Apple buys Swedish classical record label

Key Points

• BIS Records founder Robert von Bahr said Tuesday that Apple has bought the classical music-focused record company and will fold it into its Apple Music Classical and Platoon music services.
• The acquisition is another example of Apple attempting to distinguish itself from streaming music rivals like Spotify by focusing on classical music.
• The tech giant debuted the Apple Music Classical streaming app this past spring, pitching it as a way for subscribers to access over 5 million classical tracks that can be searched via data like composer, conductor or catalog number.

Karina Canellakis leading the Juilliard Orchestra at Alice Tully Hall on Thursday night, May 22, 2014.

Hiroyuki Ito | Getty Images

Apple has acquired BIS Records, a 50-year-old Swedish record label with a focus on classical music, as part of its continuing efforts to attract classical music fans.