] As of 2019, subscribers had access to 2,225,190 tracks on its 145,755 discs, though these numbers were increasing by nearly 100 new discs a day.[citation needed] In 2015, it launched a high-definition download and streaming service, ClassicsOnline HD•LL, with a catalogue drawn from a number of classical record labels.[10]
Distribution
Naxos Global Logistics, based in Poing near Munich, was founded in 2008[11] to expand the services offered to its distributed labels, including manufacturing, marketing, and licensing.[12]
Awards
In 2005, Naxos won the Label of the Year Award[13] at Classic FM/Gramophone awards. In 2023, they won the Label of the Year Award[14] at the International Classical Music Awards.
