Sony used the listening party at Avatar Studios in...

Sony used the listening party at Avatar Studios in New York Thursday for the Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga Cheek to Cheek album as the U.S. launching pad for its $299 NWZ-A17 portable music player due in November. Sony’s debut of a high-res portable music player comes during the same month when Apple pulled the iPod Classic from its website store. Cheek to Cheek, released earlier in the week, was recorded in 24-bit Hi-Res Audio and supports codecs including AFF, WAV, ALAC, FLAC, DSF, DFF and MP3, said album information in the software. Sony played the title through its Hi-Res Audio lineup at several stations, including through the $1,999 HAP-Z1ES music server. Sony will launch the NWZ-A17 player through Amazon, Crutchfield, Sony’s website and other large online retail stores, said Michael Woulfe, Sony senior vice president-sales & marketing, sound division. The November delivery meant “a lot of retailers’ floors were already set” for the holidays, Woulfe told us. Sony is thinking about bundling opportunities with Hi-Res Audio content providers but no deals have been announced, he said. Cheek to Cheek was selling as a download through HDTracks in 96/24 in AIFF format for $22.98 Friday, and Acoustic Sounds listed it in FLAC for $24.98. Target, meanwhile, was selling an exclusive CD version with two extra songs, for $15.99. Sony also launched its marketing campaign with Interscope Records/Streamline Records/Columbia Records for Hi-Res Audio that will run through early 2015. The campaign has a target of 23 million impressions and includes a mix of digital and print advertising, Sony said. LG, meanwhile, is using the same collaboration of Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga in its sponsorship of the 4K live concert featuring the duo performing at Lincoln Center in August. The event will be the first concert to appear in 4K when it streams from Amazon Instant Video later this year.