Message to all supporters

Dear Everyone,

The chances are if you are reading this you are one of the 2,000 who signed the petition, or one of the 20,000 who joined the Facebook group; in either case I thank you wholeheartedly. We could not have done it without you.

Over the last three days we have heard firstly that EMI have decided not to sell the studios, and secondly that the studios are to become grade two listed.

This is most definitely cause for celebration – we have made our voices heard, and have sent a strong message to those who control the studio’s destiny.

To all intents and purposes our campaign has succeeded. Abbey Road is set to remain in EMI’s hands and continue to function as a recording studio for the time being. Due to the listing by English Heritage, it specifically cannot ever be redeveloped into flats. Our worst fears have been allayed.

However there is still a need to be vigilant. EMI has been muttering about partnering with investors to ‘revitalise’ the studios. It’s hard to know what this will mean; at best it could be some refurbishment, but at worst it could involve a swift conversion from working recording facility to museum, something I personally am wholeheartedly opposed to.

I strongly suspect that turning even a small part of the studios to visitors would result in a swift cessation of all ‘normal’ operations at the studio. For a while the novelty of recording in a working museum might attract some, but for many of the clients who currently keep the studio busy this simply wouldn’t be an option – privacy concerns would be paramount. Nor is there a wealth of space with which to accommodate such a centre – as it is, the studios occupy every inch of the available building.

The wonder of Abbey Road is quite how consistently throughout it’s history it has played such a pivotal role in the country’s musical output. To become a museum would most probably end this story. Currently the studios are amongst the absolute finest in the world, at the pinnacle technical excellence, and I firmly believe they should remain so.

Of course the other concern would be as to whether Terra Firma can continue to service their debts – if they do not, then there is a risk that all of EMI would default to the possession of Citibank. What would then become of the studios we can only imagine, sufficed to say that one can assume that legacy will not be their foremost concern.

So once again my thanks, but do stay alert – let’s keep the group alive, keep sharing stories, and above all stay vigilant to anything that might threaten the future of the great Abbey Road.

Best,

Roland

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/7286954/Help-EMI-in-talks-to-save-Abbey-Road-with-investors.html

http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2010/feb/23/abbey-road-studios-listed-heritage

http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?topic=13202&uid=306022858586