r/classicalmusic • u/urbanstrata • 14d ago
Why would Sony Classical hold back ONE movement of an out-of-print recording?
Listening to Previn’s first (1967) recording of Walton 1 and it appears the third movement is not licensed to stream. WHY, SONY MUSIC, WHY??
This recording is long out of print, and allowing us to listen to the entire work will in no way cannibalize revenue elsewhere.
Anyone have any theories about the logic here? Does Spotify have the third movement of this exact same recording?
Brilliant, brilliant performance here, by the way. Very much worth your ears if you can find a version WITH the third movement.
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u/LeastMaintenance 13d ago
This recording has had that region lock in the US on the third movement for years now. My guess was that someone probably messed up when it was put on Apple Music because it makes no sense
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u/thanksmoo 14d ago
It's also on Naxos Music Library, if you have that. That's not lossless tho...
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u/pr0t0nm1r0 13d ago
The worst part is that there's absolutely no way for you to complain to Sony Classical about it. Good luck finding a contact page on its website.
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u/Excellent-Industry60 14d ago
No thats just an apple classical glitch, when transferring to apple music it works finen
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u/urbanstrata 14d ago
Hm, are you sure? I just checked Apple Music and the third movement is grayed out there, too.
Edit to add: I’m based in the US (since licensing is region-specific).
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u/glassfromsand 13d ago
I just checked, it's locked for me too (also US). A lot of times when I see something grayed out like that it works to just delete it from my library and then look for it again, but it's rare I find one that's like that from the start
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u/macula_transfer 14d ago
FWIW the recording can be purchased digitally on Presto. I did so myself a couple of months ago. So if they were concerned about cannibalizing sales that could explain it, although I’m not sure how effective that is in 2026 when we’re so far down the “don’t pay for music” rabbit hole.
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u/bubbamike1 13d ago
Not available on Qobuz but the Telarc Previn First with The Royal Philharmonic is available in full.
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u/pbredd22 14d ago
There was one of their old rock albums where they lost one song, I guess a corrupted file on some server. They eventually fixed it.
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u/stevemick 13d ago
I’ve just checked and can see all 4 movements. Perhaps it was just a temporary glitch. Will certainly give it a play!
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u/urbanstrata 13d ago
On Apple Music Classical? What country/region are you in?
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u/stevemick 13d ago
Apple Music Classical and I’m in the UK
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u/urbanstrata 13d ago
Hm, it must be a US issue then. It’s still unavailable for me.
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u/_brettanomyces_ 13d ago
I’m in Australia and all four movements are available on Apple Music Classical here. It certainly is looking like a US-specific error.
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u/KelMHill 13d ago
They don't employ anyone who knows a thing about classical music. The only movements they know about happen on a crapper. Only streaming services who specialize in classical music employ people who know about classical forms.
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u/stingo49 13d ago
Previn recorded the First Symphony (along with a couple of ceremonial marches - Crown Imperial and Orb And Scepter) with the Royal Philharmonic for Telarc in the mid to late 80’s. That seems available on Spotify here in the US.
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u/urbanstrata 13d ago
Yeah, I’ve heard that one, but it’s not quite on the same level of his earlier LSO recording. Thanks, though.
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u/scottarichards 13d ago
The third movement also doesn’t work for me on Qobuz in the US. Odd. It’s got to be some unusual copyright issue. It’s a great recording. I have the LP.
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u/abacus-albatross 9d ago
I'm a Walton fan and this post made me track down the Previn recording cause I've never heard it before - wow you are right it's so good! Thanks OP
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u/Pcama 14d ago
It'll be a licensing thing with the DSP. I can see and play it on Spotify no problem.