> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.hypebot.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# Harmonia Mundi – An Indie Classical Label That’s Thriving In Tough Times
- URL: https://www.hypebot.com/harmoni/
- Published: 2009-04-28T01:30:00.000Z
- Updated: 2009-04-28T01:30:00.000Z
- Description: Classical Record Industry Down 30% In '09, Harmonia Mundi Up 9% All this week on Hypebot, we're exploring how the double whammy of falling sales and the global economic downturn. Continue reading [https://www.hypebot.com/hypebot/2009/04/harmoni.html]
- Author: Bruce Houghton
- Tags: Indie Music, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-01-21 11:03

Classical Record Industry Down 30% In '09, Harmonia Mundi Up 9% 

**All this week on Hypebot, we're exploring how the double whammy of falling sales and the global economic downturn is effecting the music industry. This guest post by [Charlie Dahan](http://frank.mtsu.edu/%7Ecdahan/?ref=hypebot.com), which first appeared on his [Center Of The Indie Label Universe](http://indieuniverse.wordpress.com/?ref=hypebot.com) blog, shows how one indie label is using old fashion A&R to thrive in tough times.** 

[![Harmonia_mundi](http://hypebot.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83451b36c69e201156f62e5d5970c-150wi)](http://hypebot.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83451b36c69e201156f62e5d5970c-pi?ref=hypebot.com) You think the pop record industry is having a hard time of it – look  
at the classical music industry. Product has been devalued by labels  
like Naxos to be a budget line item, stores are closing, radio is  
disappearing, funding from the private and public sector is drying up  
and the audience is graying. Most labels have closed their classical  
division and sales are down over 30% for 2009\. 

Not for French indie, [Harmonia Mundi](http://harmoniamundi.com/home%5Fflash.php?ref=hypebot.com). They have seen an increase in  
their sales in 2009 of nearly 10% by recording new music, signing new  
artists and getting the hell out of their way and letting them develop  
over several records – sounds like a winning formula. They have also  
developed a loyal customer base, who trusts the brand and is willing to  
give anything with a Harmonia Mundi stamp on it.

Read about them and listen to their NPR interview [here](http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=103216539&ref=hypebot.com). Even if you don’t like Classical music, you can learn a lot from their business model and practices.