GENUIN – The Tonmeister Label
In an era where any musician can share their recordings online, the question arises:
Is there still a need for music labels today?
In the classical music sector in particular, the answer is: more than ever.
Because quality, experience, and credibility matter.
Why a classical music label is still indispensable today
A classical music label such as GENUIN enjoys international trust among the press, concert organizers, broadcasters, and the classical music scene as a whole. A release on an established label creates visibility, opens doors, and offers young and established musicians alike a stage that goes far beyond the mere availability of music on the internet.
In addition, GENUIN offers much more than just the release of an album. We support our artists with a comprehensive approach: from artistic consulting and professional recording to editorial design and worldwide distribution. Our many years of experience in the classical music industry ensure that every release is realized at the highest level, both technically and artistically.
Streaming is more than just availability: it's strategy
A presence on streaming platforms such as Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, or IDAGIO is essential today. But simply ”being online“ is not enough: what matters is how you are found and heard there, so that you don't get lost in the mass of releases. Because classical music works fundamentally differently from pop music when it comes to streaming.
GENUIN has extensive experience in the digital marketing of classical music. Our musicians benefit from intelligent online marketing, editorial recommendations, well-thought-out release planning, and a social media network that goes far beyond mere distribution. Whether CD, download, or stream—we know the specifics of the classical music market and use them specifically to ensure the success of our albums.
to the catalog
The CD lives on – especially in classical music
Despite the dominance of streaming platforms, the CD continues to play an important role in classical music. It is not just a physical product, but much more an artistic statement: with a booklet, design, texts, and a self-contained dramaturgical concept.
Many classical music lovers appreciate the feel, the collectability, the editorial depth, and, last but not least, the sound quality. CDs also continue to be in high demand in stores, trade magazines, radio stations, and music award juries. For many musicians, the CD therefore remains a crucial part of their artistic image.
At GENUIN, we produce our CDs with the highest standards of recording quality, originality, and design. Each release is an individually supervised project that focuses on longevity and artistic substance.
Vinyl and Dolby Atmos: Tradition meets Innovation
In addition to the classic CD, GENUIN is focusing on forward-looking formats such as Dolby Atmos. Virtual sound sources and three-dimensional music reproduction open up a whole new dimension of listening: spatial, vivid, and ideal for classical music in particular, as it brings the concert hall directly into your living room.
At the same time, selected productions are pressed onto vinyl LPs, allowing us to uphold the great tradition of analog sound: warm, rich in detail, and unique in terms of listening experience. In this way, GENUIN combines state-of-the-art sound technology with the timeless fascination of the vinyl record.
The GENUIN story
GENUIN was founded in 1998 by two young tonmeister students in a small basement room a few kilometers south of the University of Music in Detmold. Five years later, they took a courageous step: at a time when the major classical music labels were cutting back or completely discontinuing their production, they launched an exclusive label for their classical recordings.
After moving to Leipzig in 2005, the GENUIN label has developed from an insider tip among musicians to one of the best-known labels for classical music, with over 50 releases per year and a worldwide physical and digital distribution network. Numerous awards, including the Echo and Opus Klassik, the German Record Critics' Award, and the International Classical Music Award, impressively confirm the label's outstanding quality.
The Label Philosophy
GENUIN's recipe for success has remained unchanged since the first CD: The entire production process, including advising artists on recording locations and repertoire, preparing and realizing the recording, editing with all necessary corrections, designing the album and booklet, and the final release, is in the hands of the sound engineers and their team. This ensures that the high quality of the releases is consistently maintained.
GENUIN has also remained true to itself in terms of its repertoire: the label offers both established artists and the younger generation the opportunity to record and release music according to their own ideas. The extensive catalog with its exciting recordings and numerous awards is the best proof of the success of this concept.