The sound of silence: Urgent calls for government to save recording studios
With new MPG research showing that some businesses could close for good within weeks, studio bosses reveal the extent of the economic threat
— BY ANDRE PAINE — M 06 | Music Week 04.05.20
any recording studios are facing the risk of closure within weeks as the lockdown continues in the UK, according to new research. Studios contacted by Music Week confirmed that recording work had halted during the pandemic and they are anxiously awaiting the next round of
government guidance on restrictions due May 7.
“We’ve spent 12 years building a very successful studio, and then suddenly the rug has been pulled from underneath us,” said Jasmin Lee, MD of Dean St Studios in Soho, where artists including Adele, Drake, Take That, Noel Gallagher and Florence + The Machine have recorded.
“We still have most of our outgoings as normal, but without a penny of income coming in because we’ve had to completely shut down,” she added. “It’s a worrying time.”
A survey of commercial studios by the Music Producers Guild revealed that 6% said they will close within a month without further support. If the situation continues for three months without more financial assistance from government,
48% of respondents said they would close.
Only 22% have been able to negotiate a rent reduction from their landlord, while few have been able to secure discretionary business rates relief from their local authority.
“All commercial studios have closed, there’s the odd unattended mastering session but there are no recording sessions,” said Olga FitzRoy, recording and mix engineer and MPG executive director.
FitzRoy has called for government to extend the business rates holiday to studios during the lockdown. Other businesses including music venues, shops, restaurants, bars, pubs and cinemas are among those who already qualify. “The Culture Secretary [Oliver Dowden] does recognise the importance of the infrastructure that we’ve got in the music industry, which includes venues and studios,” said FitzRoy. “[But] unless the government steps in with some serious help, we will lose studios.”
Maggie Rodford, MD of the Air-Edel Group, said the company has not been able to secure business rates relief for its studios in Marylebone. “It’s a really tough time,” she said. “We work across both the contemporary
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