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Business News Deals
Paul Epworth buys The Church Studios
By Aly Barchi | Published on Friday 11 October 2013
Producer Paul Epworth has bought The Church Studios off David Gray, in so doing saving the historic North London building from Gray’s previously reported proposal to turn it into flats and offices.
Gray purchased the studio – which over the years had played host to Bob Dylan, Radiohead and My Bloody Valentine – from Eurythmic (and Spotify advocate) Dave Stewart in 2004, himself recording three LPs there. He then applied to convert it into a residential space on the basis that its facilities had been “rendered obsolete” by new developments in music production technology, but faced opposition from local residents (and the aforementioned Stewart) anxious to preserve the site’s creative heritage.
New owner Epworth, who was approached by Gray in a last bid to keep the building a studio, told CMU: “I was as keen as anyone to keep a piece of London recording history running and we finally completed the exchange at the start of October. It’s a fantastic place and I intend to refurbish the studio to make it a viable commercial business. I hope we can keep it as a recording studio for the next ten to 20 years with a bit of luck”.
Gray adds: “I’m delighted to be handing on this wonderful building in the knowledge that it will remain a vital part of London’s ongoing music heritage. I bought the studios as my own personal recording space and at one stage – with the problems in the wider music business – it looked like the chance of selling it on as a working studio were close to zero. I know Paul has lots of plans and I wish him and the studio the very best”.
