Hal Leonard Unveils World’s First Cloud-Based App for Sheet Music

MILWAUKEE – Hal Leonard Corporation, the world’s largest music print publisher, has announced the release of Sheet Music Direct for iPad, a truly innovative app that lets musicians interact with their music more than ever before, with unlimited access via the cloud. Hal Leonard launched its Sheet Music Direct website  (www.sheetmusicdirect.us) in 1997 – five years before iTunes – making it the first worldwide authorized site for downloading sheet music.

Sheet Music Direct for iPad is more than a mere extension of the popular website. While providing access to over 100,000 of the world’s best songs, the app is specifically tailored to the mobile experience, and offers many more features than anything else on the market.

When musicians use the app to download interactive songs, they can then transpose and mix the songs to meet their needs. They can hear the score playback and optional click tracks. They can create various set lists to keep their music organized for gigs, and easily access a tuner and metronome. They can choose from many viewing  options, selecting their preferred paper type, background color and score orientation. They can then tell all of their friends and followers what tunes they’re into, as the app is integrated with Facebook, Twitter and email.

Sheet Music Direct for iPad is fully cloud-based, so musicians can access their music anytime and anywhere. The app syncs up all prior Sheet Music Direct song purchases, and backs up the user’s entire music library on the Sheet Music Direct site. Sheet Music Direct for iPad is also compatible with Bluetooth hands-free page-turning devices, such as the PageFlip Cicada and AirTurn.

Comments Hal Leonard President Larry Morton, “This is a real game-changer for the sheet music industry. Sheet Music Direct for iPad blows away everything out there with its wide range of features and ease of use. You can tell that this app was conceived of by true musicians, because it doesn’t just offer superfluous bells and whistles, but real tools that players will use – and love!”

Joe Burzinski, VP of digital enterprise solutions for Hal Leonard, says, “We’ve invested more than a year in developing not just this app, but all of the requisite digital asset management systems. This initiative marks the beginning of a expansive strategic move for Hal Leonard, as we update our business models for today’s mobile- and cloud-based market. Stay tuned: We’ll have more dramatic announcements coming soon.”

The Sheet Music Direct for iPad app is free, and comes preloaded with 15 songs, including “Time Is on My Side,” “Scarborough Fair” and “House of the Rising Sun” – over a $30 value. Musicians can purchase additional songs directly from the in-app mobile store via their iTunes account.