More than 700 albums from the Soviet Union's major record company, Melodiya, will be released through the iTunes media library, with the first half becoming available Tuesday.
The next portion is due to be released in November, the company said in an statement Monday. The albums will also be available in other online libraries next year.
The move is a part of the company's effort to digitize its vast collection of records by Soviet and Russian singers. Recently, the company started selling music from its archive on its website on its 50th birthday.
"Digitizing the company's catalog is a logic step toward selling its content worldwide. With time, old records are getting more and more affected by the environment," Melodiya general director Andrei Krichevsky said. "It is now a critical moment to save them and preserve the unique sound for future generations."
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
