HDtracks is a high-resolution
digital music store offering
DRM-free music in multiple formats as well as cover art (and liner notes via
PDF file downloads for a majority of catalog offerings) with audio
CD-quality and high-definition audio
master recording quality download selections.[1]
Origins and expansion
The company was privately founded by David and
Norman Chesky of the
audiophile recording company
Chesky Records, and is based in
New York, NY.[2] The service was launched on March 21, 2008, initially offering only
CD-quality 44.1 kHz audio files in
AIFF format from a small offering of
independent record labels, including audiophile record company catalogs from Chesky Records, Reference Recordings, 2L, and
blues labels like
Alligator Records.[3] Shortly after its initial launch, HDtracks began offering higher sample-rate and bit-rate recordings such as 96kHz/24bit, 192kHz/24bit and other sound files with higher resolution than a CD, with a focus on
jazz,
classical music,
soft rock, and historic recordings targeting adult consumers looking for an alternative to lesser-quality compressed
mp3 files.
Timeline
On March 21, 2008, HDtracks is officially launched.[4]
In October 2008, HDtracks releases its first catalog offerings in 88.2k/24-bit and 96k/24-bit FLAC formats.[5]
On April 1, 2010, HDtracks added selections from
Concord Music Group catalog of high-resolution music.[6]
On April 15, 2010, HDtracks launches
Verve Records from
Universal Music Group, marking the first major label to establish sales of high-resolution, non-DRM-restricted music through HDtracks.[7][8]
On March 2, 2011, HDtracks releases ABKCO's Remastered Series of early
Rolling Stones recordings.[10][11]
On July 1, 2011, HDtracks launches with
Warner Music Group, making it the second
major record label to distribute DRM-free, high-resolution audio downloads through the service.
On January 23, 2013, HDtracks replaced its multiplatform Java Network Launching Protocol (JNLP) downloader application to native applications for Windows and Mac created by
JRiver, thereby making it impossible for users of other platforms such as Linux to download their purchases at this time.[12]
On September 10, 2014, HDtracks launched sites in the
UK and
Germany.[13]
On October 21, 2014, a downloader application for Linux appears on the JRiver support forum.[14]