Who Owns Dorico?
Dorico is owned by Steinberg Media Technologies GmbH, a wholly owned subsidiary of Yamaha Corporation (TYO: 7951). First released in October 2016, Dorico is a professional music notation and composition application developed largely by the former Sibelius team under Daniel Spreadbury. The current version, Dorico 6, launched in April 2025.
Parent Company
Founded
2016
Status
Publicly Traded
Headquarters
Dorico Timeline
Who Owns Dorico?
- Parent Company: Yamaha Corporation
- Ownership Type: Product line
- Company Type: Publicly Traded
- Stock Ticker: TYO: 7951
| Brand | Parent Company | Ownership Type |
|---|---|---|
| Dorico | Yamaha Corporation | Product line |
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History of Dorico
- Founded: 2016
- Founders: Daniel Spreadbury
Dorico's origin is a story of a team moving house. In 2012, Avid closed the London office of Sibelius and laid off most of its development team. Steinberg hired that team, led by Daniel Spreadbury, and gave them the resources to build a modern notation program from a blank page.
After roughly four years of development, Dorico 1.0 launched in October 2016. It distinguished itself with an engraving-first approach, producing publication-quality scores with minimal manual adjustment, and a modal workflow organized around setup, write, engrave, play, and print.
Major releases followed on a roughly 18-month cadence: Dorico 2 added video and advanced notation features, Dorico 3 condensing, Dorico 4 a rebuilt iPad version, Dorico 5 pitch and playback tools, and Dorico 6 in April 2025 added a proofreading panel and cutaway score support at a $579.99 Pro price. The Finale notation program's discontinuation in 2024 removed Dorico's oldest rival and pushed thousands of Finale users toward it, making Dorico the default professional successor in most 2026 comparisons.
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About Yamaha Corporation
What does Yamaha Corporation own?
Yamaha owns the Yamaha instrument and audio brands, the Steinberg software subsidiary behind Cubase and Nuendo, the Bösendorfer piano company, and a global network of music schools and manufacturing subsidiaries.
Is Yamaha Corporation publicly traded?
Yes. It is listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange under ticker 7951. It should not be confused with Yamaha Motor, a separate listed company.
Who founded Yamaha Corporation?
Torakusu Yamaha, a Hamamatsu repairman who built Japan's first domestically produced reed organ, founded Nippon Gakki in 1897.
Where is Yamaha Corporation headquartered?
The company is headquartered in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan, where it has been based since its founding.
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How many brands does Yamaha Corporation own?
Its principal brands are Yamaha, Steinberg, and Bösendorfer, along with numerous product-line names across instruments and audio.
Who owns Yamaha Corporation?
Public shareholders own the company through its Tokyo listing. No single family or corporate group controls it, though Yamaha Motor holds a minority cross-shareholding.
Is Steinberg owned by Yamaha?
Yes. Yamaha acquired Steinberg Media Technologies, the German developer of Cubase, in 2005 and operates it as a wholly owned subsidiary.
- Founded: 1897
- Headquarters: Hamamatsu, Shizuoka, Japan
- Company Type: Publicly Traded
- Stock: TYO: 7951
- Revenue: ¥465.3 billion (FY2026.3)
- Employees: approximately 17,900
Where Is Dorico Made / Based?
- Headquarters: Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
Dorico Categories & Tags
Brands Owned by Yamaha Corporation
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Dorico Ownership: Pros & Cons
Advantages
- +Yamaha's ownership gives it stable, long-term funding from a profitable parent
- +The former Sibelius team provides unmatched notation expertise
- +Finale's exit removed its strongest legacy rival
Considerations
- -High Pro pricing pushes students toward free MuseScore Studio
- -Smaller legacy file base than Sibelius's three decades of users
- -Steinberg's attention is split across a broad pro-audio portfolio
Sources & Further Reading
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Competitors to Dorico
These competing brands operate in the same categories and provide similar products or services. Compare key attributes to understand market positioning and competitive landscape.
| Brand | Parent Company | Country | Founded | Market Position | Primary Market | Gender Target |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sonic Scores | United States | 1994 | Niche premium | Global | All-ages | |
| Avid Technology | USA | 1993 | Mass market | Global | All Genders | |
| Muse Group | Cyprus | 2002 | Mass market | Global | All Genders | |
| Tutteo | United Kingdom | 2014 | Mass market | Global | All Genders | |
| Hal Leonard | USA | 2008 | Mass market | Global | All Genders |
Learn More About Competitors
Technology SoftwareOverture
Owned by Sonic Scores
Music notation software developed by Don Williams and published by Sonic Scores, providing professional music composition and score editing capabilities for musicians and composers.
music-notationcompositionmusic-software
Technology SoftwareSibelius
Owned by Avid Technology, Inc.
Music notation software created by the Finn brothers in 1993, owned by Avid Technology since 2006.
music-notationcompositionmusic-software
Technology SoftwareMuseScore Studio
Owned by Muse Group (MuseCY Holdings Ltd.)
Free open-source music notation program owned by Muse Group, formerly known as MuseScore until 2024.
music-notationopen-sourcecomposition
Technology SoftwareFlat
Owned by Tutteo Limited
Browser-based collaborative music notation editor owned by London music-tech company Tutteo.
music-notationcollaborationeducation
Technology SoftwareNoteflight
Owned by Hal Leonard LLC
Browser-based music notation platform founded by Joe Berkovitz, owned by Hal Leonard since 2014 and part of Muse Group since 2023.
music-notationeducationbrowser-software
Competitive Analysis
Market Positioning: Dorico competes with 5 brands in the same categories, ranging from mass market to luxury positioning.
Geographic Distribution: Competitors are headquartered across multiple regions, indicating global competition in this market segment.
Brand Heritage: Competitor brands range from established heritage brands to newer market entrants, with founding years spanning several decades.
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Independent Alternatives to Dorico
Looking for brands with different ownership structures? These similar brands are not owned by Yamaha Corporation, giving you alternative choices that support different corporate structures.
Technology SoftwareOverture
Owned by Sonic Scores
Music notation software developed by Don Williams and published by Sonic Scores, providing professional music composition and score editing capabilities for musicians and composers.
music-notationcompositionmusic-software
Privately Owned
Overture is privately owned, unlike Dorico which is under a publicly traded parent company.
Technology SoftwareSibelius
Owned by Avid Technology, Inc.
Music notation software created by the Finn brothers in 1993, owned by Avid Technology since 2006.
music-notationcompositionmusic-software
Privately Owned
Sibelius is privately owned, unlike Dorico which is under a publicly traded parent company.
Technology SoftwareMuseScore Studio
Owned by Muse Group (MuseCY Holdings Ltd.)
Free open-source music notation program owned by Muse Group, formerly known as MuseScore until 2024.
music-notationopen-sourcecomposition
Privately Owned
MuseScore Studio is privately owned, unlike Dorico which is under a publicly traded parent company.
Technology SoftwareAura
Owned by Aura
Consumer digital safety app combining identity theft protection, credit monitoring, and family security tools, run by the private company founded by Hari Ravichandran.
identity-theftcybersecuritycredit-monitoring
Privately Owned
Aura is privately owned, unlike Dorico which is under a publicly traded parent company.
Technology SoftwareExpressVPN
Owned by Kape Technologies plc
Premium VPN service based in the British Virgin Islands, owned by Kape Technologies, the privacy software group controlled by Teddy Sagi.
vpnprivacycybersecurity
Privately Owned
ExpressVPN is privately owned, unlike Dorico which is under a publicly traded parent company.
Technology SoftwareFlat
Owned by Tutteo Limited
Browser-based collaborative music notation editor owned by London music-tech company Tutteo.
music-notationcollaborationeducation
Privately Owned
Flat is privately owned, unlike Dorico which is under a publicly traded parent company.
Yamaha Corporation Stock Information
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Jobs at Yamaha Corporation
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